I need some serious help with my 3.2
 

I have not started my 3.2 for several weeks and now it will not start. I replaced the fuel pump and the engine turns over fine. After turning the key several times, it will chug alittle bit after I stop turning the key. I checked the coil and they are receiving 12v. The engine is a complete rebuild with <50 miles on it. I noticed some vapor coming from the open vent tube on the oil fill neck. It appears after trying to turn the engine over and quickly dissipates. It started and ran fine before I had the car at the painters and was never started.

Jon

Define "several weeks"

one month.

Did the painters take all the masking tape off the air intakes??? Could someone have messed with the fuel while it was there? IF IT RAN GOING IN THERE, IT SHOULD STILL RUN A MONTH LATER...I have a 3.2 that sits in my garage for a month a lot. It always starts first tick when I want to go out & play.....:cool:

I'm not sure what I did. When it went to the painters, I put a cap on the open tube that comes out the side of the oil fill neck. I forgot about it and have been trying to get the car started. When I noticed I did not remove this cap, I could not get it off because of a vacuum. I opened the oil cap and heard a swoosh. Did I do something to the engine by trying to start this car with the cap on and creating a vacuum.

you got an "open" vent tube? i don't remember one of those on mine?

you should have two large (ish) rubber hoses coming off there at least?

why d'you replace the fuel pump?

if it was sat for a month without being run, did you recharge the battery?

thats the first thing to go usually.

The fuel pump was replaced because I had to bang on it with a wrench because the check valve was stuck. I went ahead and changed it. There is a 1inch tube that goes off the side at an angle in the oil tank neck. There never was a tube connected to it but it seems my troubles started when I capped it.

Jon

LOL

what year is yours? i think you'll find the tube should have a breather hose attached?

but if it ran before it should run now, so that shouldn't matter. i don't think you would have done anything by removing the cap. but then again i don't know what part we're talking about (i'm guessing)

did you charge the battery?

This 3.2 is a transplant into a '72 911 and I looked at my Carrera book and the 3.2 oil neck does have 2 vent tubes. My neck only has one so I assume it is from an SC? Either way, what happens if the vent tube is capped?

Jon

Jon--

This is somewhat of a shot in the dark but may help. The main vent on the oil filler tube on a 3.2 Carrera is located on the back of the oil filler tube (when you are looking at it from the rear of the car) and is connected by a hose to the intake to vent vapors from the oil into the engine for burn-off. I do not know if the SCs used the same system and what mods might have been done to your 3.2, but I once accidently disconnected the hose from the vent and my car ran very rough, the effect being the same as when you remove the oil cap to check the oil with the engine running, causing a rough idle. It took me a hell of a long time to figure out what the problem was because with the location of the vent you really can't see whether the hose is connected, you more or less have to feel for it. When disconnected, the hose falls down toward the bottom of the cooler, and looks like it's connected to something down there. You might want to feel down there and see if the hose is lying loose. I don't think you could have done any real damage by capping the vent, because the most that does is create a slightly higher degree of air volume and velocity at intake (assuming the hose is disconnected). The most common serious problem related to the vent is when the hose is connected and the oil is overfilled, causing oil to be sucked into the intake, which temporarily but severely fouls up the engine, until the affected components are thoroughly cleaned. Good luck.

I charged the battery all night so I don't think it is the battery. I am thinking about disconnecting the fuel line past the filter to make sure fuel is moving. I engine turns over but it acts like it is not get fuel or spark.

I just unplugged one of the spark plug cables to test for spark. It appears to have plenty of spark. I had the garage door closed while I was cranking the engine over and the garage reeks of fuel. I guess I can eliminate no spark and no fuel. Any suggestions?

yeah, i know its a bit anal, but i would get that battery tested properly first. eleminate the simple stuff first.

dud batteries don't like being left for too long. even (cheap) new ones can be dud in no time.

if you haven't touched anything it should run.

Had a similar problem with mine. Both spark and lots of fuel, way too much fuel. Turned out it was a broken connection to the head temp sensor.

Try this. Pull the fuse to the fuel pump and see if it starts then dies. If so, my money is on something wrong with the head sensor.

Good luck...Tim

I will also try the idle position switch. I had a friend call me last night and he had a similar problem with too much fuel. If the idle switch is faulty, the motronic might think the engine was full throttle and increase fuel trough the injectors. On a side note, I highly recommend the Bentley Carrera service manual. I have the factory manuals but the Bentley book is more convenient and has great step by step procedures.