A new one on me
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
A new one on me
Washed motor of 1985 Coupe. Ran lousey. Thought I'd got water in the distributor cap. New cap, new rotor. Carefully chased down all ignition wires. Set new cap on and tried to start the car. One quick cough and then nothing but the starter. Turned off the key and tried once again. This time the starter was staying engaged. Like the bendex gear was just spinning and not engaging the fly wheel at all. So I turn off the key and the bendex continues to spin and little puffs of smoke start to rise. After a mad dash for a pair of plyers and undoing the ground side of the battery the spin finally stops.
Does any one have any idea what this is all about. The other thing I noticed was there isn't any pressure when releasing the gas cap, and it normaly does. ???????
Chuck
Does any one have any idea what this is all about. The other thing I noticed was there isn't any pressure when releasing the gas cap, and it normaly does. ???????
Chuck
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
I went thru something like this three years ago. My starter was toast. The bendix continuing to run indicates the bendix spring is broken or the solenoid is rusted to the point it will not return. I would pull the starter for a complete inspection and possible rebuild. I solved my problem with a mini starter.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
One problem at a time.
1. Replace / rebuild the starter
2. Check for spark. Water might have taken out the ignition module.
Then check injector fuses, fuel pump fuse.
Let us know what you find out.
1. Replace / rebuild the starter
2. Check for spark. Water might have taken out the ignition module.
Then check injector fuses, fuel pump fuse.
Let us know what you find out.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Starter is toast, fix it before something burns up. I never liked the fact that an unfused wire runs right to a starter from the battery.
After that basic troubleshooting is required on your part. Fuel pressure check, voltage check etc. You are frustrated, and the car is in your driveway. Imagine how tough it is to provide an accurate diagnostic check from miles away, based on a description.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 924
Likes: 0
From: Columbia South Carolina
So you make a post, and express some disappointment 3 hours later when no one answers? My apologies, as I was 38,000 feet up in the air and had 15 hours of travel going on during this time. I normally reply quicker.
Starter is toast, fix it before something burns up. I never liked the fact that an unfused wire runs right to a starter from the battery.
After that basic troubleshooting is required on your part. Fuel pressure check, voltage check etc. You are frustrated, and the car is in your driveway. Imagine how tough it is to provide an accurate diagnostic check from miles away, based on a description.
Starter is toast, fix it before something burns up. I never liked the fact that an unfused wire runs right to a starter from the battery.
After that basic troubleshooting is required on your part. Fuel pressure check, voltage check etc. You are frustrated, and the car is in your driveway. Imagine how tough it is to provide an accurate diagnostic check from miles away, based on a description.
tankman
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Pete and tankman:
Sorry that you felt some disapointment on my part. Sorry you had to be up in the air, (I hate to fly). Tankman ..... sorry!
Now, with that out of the way .... Changed to new starter; and car cranked like normal and started as it should. Then backfire like cross wires, then nothing. I WILL LET YOU know what I find. This posting is posted so that someone else might shorted up a diagnostic search.
Chuck
Sorry that you felt some disapointment on my part. Sorry you had to be up in the air, (I hate to fly). Tankman ..... sorry!
Now, with that out of the way .... Changed to new starter; and car cranked like normal and started as it should. Then backfire like cross wires, then nothing. I WILL LET YOU know what I find. This posting is posted so that someone else might shorted up a diagnostic search.
Chuck
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 291
Likes: 1
From: Temecula Cali
Pete and tankman:
Sorry that you felt some disapointment on my part. Sorry you had to be up in the air, (I hate to fly). Tankman ..... sorry!
Now, with that out of the way .... Changed to new starter; and car cranked like normal and started as it should. Then backfire like cross wires, then nothing.
Chuck
Sorry that you felt some disapointment on my part. Sorry you had to be up in the air, (I hate to fly). Tankman ..... sorry!
Now, with that out of the way .... Changed to new starter; and car cranked like normal and started as it should. Then backfire like cross wires, then nothing.
Chuck
You did just add a distributor cap... you might want to go back and revisit the plug wire firing order since:
a) your starter could have taken a crap from a cylinder firing at the wrong point, jamming the flywheel backwards into your bendix
b) besides a extreme lean condition, it's the next logical reason why your car would backfire upon startup.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
OK; now we are back on the road. Problem Throttle position sensor was stuck on clear flood mode. Cranking the motor would not produce fuel. Internal failer, as the spring still had tension. Range on computer should be .60 at idle, 5.00 wide open throttle. This one was stuck at 4.95 Volts. Motor had no fuel due to the TPS setting and so as I continued to get the car to start the starter, (old one) the bendex broke so it could not be thrusted into the flywheel, causing overheating. The overheating caused a spark and short that welded two wires together. This is why the key would not turn off the juice to the starter, which caused the little puffs of smoke. Lesson learned? NEVER WASH THESE DAM THINGS. Detail under hood by hand and spray bottle. Hard one learned, but learned well.
Chuck
Wires and cap, rotor were all done correctly.
Chuck
Wires and cap, rotor were all done correctly.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,328
Likes: 14
From: Stafford Connecticut
A new one on me
Glad to hear you got the problem solved.Not a good idea to wash your motor without first wrapping the distributor alternator and as many electrical connections as possible.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 2
From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
Darn! after listening to this, I`ll never use the power washer to clean my engine................Again
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Thanks guys; And the scary part is that I didn't use a power washer. Simply a hose. I did however use a lot of water to rinse. Obviously way to much. A lesson learned by me, and hopefully passed on to wiser ears than mine.
Chuck
Chuck
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Sorry to hear about your troubles
I've been washing my LT1 with a hose for almost 6 years.. In my opinion if a little water stops it in the driveway it would fail on the road during one of the torrential thunderstorms that I drive in almost everyday this time of year....and I'd rather fix it at home than on the road...
However, so far NO PROBLEMS....gotta love the vented OPTISPARK and weatherpack connectors on late LT1 C4s...
Mike
I've been washing my LT1 with a hose for almost 6 years.. In my opinion if a little water stops it in the driveway it would fail on the road during one of the torrential thunderstorms that I drive in almost everyday this time of year....and I'd rather fix it at home than on the road...
However, so far NO PROBLEMS....gotta love the vented OPTISPARK and weatherpack connectors on late LT1 C4s...
Mike
