Help!! Car wont start
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
Help!! Car wont start
Hello all,
My 92 LT1 vette has been in the garage in San Diego for the past 2 weeks not being driven do to the rain we have been getting. The car has never had any startup problems in the past, nothing at all. Yesterday I went into the garage and tried to start it up. It cranks and all the pulleys turn but it wont start. I noticed there was nearly no gas so I put a few gallons of premium in and tried again. BUt still nothing. So I popped the hood and noticed there was some condensation under the hood. Could this be causing the problem? I have left the hood open in hopes of it airing out. Any ideas guys? Please help me, I miss my baby.
My 92 LT1 vette has been in the garage in San Diego for the past 2 weeks not being driven do to the rain we have been getting. The car has never had any startup problems in the past, nothing at all. Yesterday I went into the garage and tried to start it up. It cranks and all the pulleys turn but it wont start. I noticed there was nearly no gas so I put a few gallons of premium in and tried again. BUt still nothing. So I popped the hood and noticed there was some condensation under the hood. Could this be causing the problem? I have left the hood open in hopes of it airing out. Any ideas guys? Please help me, I miss my baby.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
I will try that when I get home tonight. Im keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks for the advice about the pedal on a fuel infjected car. I did know that but forgot cause I was so bothered by the car not starting. If it doesnt spark what does that mean?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by rjward
I will try that when I get home tonight. Im keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks for the advice about the pedal on a fuel infjected car. I did know that but forgot cause I was so bothered by the car not starting. If it doesnt spark what does that mean?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Good point... If you have some external lights, use them, too.
A fan might help to move air. Spray some WD40 in the general area of the Opti.
the connectors for the hood lights are down on the inside of the fenders, in front of the tires, above the side marker lights. one on each side.
A fan might help to move air. Spray some WD40 in the general area of the Opti.
the connectors for the hood lights are down on the inside of the fenders, in front of the tires, above the side marker lights. one on each side.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
Thanks for all the advise. I opened the hood this morning and disconnected the lights. I was thinking the same thing about the opti spark. Its been pouring rain here and San Diego is prone to flooding. A few puddles of water are on the floor of the garage so Im guessing it got real humid in there. Hopefully it has gotten a chance to dry out. It is a real garage not a car port. As for your advice with the WD40, do I spray that on the optispark or just the general area around it?
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
You could have moisture inside the opti spark and it will have to dry out before your engine will start. Spraying WD-40 on the outside of the optispark will not get rid of the moisture inside and I wouldn't bother spraying anything on the outside of the optispark.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
OK. My coworker just gave me a hairdryer to try and dry the damn thing out. I tried starting it again this morning with no luck. I didnt get a chance to look for spark because I didnt have anybody to help me out. Hopefully tonight. Any other ideas in the meantime?
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,212
Likes: 10
From: Sun City West Az
If you don't have a fuel pressure guage you need to check for pressure too. Do this, key on to let the fp to pressurize the system.. You should hear it run for about 2 seconds then shut off. Then push the little tab in on the bottom of the schrader valve ( right side of fuel rail about midway covered by a cap) to see if you have fp @ the fuel rail. Have some rags handy to soak up the gas. If you have fp, then like said above, check for spark. With all that condensation, it very well maybe be that things need to dry out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by bogus
Check the coil and ignitor assembly. They do quit. Also check the coil wire, they will chafe and ground out.
Before you wear down your battery, check for a spark! The fact that you can smell gasoline is not a good sign, and could indicate a no-spark condition. Also, follow bogus advice should you NOT see a spark . BTW, sorry to hear about all the flooding and rain....
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
Thanks for the continued advice. I have a buddy coming over to help me with some of this stuff tonight. What exactly should I look for on the coil and assembly? Also is there a way to tell if the optispark is wet without taking it all apart? I hear that is a pain in the A. Thanks again for all of the advise guys. I love this site and dont know what I would do without it.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: White Post VA
I had a similiar issue a few weeks ago. I tried to start my '92 and it cranked, but wouldn't fire. I could smell gas, so I knew it wasn't a "no fuel" issue. The problem ended up being the EGR valve sticking. I manually exercised it and the car fired right up. I haven't had any trouble since.
Just something to try if nothing else works,
John
Just something to try if nothing else works,
John
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by 92Cruiser
I had a similiar issue a few weeks ago. I tried to start my '92 and it cranked, but wouldn't fire. I could smell gas, so I knew it wasn't a "no fuel" issue. The problem ended up being the EGR valve sticking. I manually exercised it and the car fired right up. I haven't had any trouble since.
Just something to try if nothing else works,
John
Just something to try if nothing else works,
John
