State inspection gone bad

[Patrick McHugh]

Confident with my new turbo car's operation and drivability I took it to a local shop I have been using for state inspections.

They called me a bit later and said that when the mechanic started it it ran a bit rough (this happens when it's cold.) He killed it when he popped the clutch. (also happens when it's your first time using the spec clutch.) The car would not restart.

I went down there and the car would sputter but would not run. The car has good fuel pressure, super strong spark at the coil, is producing plenty of suction at the intake and sounds normal when cranking. I even tried clearing the engine by cranking with the fuel pump off. I'm hoping the plugs are just fouled up. I checked everything else I could think of.

This is somewhat ironic because my LC-1 showed up minutes before they called me with the problem, I hope that's not a sign! I also hope they didn't fuck it all up, which I doubt.

Thanks for hearing my rant, I HATE leaving a car away from home overnight.

Also, I noticed the FMU makes a sort of squealing noise when the engine is cranking. I've never heard it do it under boost. The BEGI manual mentions to turn the center screw in one or two flats. Can you even hear that thing buzzing under boost?

[ldsbeaker]

(sigh) Sorry to hear that.

Reason #6783 why I do not like inspections/emissions tests.

[turbodan]

It does sound flooded. I'd start there.

[Patrick McHugh]

I dunno, I cleared it quite a bit with the fuel off, then let it sit for a long time. Has anyone ever known these plugs (WR6DC's) to foul?

Also, is it OK to let injectors fire without fuel pressure behind them or should I pull the computer or main relay when motoring the engine?

[turbodan]

They're fine. Have you tried cranking it for a while with the throttle wide open?

[Scottinva]

They're fine. Have you tried cranking it for a while with the throttle wide open?

What does that do?

[Patrick McHugh]

They're fine. Have you tried cranking it for a while with the throttle wide open?

Yeah, that's what I was doing when "clearing the engine."

I am leaning towards fouled plugs, but it's never that easy for me

It was also raining today, the first real rain I have driven the car in... That may have something to do with it.

Here's what I checked.

- Main relay ok (ICV operates, injectors click, ECU on)
- Coil ok (massive spark at the spark plug end of the lead)
- Fuel pressure ok
- Flywheel sensors OK (Spark happens, fuel injectors tick, engine stumbles)
- No huge vacuum leaks
- ECU probably ok, spark and injection work
- Tried unplugging o2, AFM, TPS, no dice
- Even tried a spray of ether against my better judgment, no change.

That narrows it down to no spark at the electrodes, terrible compression or blocked injectors. I doubt it's the last two. I'll see tomorrow!

[George]

They're fine. Have you tried cranking it for a while with the throttle wide open?

What does that do?

If the injectors are flooding the combustion chamber; opening the throttle will bring a shit ton more air in when the motor is trying to fire, thus getting rid of the flooded cylinders.

[Duke]

Fuel fouled plugs.

Don't try to clean them, replace them with new.

This happened to my car twice when it was shipped overseas. The morons let it sit and idle for hours and the rich mixture at idle fouled the plugs.

[turbodan]

They're fine. Have you tried cranking it for a while with the throttle wide open?

What does that do?

If the injectors are flooding the combustion chamber; opening the throttle will bring a shit ton more air in when the motor is trying to fire, thus getting rid of the flooded cylinders.

Megasquirt even has a "flood clear" mode at WOT during cranking. It cuts fuel completely when activated. I dont know if Motronic does that or not. Probably not.

[Patrick McHugh]

Fuel fouled plugs.

Don't try to clean them, replace them with new.

This happened to my car twice when it was shipped overseas. The morons let it sit and idle for hours and the rich mixture at idle fouled the plugs.

I will try this, I have a spare set.

[Patrick McHugh]

I threw some new plugs at it and it ran great! They were all fouled up, i'll clean them and save them for later.

The car stumbles for a minute or two on startup when cold, I bet the tech killed it a bunch of times and flooded it. It seems rich on startup, but i'll see with my new LC-1! Thanks again for the help.

[Duke]

I threw some new plugs at it and it ran great! They were all fouled up, i'll clean them and save them for later.

Great! Glad it was that easy.

You should throw the fouled plugs away, you cannot clean them....even with a torch. They are ruined.

I learned to always bring a set of new plugs when I picked up the car from being shipped overseas.

[Brad D.]

You should throw the fouled plugs away, you cannot clean them....even with a torch. They are ruined.

QFT.

[Patrick McHugh]

I threw some new plugs at it and it ran great! They were all fouled up, i'll clean them and save them for later.

Great! Glad it was that easy.

You should throw the fouled plugs away, you cannot clean them....even with a torch. They are ruined.

I learned to always bring a set of new plugs when I picked up the car from being shipped overseas.

Duke, next time you're at the airport, check out what the aircraft mechanics are using to clean & test plugs every 100 hours. It's an abrasive blast cleaner. The plugs cost $40 apiece so we clean & service them rather than toss them.




I've got the machine, so why not! The plugs only have 50 miles on them.

[Brad D.]

It can't hurt.

[Patrick McHugh]

Note: Apparently you don't need to use the cold start injector when you have the big injectors. Mine was hooked up and was probably one of the factors leading to the engine flooding. I unplugged it and the engine still starts fine when cold and runs smoothly right off the bat. Thanks for the advice Todd!