924Board.org

Guest · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2000 9:05 pm Post subject:

From: Todd
Email: tleichma@swbell.net
Date: 06 Mar 2000
Time: 22:05:08

I bought a 1979 924 that had been sitting for about 2 years and tried to start it. After about 4 or 5 tries it fired right up. It sounded like it was only firing on 3 out of 4 cylinders and had a knocking sound coming from the forth cylinder. I shut it off and checked the oil. It was a quart low so i added a quart. After that it wouldn't start again. We tried push starting it and that worked a couple of times but as soon as you let off the gas it dies. It hasn't started since. I have excellent spark and fuel delivery. The oil smells as though it has gas in it. Any suggestions? HELP!!!!!!

Guest · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2000 10:07 pm Post subject:

From: William
Email:
Date: 06 Mar 2000
Time: 23:07:28

I have heard of water in oil but never gas in the oil! I would change your oil ASAP and oil filter of course, you might want to drain all gas out of the tank if it's old and varnished too. Try that.

Guest · Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2000 8:56 am Post subject:

From: Vaughan
Email: vscott39@hotmail.com
Date: 07 Mar 2000
Time: 09:56:00

The gas in the oil is no big deal; it's from cranking the engine so much without a spark. The gas washes past the rings into the sump. I had the same thing on my newly refreshed engine, just drained the oil this past weekend; there was a lot of gas in the oil from all the cranking to get the oil pressure up after the rebuild.
You should change out the oil once you've got it running, yes, but don't panic; what I did this past weekend that caused me to drain the oil was to pull the oilpan to replace the rod bearings and re-seal the leaking oil pan gasket. The bearings were fine, no damage done.

As for the car not restarting, that sounds like a typical hot-start problem; no big deal there, just work through the standard tune up stuff; plugs, wires, rotor and cap, check timing, blah blah blah... you should be fine... make sure no vacuum leaks, too - they're pretty rough on these CIS cars.

Sounds like you're actually in pretty good shape, though you may not believe it.

Vaughan

Guest · Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2000 8:58 am Post subject:

From: Vaughan
Email: vscott39@hotmail.com
Date: 07 Mar 2000
Time: 09:58:33

Oh, yeah - as far as the bad sounds from the one cylinder; I'd work with the basic tune up stuff first, though you may also want to check compression and leakdown to make sure no basic mechanical problems.
You'll probably also want to ensure the camshaft timing is correct, and timing belt tension good.

Vaughan

Guest · Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2000 10:13 am Post subject:

From: from: Todd to: Vaughan
Email: tleichma@swbell.net
Date: 07 Mar 2000
Time: 11:13:42

It already has new wires, plugs, fuel lines, cap, rotor, both fuel pumps and I cleaned the throttle body out. I alreadfy emptied the fuel tank and cleaned it out too. It won't even start cold now. When crank the car over it rocks the car. Is that normal? I've had one before but I don't remeber it being like that. Is it possible it has a blown head gasket? I did notice a gas smell from cranking over the car alot. When I pulled the plugs they were soaked with gas but still fired when i turned the car over. I'm lost. I even looked in a haynes manual. Any more suggestions? I appreciate it. Thanks again.

Guest · Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2000 11:24 am Post subject:

From: Vaughan
Email: vscott39@hotmail.com
Date: 07 Mar 2000
Time: 12:24:58

Believe it or not, a blown head gasket wouldn't usually prevent the car from starting unless it had caused more major damage.
Sounds like you've flooded the hell outta the engine; it should start more or less, if the timing is basically right and you've got gas and spark - and we know you've got those.
I'd suggest pulling all plugs and leaving the out for a little bit to let the gas evaporate from the cylinders, then reinstall (making sure the plugs wires are still straight).
Then, when trying to start the car, do two things: jump start it from a running car to make sure the engine cranks as quickly as possible, and if that doesn't help try also cranking while bumping the ignition timing one way or another (just fiddle with it) until it'll start. Then, once it's started, get the timing set with your timing light for decent running.

Try all that; then shoot me an email if it still won't start. Of course, don't forget to let the starter cool after cranking.

Vaughan

Guest · Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2000 11:50 am Post subject:

From: Bob
Email:
Date: 07 Mar 2000
Time: 12:50:01

You can pull the plugs and fuel pump fuse and crank the motor to help dry it out (giant air pump) just like vaughn said though don't overheat your starter. Make sure your fuel dist flap isn't stuck and pushing too much fuel. Make sure you don't have a stuck injector by pulling them out and seeing if they are extremely wet or dribbling. Sometimes a stuck open injector will pool gas up in the valve area and when you try to start it sucks all the gas in and floods that cylinder, then the gas runs down into the oil.

Guest · Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2000 5:05 pm Post subject:

From: Todd To vaughan
Email: tleichma@swbell.net
Date: 08 Mar 2000
Time: 18:05:55

I pulled the headers off of the car and there was alot of gas sitting in the headers. Stuck fuel flap or not enough air possibly? I decided to rebuild the top half of the engine anyways just to be thouorough and on the safe side. what would cause the fuel build up in the cylinders and headers besides the fuel flap. also thanks for all of your help thus far.

Todd