ok first off this car is a project car and needs some work. ok the car has been sitting off and one for about 8 years and understandable needs some tuning to run good again. the car DID start up but with some light rough idle. It started and could be driven as far as I know, we only drove it about 1/4 of a mile but did shift and run. I decided to help it run a little better I would change the oil (which has a MINOR smell of gas to it) and maybe plugs and wires. I also decided to add some sea foam through the intake hose and gas tank. well after doing the sea foam and oil change. I had my girl friend get it and try and start it up. Well she did and it was struggling to stay running, it was idling really low for about 5 seconds and then died. now it wont start back it. it sounds normal and sounds like it may start but falls on its face. I don't know what it could be? also the oil has a minor smell of gas to it nothing major, and the car has A VERY VERY minor sound to it and when I press the clutch down it stops the sound? (through out bearings?)

 

Check the fuel pressure, and see if it bleeds off fast after the pump stops. The pump should prime for 2 seconds after the key is turned on and then the pump stops. What did the old plugs look like? Gas in the oil sounds like leaky injectors or rich condition. Are you getting spark when cranking?

 

didnt have time last night to check that stuff but will today. I am not very car smart and this is my first project. How do you check the fuel pressure? is there like a nipple thing that you press a key on it to see about the spray it has? Also how do you check for spark? Do you pull a plug wire off of the plug it self and try and start it?

 

Start HERE. You won't get far without it.

RACE ON!!!

 

You can press the schrader valve to see if there is fuel pressure in the lines. It should release a spray of gas, but you need a fuel pressure guage ($30-$40) to know what the pressure number is. Once you know what the pressure is, you can check for leaky injectors, ect. To check for spark, what I do is, use a spare spark plug and connect it to one plug wire at a time. Hold it by the plug wire and place the plug tip next to the exhaust manifold while someone cranks on the engine. You should see a spark and repeat on the other 7. What did the old plugs look like (black, wet, white)? If this is a project car you will need a 93FSM as posted above, tons of diagrams, troubleshooting tips, ect.

Is the service engine soon light on?

 

service engine light is on and so is the service the adjustable ride control light is on. its a salvage vehicle and needs some work both LIGHTS are on though

 

http://www.c4guru.com/articles/CCMCodePull.pdf

 

Is the gas new or old?
I gas was in the tank for 8 years, your filter, fuel pump and the sock in your tank are done, you will to flush the tank too.
It is more than a project car, sitting for 8 yrs the seals are hard or dryrotted. To really get the car running again, you are going to have to replace about every seal on the car, plus have the cylinders honed w/new rings and lots of other things.

 

My 86 project sat for about 5 years, cranked and drove occasionally (can count the number of times on my hand). No problems after fixing codes, vac leaks, ect. Still working on it but I drive it every day or two.

 

ya there are no leaks on the ground or anything it actually drove OK when we started about 20 five - 50 times to move it around and stuff nothing major really. There are codes but this thing was smacked in the front and missing some things. it didnt have much gas in it at all when i got it in fact I let it run for 10 minutes when i got it and it ran out of gas sitting there

 

Forgot to mention, I just recently purchased a tool from Sears that is a spark indicator. All you do is place the grooved area on the plug wire while the engine is running and it has a light that will light up when spark is given. It looks kind of like a pen and about $5. Neat little tool to have and will save me alot of time when testing spark on anything with plug wires.