Not starting!

78silversc · 09-14-2002, 09:23 AM

Hi guys....I've been a "mostly" silent lurker on this board for well over a year, and now I find myself needing your help.

Went out to start the Pcar today and for the first time since owning her she wouldn't start! I drove her last night and like always she ran like a champ.

Symptom: Engine turns over when turning the key...but that's it.
Sounds like fuel pump does come on when turning key to aux position. (Has always done that)

A couple of days ago while on an errand with my daughter I had a similiar experience after driving the car for about 1/2 hour and then parking it while shopping. Came back 20 minutes later and tried starting it and it just turned over as well.. I held the gas pedal to the floor and after about 5 seconds of turning over she sprang to life and was fine... even ran great yesterday, no problems at all.

Specs
1978 SC 3.0 pop off valve, chain tensioner upgrade, headers are the only real mods I can think of.

My specs: Never wrenched on my Pcar...but what an opportunity eh? I haven't really worked on a car since my 1972 VW SuperBeetle and rebuild of my Suzuki GT380 MC 20+ years ago.
So you are dealing with a rank amateur.

Can you guys help me diagnose this problem? Thanks!

78silversc · 09-14-2002, 12:19 PM

OK...so nobody was answering my plea for help...(probably all out enjoying your P-Cars...who could blame you?) So I go out to the garage and open the lid. I pull the airbox just for fun (looking at the filter you can see where the pop off valve popped up against it, damaging the element) Then I remove the fuse cover on the left fender wall next to the ignition box and rotate fuses they look fine. Then I check spark plug wires all seem to be tight....check other wires and distributer cap..all seem ok.

Just for the hell of it I turn the key one more time.
She starts!! Runs fine... I took her for a drive and she ran perfectly....but now can I trust her?

Thanks for any help guys.

rstoll · 09-14-2002, 12:35 PM

you probably fixed it by seating the popoff valve.

78silversc · 09-14-2002, 01:00 PM

Thanks for responding rstoll
I thought of that but, like i said, it ran great yesterday. If the pop off valve was stuck "up" it should have run like crap at some point right? And it didn't.

rstoll · 09-14-2002, 01:02 PM

has it been raining in your area?

78silversc · 09-14-2002, 01:07 PM

No no rain at all. For at least a week.

rstoll · 09-14-2002, 01:13 PM

Not a wet cap then. probably have to wait for it to happen again. then check for spark. for now check/clean all connections, take a look at cap and rotor, pull rortor and give the pad underneath a couple drops of light machine oil. do you have a spare fuel pump relay?

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

The usual suspect for a hot start problem (like the 2nd symptom you described) is fuel accumulator.

78silversc · 09-14-2002, 01:16 PM

I'll check and clean this evening. I do not have a spare fuel pump relay...wouldn't even know where it went

...but I figure it's time to find out eh? Thanks for your suggestions!

78silversc · 09-14-2002, 01:20 PM

nostatic:
Could the accumulator present a problem after the car sat over night and half of the next day?

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

From what I've read, yes it could be an issue on cold start too. There is some info here:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/911/technical_specs/911_cis_troubleshoot.htm

And if you do a search her on terms like "cold" "start" "hot" "SC" "CIS" you'll pull up quite a few threads.

78silversc · 09-14-2002, 04:37 PM

Thanks nostatic. I did try a search prior to posting, but didn't use the correct terms I guess!