81 sc stars runs for a second and dies

maddog58 · 12:02 PM

I have a stock 81 911SC, After a run in the rain that the gas light was on for 10 miles parked the car. The next day went out to start it it ran for a second or two and died, have tried many times since and will do the same. If i hit the throttle at all it dies. Have pulled the plugs to make sure it was not flooded, they were fine. had someone turn the key to run as i was at the front of the car and heard nothing (was told by a chevy mechaninc to check the fuel pump) not sure if the fuel pump will run for a second once the key is in the run position, and if it does if you would hear it from there. I have no idea what to try or even what could be wrong. Can someone please give me that miracle cure?????

Thanks
Vince

vash · vash's Garage

do you have a popoff valve. the lid might be open, causing the symptom you described. you will only hear the fuel pump if you lift the airsensor bar in the airbox with ignition on "on". or you can jump the relay in the truck. (30 to 87a)

maddog58 · 08-17-2004, 12:03 PM

thank you i will check them

vash · vash's Garage

other than that, i would do the basic search. fuel and ignition.

maddog58 · 08-17-2004, 12:06 PM

i am just finding it really odd, it runs perfect for the short time till it dies.

john walker's workshop · 08-17-2004, 12:07 PM

maybe the airbox blew. did you hear a muffled intake backfire? when you're checking the pop-off valve, see if any of the little silver screws inside there are out, or partially out.

maddog58 · 08-17-2004, 12:10 PM

thank you

maddog58 · 08-17-2004, 07:30 PM

dumn question but where is the pop up valve usually found on the airbox?

vash · vash's Garage

not dumb maddog

if you have one, it will be under your air cleaner, in the air box.

cliff

here, read this:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_pop_off_valve/911_pop_off_valve.htm

braddb_82SC · 08-17-2004, 10:10 PM

My 'SC did exactly the same thing two weeks ago. It would run for one second, then die every time.
The fuel pump relay had slightly unseated itself. I pushed it back in and the car has run fine since.

-Brad

maddog58 · 08-18-2004, 11:56 AM

I have checked and i don't seem to have a pop up valve, the air box seems in good order. The fuel pump relay was out enough you could see the brass pins (about 1/8 inch) pulled it out and placed it back in. The car now turns over with no fire but smelt like gas. any ideas?

Paulporsche · 12:29 PM

Check to see if you are not out of, or nearly out of, gas. Try putting some in and try to start again.

maddog58 · 08-18-2004, 12:57 PM

i put approx 7 gallons in since it last run, it was my first thought as its light was on when i parked it

maddog58 · 08-18-2004, 01:01 PM

i pulled 3 plugs 2 were moist, cleaned them put them back in and tried again, still does not start just turns over

Paulporsche · 01:48 PM

FUEL:
I'm wondering if the fuel pump is fried from lack of gas, or is the fuse is blown. I'm not sure if the cold start valve is on the same circuit as the fuel pump. Also check that the pins in the relay are splayed out slightly to ensure contact. Swap in one of the other relays and test.. Also check the wiring in that area of the fuse box.

Is the large boot on top of the mixture unit on correctly and tight?

You can also try raising the air flow sensor plate while someone cranks the engine.

IGNITION:
Check your dist, cap and wires, incl connections, CD and coil.

BTW did you have any other running problems before this?

maddog58 · 08-18-2004, 07:20 PM

the only running problems we have had before this was that we flooded it this spring when we tried to start it but the battery died.

We just tried turning the ignition to on and lifting the plate in the air box. A noise started by the fuel tank as soon as we did this. We also switched the relay with the one next to it to make sure this was not the problem.

We checked for spark and we had none, looked and there is a plug on the left side of the engine with three wires runiing into it and i believe two out, two of the three wires on the top side looked to have pulled out, i stuffed them in the hole and had spark. Tried to start and it turned and turned sounded to catch just before we ran out of juice. have put a charger on battery will try again soon.

I question if there is more than just one problem at work, and if it will run for a second and die once we fire with that wire in place, I am aso not sure on how the wire should be in the connector as it is usually behind the heater hose. Does any one know the wires i am talking about and what the proper connection should be?

thanks again

stealthn · 08-18-2004, 08:37 PM

Vince,

Can you take a picture? You are scaring me

From what you said in the first post, I would say to ran out of or almost out of gas and probably got some crap from the bottom of the tank in the fuel line.
Check for spark first, then fuel. You might need a new fuel filter/accumulator (sp), or it might be crap in the lines from the diaphram

If you can't get it figured out maybe I can come by and have a look.

maddog58 · 08-19-2004, 10:10 AM

maddog58 · 08-19-2004, 10:10 AM

maddog58 · 08-19-2004, 10:15 AM

those are the pictures of the wires i was talking about. I did stuff the into the the hole and had someone watch as i tried to start the car. after it turned over for a while it caught and ran. It did run a bit rough but i am wondering if it could have just needed to run for a while to clean the plugs or something.

Also i need to make sure both wires go into that connector before i properly put it together.

I also want to thank everyone for there help.