Engine Flood after 12 day rest?
Discussion
Hi all, (Sorry for the long post...loads to describe)
Still getting used to using a 98 Esprit v8 as an everyday car...
Lottie was recently resting for 12 days after it was returned from an "A" service in the UK. Which seemed to go fine? She is garaged all the time. When I went to goto work with her, she would not start; I am sharing this info with you, as I have used this site many times, as all your opinions are very useful, so maybe mine might be for some one.
First she would not start using the normal process, turn key, way for fuel pump to prime, and then start.
I tried this process a good twenty times, each time, I had full dash board lights, and the engine would turn fine, but just not fire. The fuel pump primed each time.
I called the AA (Recovery/home start) service, the guy who turned up, right away said the car was flooded. From his experience with super cars, the flooding would be more of a problem than it is for normal saloon cars. He removed the fuse for the fuel pump located into the fuse box within the right hand real wheel arch inside the boot. He tried starting the engine with out the fuel pump. This did not work. He then removed each spark plug and cleaned and blow torched each one. This did not work. He tested each HT lead using a spark plug from his kit; he found that the spark was very low and intermittent. He found it very hard to find a good earth around the engine; most bolts would read only 7ish volts, instead of 12volts. At this point he tried something I knew was wrong but being English, I stayed quiet whilst he went to wreak my car. He started his recovery van and connected the jump leads up, he then went to start Lottie whilst his van was running. This can be very bad, as the total volts running thru my ECU would be 24v rather than 12v. However……Lottie started! Loads of fuel burned off in the exhaust, lots of smoke. We took her for a short drive, he was die-ing for a ride, he said he had never been in one, neither worked on one before, so I obliged as he had saved her from recovery. She seem to stop and start each time, I further took her for a 30min ride then parked her for the night. The next morning she started right away, and touch wood she has been fine since.
I travel to Hong Kong sometimes for two weeks at a time, leaving my Lottie in the garage, before I had a M3 e35 EVO, (milly), she would in two weeks lose her battery. But with Milly it was more obvious, eg, the engine would struggle to turn, then a normal jump start would work. Where as with Lottie, when I first tried the start she responded normally, eg, full engine turn over, full dash board, just no fire to the engine. I do not wish to try the 24v restart again, as this is very bad I think. Also, suspiciously my horn does not work any more since..? And I like to use that a lot, especially around London, as only Londoners know how to drive uptown, its all those southerners who visit and hold up the traffic, buts that another matter!
Still getting used to using a 98 Esprit v8 as an everyday car...
Lottie was recently resting for 12 days after it was returned from an "A" service in the UK. Which seemed to go fine? She is garaged all the time. When I went to goto work with her, she would not start; I am sharing this info with you, as I have used this site many times, as all your opinions are very useful, so maybe mine might be for some one.
First she would not start using the normal process, turn key, way for fuel pump to prime, and then start.
I tried this process a good twenty times, each time, I had full dash board lights, and the engine would turn fine, but just not fire. The fuel pump primed each time.
I called the AA (Recovery/home start) service, the guy who turned up, right away said the car was flooded. From his experience with super cars, the flooding would be more of a problem than it is for normal saloon cars. He removed the fuse for the fuel pump located into the fuse box within the right hand real wheel arch inside the boot. He tried starting the engine with out the fuel pump. This did not work. He then removed each spark plug and cleaned and blow torched each one. This did not work. He tested each HT lead using a spark plug from his kit; he found that the spark was very low and intermittent. He found it very hard to find a good earth around the engine; most bolts would read only 7ish volts, instead of 12volts. At this point he tried something I knew was wrong but being English, I stayed quiet whilst he went to wreak my car. He started his recovery van and connected the jump leads up, he then went to start Lottie whilst his van was running. This can be very bad, as the total volts running thru my ECU would be 24v rather than 12v. However……Lottie started! Loads of fuel burned off in the exhaust, lots of smoke. We took her for a short drive, he was die-ing for a ride, he said he had never been in one, neither worked on one before, so I obliged as he had saved her from recovery. She seem to stop and start each time, I further took her for a 30min ride then parked her for the night. The next morning she started right away, and touch wood she has been fine since.
I travel to Hong Kong sometimes for two weeks at a time, leaving my Lottie in the garage, before I had a M3 e35 EVO, (milly), she would in two weeks lose her battery. But with Milly it was more obvious, eg, the engine would struggle to turn, then a normal jump start would work. Where as with Lottie, when I first tried the start she responded normally, eg, full engine turn over, full dash board, just no fire to the engine. I do not wish to try the 24v restart again, as this is very bad I think. Also, suspiciously my horn does not work any more since..? And I like to use that a lot, especially around London, as only Londoners know how to drive uptown, its all those southerners who visit and hold up the traffic, buts that another matter!
Well, I don't see how a jump start delivers 24 volts... not really possible. The main reason not to attempt jumping with the donor vehicle running is that the load increase on the alternator (from engaging the starter on the jumped vehicle) could damage it. At most your are looking at 14-16 volts depending on the charging current.
I would suspect your either have a weak battery or a grounding problem. I suggest you have the battery checked first. Note that the V8 has a compression ratio of 8.5:1 which is not that difficult to crank over with a weak battery. Depending on the mileage you may have a weak alternator. Lastly, I would check the various ground straps underneath the chassis to ensure they are tight and clean.
Also, as the spark plug covers were removed, be certain to ensure they are properly sealed at the point where the high-tension leads enter the plug wells as they tend to fill up with water if not properly sealed using silicone sealant.
Regards, KM
2000 V8
I would suspect your either have a weak battery or a grounding problem. I suggest you have the battery checked first. Note that the V8 has a compression ratio of 8.5:1 which is not that difficult to crank over with a weak battery. Depending on the mileage you may have a weak alternator. Lastly, I would check the various ground straps underneath the chassis to ensure they are tight and clean.
Also, as the spark plug covers were removed, be certain to ensure they are properly sealed at the point where the high-tension leads enter the plug wells as they tend to fill up with water if not properly sealed using silicone sealant.
Regards, KM
2000 V8
Well you seem to know your stuff "kmaier", The spark plugs were in fact rusted around the tops on the near hadn side of the engine, in fact three could not be removed but the AA man. The compression rating means nothing to me, but it did seem to crank very easily. The Alternator had just been replaced, when I went to purchase her in August on deliverly unfortanlty for the seller the Engine light indicated that the alertantor was faulty, and a new one was fitted proir to me getting her. The earth straps have been suggested to me by a mate of fine, so when she is next in I shall have those checked. My mileage is 16k on a 98, however I put the last 3k on since August 03, the previous owners used her as a 2nd car, were as I use her has my only car.
Have your battery AND alternator checked out. I just replaced the alternator and battery in my '98 (Got a slightly overpowered Optima for the battery) and it solved all of my charging/starting problems.
Cheers
ErnestM
Edited to add: Oops - should have read the responses first. If you get a new batter - be sure and go for the best you can and get one a slight bit more powerful than the oem...
>> Edited by ErnestM on Friday 12th December 01:02
Cheers
ErnestM
Edited to add: Oops - should have read the responses first. If you get a new batter - be sure and go for the best you can and get one a slight bit more powerful than the oem...
>> Edited by ErnestM on Friday 12th December 01:02
Gassing Station | Esprit | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff