94 C4 - Wont Start
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94 C4 - Wont Start
I drove my car apprx 40 miles to work. Ran fine, no problems. I parked it, came back 8 hours later, & no start. It cranked over fine, just wouldn't fire up. After trying it for a few minutes, it seemed like it wanted to start at the end of the cycle. It would 'diesel' a little bit. At this point I could smell fuel & figured it was flooded. I borrowed a friends car, & went home.
What bothers me is I haven't driven it much lately & the day I drove it, it ran fine & being in So Cal, it was a nice day. When I pulled it in to park, it was running fine, no issues, no nothing.
Any suggestions? Being that it's a Sunday, I can't get anyone to look at it & hopefully it doesn't get towed. I am hoping when I go in today that for some grace of god, it fires up.
At this point, since I don't drive it much, it may be time to sell this thing & walk away. I liked seeing it parked in my garage, but if it's going to leave me stranded somewhere, thats not going to work either. Especially 40 miles from home.
What bothers me is I haven't driven it much lately & the day I drove it, it ran fine & being in So Cal, it was a nice day. When I pulled it in to park, it was running fine, no issues, no nothing.
Any suggestions? Being that it's a Sunday, I can't get anyone to look at it & hopefully it doesn't get towed. I am hoping when I go in today that for some grace of god, it fires up.
At this point, since I don't drive it much, it may be time to sell this thing & walk away. I liked seeing it parked in my garage, but if it's going to leave me stranded somewhere, thats not going to work either. Especially 40 miles from home.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: FL
You could have a leaking fuel injector that stuck open allowing the engine to flood, another possibility would be a leaking fuel pressure regulator. If you suspect it is flooded try cranking it with the gas pedal held to the floor, that will prevent the injectors from firing and adding additional fuel, (clear flood mode) of course if it starts immediately release the accelerator to keep it from over revving. That may allow you to get it somewhere for real diagnosis because it could also be weak spark or other issues, good luck.
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I know I have a full tank of gas. I filled it up a week ago before I parked it.
In regards to it being flooded....I'm 99% sure as I can easily smell the gas. I didn't hold my foot down until after a few minutes of trying to crank it over. My friend walked over & suggested I try it. When I did, it was trying to start.
The opti-spark is brand new. Last year I put in a new opti-spark, wires & plugs. I doubt that I even had put 2,000 miles on it since then. I used to work 5 miles from work & own two motorcycles. Because the cost of gas was on the rise last year, I mainly drove the motorcycles & about every two weeks, would drive the Corvette.
In regards to it being flooded....I'm 99% sure as I can easily smell the gas. I didn't hold my foot down until after a few minutes of trying to crank it over. My friend walked over & suggested I try it. When I did, it was trying to start.
The opti-spark is brand new. Last year I put in a new opti-spark, wires & plugs. I doubt that I even had put 2,000 miles on it since then. I used to work 5 miles from work & own two motorcycles. Because the cost of gas was on the rise last year, I mainly drove the motorcycles & about every two weeks, would drive the Corvette.
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Well, went to go start & it cranks over fine, but no ignition. It did try to kick over, but nothing. It backfired through the intake (a small poof) & it def. is getting fuel.
From here I have no clue & will have to call somone to take a look at it. The plugs at this point are probably done with.
From here I have no clue & will have to call somone to take a look at it. The plugs at this point are probably done with.
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I haven't checked for stored codes. I guess that I would have to break out a paper clip & remember which 'holes' to stick it in.
I guess the big thing that makes no sense is the car has been 100% ok. I pulled up & parked it. I would have never guessed it just wouldn't start back up. All the ignition components are new after destroying my opti last year by accident. I had no ignition problems recently or yesterday when I drove it.
I guess the big thing that makes no sense is the car has been 100% ok. I pulled up & parked it. I would have never guessed it just wouldn't start back up. All the ignition components are new after destroying my opti last year by accident. I had no ignition problems recently or yesterday when I drove it.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Cypress Texas
My ICM went out while I was driving and acted just like yours did after it died. Why not just buy a coil and ICM from any auto parts store and plug them in and see if it starts. If your very careful about how you handle them, you should be able to return them if it doesn't work.
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Well, I'm pretty mechanical but the car is about 40 miles from where I live. Down the road where the car is I had a garage work on it last year rebuilding the heads. They picked it up yesterday afternoon & I'm waiting to see what they say.
He didn't seemed too concerned as I explained to him what was wrong. It's obviously a spark problem or fuel problem. I would assume it's not a fuel problem as I think it's getting plenty of gas & I'm pretty sure it flooded. The weird thing though when the flat bed came & picked it up, fuel was leaking on the ground by the tank. It wasn't alot, but I wonder if it was from all the 'cranking over'.
Maybe the fuel pump took a dump? I don't know.
He didn't seemed too concerned as I explained to him what was wrong. It's obviously a spark problem or fuel problem. I would assume it's not a fuel problem as I think it's getting plenty of gas & I'm pretty sure it flooded. The weird thing though when the flat bed came & picked it up, fuel was leaking on the ground by the tank. It wasn't alot, but I wonder if it was from all the 'cranking over'.
Maybe the fuel pump took a dump? I don't know.
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Well, I'm pretty mechanical but the car is about 40 miles from where I live. Down the road where the car is I had a garage work on it last year rebuilding the heads. They picked it up yesterday afternoon & I'm waiting to see what they say.
He didn't seemed too concerned as I explained to him what was wrong. It's obviously a spark problem or fuel problem. I would assume it's not a fuel problem as I think it's getting plenty of gas & I'm pretty sure it flooded. The weird thing though when the flat bed came & picked it up, fuel was leaking on the ground by the tank. It wasn't alot, but I wonder if it was from all the 'cranking over'.
Maybe the fuel pump took a dump? I don't know.
He didn't seemed too concerned as I explained to him what was wrong. It's obviously a spark problem or fuel problem. I would assume it's not a fuel problem as I think it's getting plenty of gas & I'm pretty sure it flooded. The weird thing though when the flat bed came & picked it up, fuel was leaking on the ground by the tank. It wasn't alot, but I wonder if it was from all the 'cranking over'.
Maybe the fuel pump took a dump? I don't know.
You need to go to the basics, fuel and spark. You know you're getting fuel, but are you getting the right amount at the right time? Check your fuel pressure. If all your injectors are working fine it should pressurize and hold that pressure for hours. If it drops quickly, you have a leaking injector which can be flooding that cylinder and starving your other cyclinders of the fuel they need.
More likely, however, I'm betting on spark. I had a brand new opti crap out, but it wasn't actually the opti, it was the connector that connects the opti to the wiring harness. It corroded and stopped making contact. Without this, the engine had no idea when to fire so it didn't. It could also be your ICM or your coil. These are parts with no moving components, so when they die, they die suddenly. Check for spark and see what you've got. Although you hate to "throw parts at it." It would be worth replacing the coil and the ICM before you tear into the opti just because these are very easy to do.
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Well, you shouldn't have fuel leaking out of the tank area under any circumstances. It's possible that the fuel actually came out of the tail pipe from where it was getting fuel but no spark to ignite it.
You need to go to the basics, fuel and spark. You know you're getting fuel, but are you getting the right amount at the right time? Check your fuel pressure. If all your injectors are working fine it should pressurize and hold that pressure for hours. If it drops quickly, you have a leaking injector which can be flooding that cylinder and starving your other cyclinders of the fuel they need.
More likely, however, I'm betting on spark. I had a brand new opti crap out, but it wasn't actually the opti, it was the connector that connects the opti to the wiring harness. It corroded and stopped making contact. Without this, the engine had no idea when to fire so it didn't. It could also be your ICM or your coil. These are parts with no moving components, so when they die, they die suddenly. Check for spark and see what you've got. Although you hate to "throw parts at it." It would be worth replacing the coil and the ICM before you tear into the opti just because these are very easy to do.
You need to go to the basics, fuel and spark. You know you're getting fuel, but are you getting the right amount at the right time? Check your fuel pressure. If all your injectors are working fine it should pressurize and hold that pressure for hours. If it drops quickly, you have a leaking injector which can be flooding that cylinder and starving your other cyclinders of the fuel they need.
More likely, however, I'm betting on spark. I had a brand new opti crap out, but it wasn't actually the opti, it was the connector that connects the opti to the wiring harness. It corroded and stopped making contact. Without this, the engine had no idea when to fire so it didn't. It could also be your ICM or your coil. These are parts with no moving components, so when they die, they die suddenly. Check for spark and see what you've got. Although you hate to "throw parts at it." It would be worth replacing the coil and the ICM before you tear into the opti just because these are very easy to do.
I believe the fuel leaking was probably coming from the exhaust pipe. Since it was on the flatbed, It was hard to see where it was leaking. The car was being pulled up when it leaked. At that point I saw the wet spot it was by the tank but most likely was coming front.
I called the mechanic working on it today but he didn't have alot of time to look at it as he needed an open bay. He confirmed the fuel pressure seemed good & will be looking for spark or lack of.
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From: Reno NV
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From: Reno NV
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I guess the other possibility could be a loose rotor?
What was the little black ball that jumped off your cap?
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Well, talked to mechanic today & he confirmed that the fuel is good. The pressure & injectors checked out. He ran out of time today but is going to tackle the coil, ICM, & distributor tomorrow as he feels it's 1 of the 3.