Uh Oh! Is This Bad?

JuiceMan · 07-11-2002, 06:46 PM

Ok I have my car up for sale and went out to start it yesterday and noticed somthing really strange. It wouldn't start! It would crank and crank and never fire. It wasn't flooding or anything. After cranking off and on for about 5 mins the car finally started with a puff of blue smoke. Then it idled fine no problems.

However I tried to give it a little pedal and it hesitated badly and almost stalled

I decided to attempt to drive it around my block. I got the car to pull out fine and once rolling everything was fine except when I would give it more than half throttle it would start hesitating and jumping. If I applied throttle slowly I could accelerate untl I got to about 2k rpm then it hesitated more.

I drove the car back home and parked it. This afternoon I started the car and had the same problem. Had to crank it several minutes then it started up and idled fine. However the hesitation was still there. I checked all the plug wires and distrib cap and everything looks fine. Then I noticed that the engine had leaked a good amount of oil (MUCH more than normal) however it didn't seem to come from the sump area but actually from around the driver side front cylinder. I havn't had a chance to jack the car up yet and look at everything.

However I am thinking the worse naturally. Could this possibly be somthing broken like a head cracked or case crack? It kind of just seems like a carb problem or ignition problem the way the car runs but I surely don't think that would promote an oil leak!

Anyone have any ideas? Worst case scenario? I have to take the car back off the market until Ic an figure this out. Please help

Duke · 07-11-2002, 07:21 PM

I would check the jets to see if they are plugged, also the points if you have these and the timing. Had the car been running ok before this happened? How is the fuel pump? Any vacuum line plugs that may be loose or missing?

jurhip · 07-12-2002, 05:39 PM

my car hesitates when cold but starts okay. I think that I run it a little rich through the cold start screw on my throttle body ( I have a 914 1.8) Also try to see where the oil leak is actually occuring (assuming you engine is clean enough to see new oil leaks). And cheak this while is has been runnning for a while and the oil is hot.

Duke · 07-12-2002, 06:40 PM

I just remembered a similar problem I had once. It was caused be a restriction in the fuel filter-same symptoms as you are describing. Replaced the filter & it ran like a rocket

JuiceMan · 07-13-2002, 03:54 AM

Ok thanks for the tips guys I'll try them out.

JuiceMan · 07-13-2002, 05:31 PM

Ok I replaced the fule filter and no luck still has the same problem.

I pulled one of the spark plugs and it looked REALLY black. Maybe one of the plugs is fouled? Could this cause the poor running and starting?

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

What was said before about jets, thats the problem I had. It was just a spec of dirt in (one) idle jet and it really ran crappy both at idle and it would jerk like it was running out of fuel at higher rpm. The oil leak, if its from the top of the drivers front cylinder base could be the oil cooler, thats also what mine was doing, geeeeesss, are you sure you aren't working on my car??

Craig

WFBowen · WFBowen's Garage

Longshot, but smell your oil for gas - pull all the plugs and see if one carb is dumping gas directly into the motor. Oil contaminated with gas gets very thin and easily leaks where things were sealed before and, if enough is dumping in, raises the oil level where it was never intended to be. Like I said, it's a longshot, but if this turns out to be the problem, give that engine a real gentle oil/filter change and crank it with no ignition for a little while to make sure everything's lubed before firing it up.
Good luck,
Bill.

jac912 · jac912's Garage

Fouled plugs will most definitly make your engine behave as you described. I had the problem from low octane gas and too much idling when working on the electrical system. Sounds like you fouled yours with an oil leak. Did it sit cold for too long ... we all know about "shrinkage!" .... in the gaskets.

JuiceMan · 07-20-2002, 04:17 AM

Well I have replaced all plugs and the fuel filter and still ahve the same problem.

What should I try next? New points or does it sound more like the timing is off?

adot · 07-20-2002, 06:28 AM

69-912

Check the timing with a timing light. Get that out of the way. Only takes 5 minutes. Once had a broken rotor.

Maybe one of floats. Pull the site plugs.

How did ALL the plugs look?

GoodLuck
Brett