The Conservative Cave
Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: franksolich on May 30, 2008, 10:27:20 AM
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http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=310x875
Oh my.
Now, remember, this is the Kali primitive, the one who lives in southern Texas, and not the Obamaite cali primitive, who lives in Vermont. Two different primitives here.
The Kali primitive's nicer than the mean spiteful bitter cali primitive.
Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed May-28-08 02:18 PM
Original message
oooo I just knew there had to be a car forum....van won't start
doesn't look too active, but I will throw this out anyway:
91 ford E350 460 auto trans...beat up ranch vehicle, muffler pretty much disconnected, running like that for well over a year. In the last couple weeks it would "skip" a little once in a while when cold. (plugs probably, right?)
Son was taking it to work the other day. Started fine, he got about a 1/4 mile down the road and it made a kind of fart/backfire noise and quit. It cranks and your can smell gas but it will not turn over and start.
Husband looked at cap/rotor - contacts looked corroded so he replaced. No change - will not turn all the way over and start. This was a vehicle that always started good if it had a working battery so I am still thinking plugs (or wires) but since I have a mental block and resultant fear of electricity I am scared to even check for spark.
Am I on the right track? I don't want to spend to uch on this thing 0 it is already over $100 to fill it, if I need to spend much I think I might try to get something else running...
Thanks, and sorry for all the words.
The Kali primitive got that right, about "not much action" in the automotive forum of Skins's island.
If one ventures in there, he gets attacked by killer cobwebs.
flvegan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed May-28-08 06:02 PM
Response to Original message
1. Voltage regulator?
I had an early 90's Mustang, and I believe that was one thing I swapped when mine wouldn't start. No idea when your last tune up was, but replacing the plugs and plug wires probably wouldn't be a bad idea.
Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed May-28-08 08:08 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. pretty sure we did that about 4 or 5 months ago
it was that backfire noise that kind of freaks me out
jimmil Donating Member (43 posts) Thu May-29-08 03:16 PM
Response to Reply #3
6. One more thing.....
When the distributer cap was replaced the number one thing is did you put the wires back in the right place? Yes, I know that is a no brainer but I had to ask. If the wiring screwed up then it will not even begin to fire. Secondly, when the cap was replaced did you check (replacing them would have been better the points for the proper gap and good condition? You can take a point stone and clean it off and try to start it.
jimmil Donating Member (43 posts) Wed May-28-08 06:46 PM
Response to Original message
2. In 91 did Ford have throttle body injectors?
If so it could be the injectors. In a TBI there is usually 2 injectors. You can literally see them squirting the fuel into the body if you look into it and press the gas pedal. See if they are working. Since you smell gas I would assume so. However, if you do not have gas check the fuel pump. It is located in the gas tank.
Look in the MG thread, You will find disgnosing a non fire there. Definately new plugs and wires will be needed. New points (if it has them) and condensor also. One other thing is the coil.
Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed May-28-08 08:17 PM
Response to Reply #2
4. I think so - I took the shroud off this morning and that thing sure doesn't look like an old carburetor to me...Pretty sure tune-up in '04 - and the wires look pretty new. We will check for spark etc this evening and coil sounds "hunchy" doesn't it? It is sitting 1/4 mile away and it is hot out plus we are just disgusted with vehicles and all that they involve right now. family of 5 (4 employed off the ranch) relying on one POS dodge pick up that all the sudden started acting weird* today too! arrrggggg talk about intense car pooling!
*"bucking" just a little like the clutch is not fully in or something, but at highway speeds. yes it is a standard tranny. any ideas there?
jimmil Donating Member (43 posts) Thu May-29-08 03:02 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. Bucking just driving down the road?
Sounds VERY much like a clutch. Get going in a high gear say around 1000 RPM or so and then put you foot to the floor. If you hear the motor revving and slowing down and revving where the speed of the motor is not matching the speed you are going then the clutch disk is worn and needs to be replaced. If it bucks the spring tension is shot or you have glazed the disk plate. Either way you will need a new clutch. While you are there replace the throwout bearing. You can get a puller at NAPA or Autozone to use for free as long as you return it.
Again, look at the '78 MGB thread below this one for diagnosing a non-fire scenario. In your case, your TBI should have two injectors about half way down the throttle body. When you are trying to start it you can look down the throat and see if they are working properly by looking for the gas coming out. No gas then it's the fuel pump most likely but could be a clogged fuel filter. That is another cheap replacement insurance and you will be squeaky clean after replacing it because you will be covered in gas. Not a good time to have a Cuban cigar.
BTW, you did check all the fuses didn't you?
Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Thu May-29-08 05:38 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. man when it rains it pours
maybe bucking is a little strong - hesitating might be better. Anyway I had to drive everyone all over the universe today and it seemed fine except maybe one little time. UNTIL...checked some fences along the railroad (about 10 miles of good gravel road) and then hit the pavement to go home - it kind of chugged, hesitated for a fraction of a second and then went on just fine...only the "check engine" light came on. arrggghhhh Now, I know sometimes those are irrelevant, but the combination with the hesitating and the fact that it is a dodge has me concerned.(I may not have mentioned but I HATE dodge)
Oh and on the van, "tester" over at Car Talk suggested it might me the timing chain. We didn't get to it last night and won't probably until tomorrow evening at the earliest. Meanwhile we need to travel several hundred miles before then in the Dodge...when that light came on I immediately ran down to town to the shop we use and he seemed unconcerned - said it was probably emissions stuff and it would be ok for a while, but I would like more opinions on that.
Anybody here got more opinions on that, for the Kali primitive?
Remember, she's a first-tier primitive, not an ordinary run-of-the-mill unterprimitven, the lynch mob.
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It's hard to diagnose driveability issues with the vehicle in front of you let alone over the net with a moron to do the actual work.
I'd say it's electrical from the little real info given. It's not fuel because there's a claim of smell. Now it could be to much fuel, but we'd never be able to get that checked properly online.
The backfire is irrelevant because of the lack of an exhaust system. You'll get a little fart when it quits running and the lack of something to supress it allows it to sound worse than it is.
It could be timing gears but again with the intellegence level and the lack of exhaust or info on milage that'll be tough to check without being there. Being scared of 12 volts precludes checking for rotor rotation.
Someone needs to get a real mechanic to look at the vehicle and not the idiot who told her the check engine light was something emmissions related. DUH, yeah it is but depending on what the malfunction is and what conditions the light comes on/stays on determines how serious it is.
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It's hard to diagnose driveability issues with the vehicle in front of you let alone over the net with a moron to do the actual work.
:rotf: