C4 wont start
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
C4 wont start
So i have a c4 and its been sitting since 09 in some land. I got it a week ago to see if i could get it started and nothing. Interior lights work, seats work, windows work, flip up headlights work, and dash doesnt work either, only lights that come one is the parking break and fasten seat belts, battery is at 12v and clutch pedal is really loose too. Any ideas??
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,894
Likes: 592
From: New Port Richey FL
So i have a c4 and its been sitting since 09 in some land. I got it a week ago to see if i could get it started and nothing. Interior lights work, seats work, windows work, flip up headlights work, and dash doesnt work either, only lights that come one is the parking break and fasten seat belts, battery is at 12v and clutch pedal is really loose too. Any ideas??
What Year(Vat's non-Vats), Do you Trust the Battery and connections are good. When Key is turned do you Hear the Starter Click at all, Since it is a Manual when Pushed and Clutch Popped does the motor move. Also Since the car has set dormant for years have you Cleaned out the Gas tank you don't want to push Crap into the Fuel Rail.
Last edited by s carter; May 4, 2018 at 08:02 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
What Year(Vat's non-Vats), Do you Trust the Battery and connections are good. When Key is turned do you Hear the Starter Click at all, Since it is a Manual when Pushed and Clutch Popped does the motor move. Also Since the car has set dormant for years have you Cleaned out the Gas tank you don't want to push Crap into the Fuel Rail.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 275
Likes: 26
From: Austin TX
The fact that it won't crank might be a good thing. Every fluid in that car is bad and needs to be replaced, starting with the gasoline. Like Carter said, drain and clean the tank, change the fuel filter, add a couple of gallons of fresh gas, inspect what you can and hope you don't need to replace the pump and injectors. Change the engine oil and get it started. After that try to change the rest of the fluids asap.
When cranking try checking the starter, that's the easiest thing. Check for voltage at the signal connection while cranking, if you have it check for voltage drop at the main connection while cranking. If all good start with your key ignition system diagnosis, vats if you have it, ignition switch, etc.
Check the clutch fluid, the slaves can sometimes leak all of the fluid out. Fill with brake fluid and bleed it and see if you can get it working. Expect to replace the hydraulics. Same for brake system, 10 year old fluid is bad and it's probably older than that. When you flush it expect the master cylinder to die and the calipers to leak. If they don't, great news.
A car sitting that long will have a lot of little problems like this, they can be worked out easily but it takes a little time and money. Good luck.
When cranking try checking the starter, that's the easiest thing. Check for voltage at the signal connection while cranking, if you have it check for voltage drop at the main connection while cranking. If all good start with your key ignition system diagnosis, vats if you have it, ignition switch, etc.
Check the clutch fluid, the slaves can sometimes leak all of the fluid out. Fill with brake fluid and bleed it and see if you can get it working. Expect to replace the hydraulics. Same for brake system, 10 year old fluid is bad and it's probably older than that. When you flush it expect the master cylinder to die and the calipers to leak. If they don't, great news.
A car sitting that long will have a lot of little problems like this, they can be worked out easily but it takes a little time and money. Good luck.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 275
Likes: 26
From: Austin TX
Oh, and the gauges are probably dead. Check for power and a good ground and expect to replace it. There is a rebuild service that most people seem to trust, someone else will chime in, I don't have that dash so I don't know the ins and outs.
Come to think of it, there is a guy on YouTube that rescued a c4 from a field and he documented what he had to do to get it road worthy. You might check it out. It's a white 90s model.
Come to think of it, there is a guy on YouTube that rescued a c4 from a field and he documented what he had to do to get it road worthy. You might check it out. It's a white 90s model.
Last edited by thurman_merman; May 4, 2018 at 09:35 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,894
Likes: 592
From: New Port Richey FL
Oh, and the gauges are probably dead. Check for power and a good ground and expect to replace it. There is a rebuild service that most people seem to trust, someone else will chime in, I don't have that dash so I don't know the ins and outs.
Come to think of it, there is a guy on YouTube that rescued a c4 from a field and he documented what he had to do to get it road worthy. You might check it out. It's a white 90s model.
Come to think of it, there is a guy on YouTube that rescued a c4 from a field and he documented what he had to do to get it road worthy. You might check it out. It's a white 90s model.
. Dormant cars can be an electrical nightmare everything from bad contacts to mouse eaten harnesses, So Since you don't have a history your battery is assumed good give a look at the Fusible Links behind Battery,check all fuses, as someone already said have a friend try to start while you have a test light on the crank request wire at the starter, check connections at starter.
. Generally go through system by system and see what things they have in common Grounds, Fuses,and so on, a FSM would be a great help.
Last edited by s carter; May 4, 2018 at 11:26 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
85's have a tds system....try locking and unlocking the passenger door....
make sure you have a fuel pressure gauge to see if fp is working...apply 12v to terminal G on your aldl...that should turn the fuel pump on...put a paper clip between a and b on the aldl...count flashes to see if you have any codes....best advice: get a fsm as soon as possible.....good luck....lots of help here....don't throw parts at it......
make sure you have a fuel pressure gauge to see if fp is working...apply 12v to terminal G on your aldl...that should turn the fuel pump on...put a paper clip between a and b on the aldl...count flashes to see if you have any codes....best advice: get a fsm as soon as possible.....good luck....lots of help here....don't throw parts at it......
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
Burning Brakes
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From: Diamondhead Mississippi
St. Jude Donor '17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Hartford WI
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2017
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From: Diamondhead Mississippi
St. Jude Donor '17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
As far as i can tell it is an exact copy. It is definitely not a generic manual like Haynes. I attached an engine wiring diagram from the electrical supplement.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,472
Likes: 3,290
From: Hartford WI
Interesting. They weren't sure if it had that section which is where your wiring diagrams are. Also, they said it was electronic and more important, SEARCHABLE so if that is right, that might be a winner. IDK.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Hartford WI