At work, '83SC doesn't want to start

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Rather interesting one, this. I have been having fuel delivery issues but thought the culprits were the fuel accumulator and the fuel relay. The car started and ran beautifully with these two items replaced. She started and ran beautifully this morning and at lunch. Now that I would like to take her home and work on more fencing problems she does not wish to start.

I replaced the fuel relay with the fog light relay to see if that would help. She turns over, stop turning the key and the motor attempts to start. Let the motor die, turn back to neutral position, turn key to on and the motor tries to start. Turn key to start and the motor turns, nothing happens. Let go of key and motor tries to start. Five times we have done this. I do smell fuel and there are no leaks. There was some slight smoke coming from the air filter housing when I opened that up.

Any ideas???

[Joe Bob]

Yup....takes two people though. Fast way....spray some ether (quick start) into the intake while cranking the engine....

OR

Pop the airbox lid off....lift the fuel sensor plate and crank engine....

Sounds like you have fuel pressure bleed off problem(s)....

MOST likely culprit will be the screw in pressure check valve that is in the neck of the fuel pump under the banjo fitting.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Mike,

Thanks!! A co-worker is leaving soon and he will assist...no news until later is good news!!

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Well, good news is the fuel seems to be getting in. We ran through several tries and she would not start. We then noticed that fuel was dripping from the rear. Sort of going along the heat shield for the Catalytic Converter. The fittings around the filter and accumulator are dry as are the fuel injection lines on that side. I could not feel a place where fuel would be coming from. This is strange to have happened all of a sudden. Any ideas? I'm thinking I should go ahead and get her towed since there is fuel around the CAT. thoughts??

EDIT: Sorry, don't know if it might mean anything, but there is puffing white smoke out the back. Bet I have fouled plugs and something else going on. Oil change and spark plug change and another new relay so I can test the fuel pressure???

[david914]

Have you tried turning on the ignition and pushing up on the airflow sensor plate to make sure the fuel pump is running? You should be able to hear it running.

[ruf-porsche]

Sound as though you flooded the engine.

Have it flat bed to your house not unless you want to leave the car over night at work.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

David,

Thanks. I did push up the airflow sensor plate and we can hear the fuel pump running. Good smell of fuel, heck, I can still smell it on me...

I'm thinking of having her towed home as the fuel is leaking from somewhere and has accumulated on the Catalytic Converter heat shield. And I was looking forward to a good drive home with the top down. Maybe the driver will let me ride in back???

[vash]

david, one of my first post was title "why is fuel weeping from my exhaust?" how much did you try to crank the sucker while pushing up on the airsensor plate? you definately flooded the motor. so you have fuel. it has to be spark related. are your spark plugs fittings good and tight? alot of talk about crazed CDI boxes lately.... you have to look for spark. if you have any tools, (not a good practice but) i would pop off a spark plug wire, and stick a screwdriver into the plug, put the screwdriver really close (guess spark plug distance) to something metal, and have your nice coworker give it a quick bump. if you either see a spark jump from the screwdriver to the metal component OR feel a jump go through your arm like someone punched you, you have juice. spark + fuel + air = combustion....

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Unfixed,

I like that. Actually, I have a co-worker, &#*&$* they already left, who I would like to have hold the metal object! The wires are four years old or more and might need replacing. I just hate to jump to conclusions...

Well, 40 more minutes have passed. I will try and start her one more time then call the tow truck.

[thabaer]

What IS it with you guys and Texas Barbecue ? I think Adman used up the quota for this decade...is there a hose nearby so you can wash the fuel off of the cat?? I don't think Matt wanted to see anybody else join the club.

[vash]

this is true. you would have a flamethrower on you hands...

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

The tow truck showed before I could do anything rash. Several hours later and we can still smell gas. I'm in for some more fun, huh?

Where should I be looking for the fuel to have flowed from?

[ruf-porsche]

Remove a couple of plugs to see if they are WET. If they are wet you need to remove all the plugs and dry them off. Let the gas evaporate from the cylinders overnight and reinstall the plug tomorrow. Try starting the engine. If it doesn't start right away, don't continue cranking or you back at square one with a flooded engine. Most lightly you flooded the engine and everything should be o.k.`once the plugs are dried.

Rereading your first post about releasing the key and the engine try to start, but just spin when you have the key in the start position, you will need to verify if you have spark at the plug when the switch is in the start position.

Next time if this happen to you and it doesn't start in the start position, but try to start in the run position, if the parking lot at work is big and you can get a few co workers to push your car, you should be able to push start the car.

[Joe Bob]

So....ever get it running?