Will crank, but not start
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Will crank, but not start
My 82 has been parked for almost 8 years. i would start up the engine at least once a year and drive around the block. The engine always turns over but not always catch on. But SOMETIMES, it will. Sometimes as in, I may try tommorrow morning and it will just start up and re smoothly with no issues. THne I shut it off and 10 minutes later, it will just crank, but not catch on.
So I decided to replace the fuel pump. That fixed it, then its back to the same problem. There is currently fresh fuel in the tank. I am thinking perhaps connections to the fuel pump. I have trouble distinguishing the fuel punp sound from power antenna in the back when I turn the key.
I have new
plugs/wires (properly installed),
fuel pump,
alternator
and battery.
Thanks!!
So I decided to replace the fuel pump. That fixed it, then its back to the same problem. There is currently fresh fuel in the tank. I am thinking perhaps connections to the fuel pump. I have trouble distinguishing the fuel punp sound from power antenna in the back when I turn the key.
I have new
plugs/wires (properly installed),
fuel pump,
alternator
and battery.
Thanks!!
Last edited by 82Red; May 5, 2012 at 05:51 PM. Reason: Added more details
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 807
Likes: 2
From: VIRGINIA BEACH VIRGINIA
When you installed your rod for your fuel pump, it may not have gotten up there correctly. I would say that is your problem. Pull the fuel pump again (real fun) put some lube on the rod to hold it in place and then push your fuel pump up again.
Make sure your wires are all on the correct plugs. May have gotten them mixed up.
Make sure your wires are all on the correct plugs. May have gotten them mixed up.
Limping across the line
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,299
Likes: 109
From: Peoria Az
DId you install a new cap & rotor? Are you sure firing order is set correctly? Are the leads connected to the Dist cap on and tight?
Without knowing a bit more about what you've done or symptoms, or your mechanical ability its tough to do internet troubleshooting.
When you say sometimes it catches What do you mean ? does it start or just kinda cough?
Without knowing a bit more about what you've done or symptoms, or your mechanical ability its tough to do internet troubleshooting.
When you say sometimes it catches What do you mean ? does it start or just kinda cough?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
May I know what exactly is the "rod" part? The car start sometimes starts, but then it decides not to again for a few days.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 807
Likes: 2
From: VIRGINIA BEACH VIRGINIA
Sorry about that. I have a 79 with a mechanical fuel pump. I assume yours is electrical now that I see your picture. Sorry about that.
You may have a bad gas cap. Take your gas cap off and see if it will run. Mine was bad and was not getting any air (starving the fuel pump).
You may have a bad gas cap. Take your gas cap off and see if it will run. Mine was bad and was not getting any air (starving the fuel pump).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Some info would be nice. You have basically told us "Hey, my car won't start, anybody know why?". For example: Did it ever run, or did you receive the car in this condition? If it started just fine before, what is different know? When it does start every once in awhile, how does it run? have you triple checked the firing order? (18436572)
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: some hole in the ground town- camp verde:) arizona
considering you say it sits for a year in between startups, i'd say the old gas has gummed up a lot of stuff. sometimes when cranking the engine you're able to get the junk dislodged and it will start, other times it's just too gummer up. i'd flush the fuel system. i had this same problem with an 89 mazda i was given. it had sat for 3 yrs and the gas had gummed up the injectors... sometimes it would start sometimes it wouldn't. they have some startup aerosol spray that works pretty good. you spray it into the air intake.
Last edited by 75vetteman; May 6, 2012 at 05:05 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 943
Likes: 73
82Red
Time to narrow down the problem. When it won't start, check for spark at a plug. Pull a plug wire off (short Phillips screwdriver inside boot) and place it 1/2" away from ground and check for spark as it cranks. It's easier to use a spark checker, but not everyone has one.
Time to narrow down the problem. When it won't start, check for spark at a plug. Pull a plug wire off (short Phillips screwdriver inside boot) and place it 1/2" away from ground and check for spark as it cranks. It's easier to use a spark checker, but not everyone has one.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
I have added all the additives (fuel injection cleaner, gas conditioner, etc), but the problem seems to continues. WIll start up sometimes, and sometimes, it would just not. Oh and when it starts, by the way, the engine runs smoothly. But I shall try the start up spray. THanks!
Last edited by 82Red; May 6, 2012 at 09:58 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
82Red
Time to narrow down the problem. When it won't start, check for spark at a plug. Pull a plug wire off (short Phillips screwdriver inside boot) and place it 1/2" away from ground and check for spark as it cranks. It's easier to use a spark checker, but not everyone has one.
Time to narrow down the problem. When it won't start, check for spark at a plug. Pull a plug wire off (short Phillips screwdriver inside boot) and place it 1/2" away from ground and check for spark as it cranks. It's easier to use a spark checker, but not everyone has one.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Next time it does it try to check a few things. First take off the cleaner and see if the injectors are spraying when its not starting. If there is spray check for spark. Try pin down the problem so you know what it needs to fix it.
I'm going to assume since you change the fuel pump the fuel delivery system is fine.
There is a module in the distributor that sends a signal to the ECM (computer). It basically says "hey we are spinning and firing on all 8 cylinders and asks for fuel. If the module in the distributor is malfunctioning and is not sending that signal you will not get fuel. The module usually fails when it gets warm. Does your problem start after the engine warms up? There is also another component in the distributor that sometime causes this problem. Both parts are under the rotor. The wires in ther sometimes break too. Both these parts are probably $120 combined. You can play or just through some money at it and eliminate them as the cause.
Jim
