Hey gang.

I'm slowly working through trying to figure out why my engine doesn't start (looks like being flooded). The kicker is I had it running after I reconnected everything after my engine swap and pulling out all the remote-start electronics that was on the car.

Since it was running like new I neat'ed up all the wires under the steering wheel, in the engine bay, and neat'ed up the vacuum lines. Interior panels reinstalled and happy to start the car, no go. I didn't change anything in my neating up other than dis-connect/re-connect things like sensors and vacuum lines as needed to route them nicely.

Checked plugs, wet
Checked spark, got spark on all 4 plugs
Checked coolant temp (reading was correct, I have Power FC w/Commander so can see air & water temp values)
Checked air temp sensor (reading was correct)
Checked manifold pressure sensor (reading was correct, Power FC uses MAP)
Fuel pressure regulator vacuum hose goes straight to Intake manifold so it's getting vacuum

Everything checks out okay but she's flooding. I can smell the fuel. I can see on the Commander that my O2 sensor isn't working but I doubt it changed from working to non-working and is causing my issue? I cut the fuel injector settings in half to try lean it out in base settings and in the cranking settings but doesn't seem to make a difference (fuel pressure issue?). Cover the throttle elbow with my hand and she's sucking good, so we have vacuum, which shows on the MAP sensor reading in Commander


Let me know if I'm missing something in my to-do list below:
1. Use meter to measure CTS resistance to confirm correct reading
2. Use meter to check power transistor
3. Use meter to check ignition coil (possible to have weak spark?)
4. Gap plugs to factory spec (try to avoid weak spark)
5. Check FPR is mechanically working (try to avoid blasting the injectors)
6. Can't check timing if it's not running right? I can re-confirm mechanically between #1 piston, crank, and cams but that's about it. It wasn't 180deg. out since it was running fine before I cleaned things up.

Probably working on it this Friday...let you know if I have any success.

t.

Hey Tashko, how goes it on this?

Great to see the board back up!!

Car is running, finally. I did the checks on my list except for the FPR. Additional things I did:
1. Ran a dedicated vacuum hose from intake manifold to MAP sensor (rather than off the throttle body ports to ensure a solid signal)
2. Ran a dedicated vacuum hose from intake manifold to FPR rather than from throttle body ports
3. Installed new O2 sensor
4. Compression test, to make sure mechanical timing was good - was okay
5. Disconnect ECU and crank engine to check if injector harness has a short in it - plugs were dry, not shorts

Went back to the plugs because everything else was okay. Realised that I had put in 7's instead of 6's last time I drove it to Lincoln NB for national 5 years ago (or 6?). Swapped in some BPR6ES to factory gap and fired right up! Can't believe it was colder plugs fouling being the main cause!


Been driving it around town to make sure things are working. So far so good, just need to bleed brakes, clutch, and adjust shift cables. While the car wasn't running I swapped in my 4-bolt LSD rear end. It feels great to be driving a Talon again and looking forward to some snow to play in as well!

Thanks for asking.
t.

Nice that's great to hear!