Car not starting

[Robotnik123]

So I went to start the car this morning. It started OK, and I backed it out a few feet when it sputtered and died and would not start again. Before it died it felt like it was mis-firing for a brief moment. Anyway, a few hrs later after sitting on the drive the car started first turnover, but was belching white smoke. After a run around the block the smoke went away and it now seems to be running fine. Any idea what happened?

[bradc]

How long had it been standing for? Had it been kept outside?

[Robotnik123]

How long had it been standing for? Had it been kept outside?

I last drove it on Saturday, so around 4 days standing. It had been kept outside.

[bradc]

Possibly a bit of water in the system then? Have you had some really cold days down there?

[Robotnik123]

Possibly a bit of water in the system then? Have you had some really cold days down there?

Yeah it's been pretty cold. No big frosts over the last few days, but it's been fairly cold none-the-less.

[CANDEE]

Weird that it did it after onlyl 4 days Jan.... Mine has sat for about 2 weeks outside and it started first time...

Also was it raining when you last drove it? might have been some moisture in the system that came out when you started the car?

J

[Robotnik123]

Oh yeah I gave the car a hose down on Saturday, including jetting water at the front grill to remove cobwebs. That might have done it. I think it was also raining over the weekend.

[Turbo_Steve]

It's also possible it simply overfuelled on cold start.

[bradc]

I'd imagine the washing is probably more at fault. Anyway as long as it doesn't do it this morning I don't think you have anything to worry about.

[Subaru ETA]

last time you drove it how far did you drive it? i agree with steve - i think it over fueled and flooded itself

[Robotnik123]

last time you drove it how far did you drive it? i agree with steve - i think it over fueled and flooded itself

It was to Lower Hutt and back so 30kms, or something like that in total, partly on motorway, partly on city streets.

[Robotnik123]

Car didn't start again today. It turned over but didn't fire. I guess the battery could be on the way out so will have to check that. It was very cold and wet last night and I last drove the car on Monday, so it was standing for 36 hours or so.

[bradc]

Did it turn over really quickly as if it would normally, or was it struggling to turn over

[Robotnik123]

Did it turn over really quickly as if it would normally, or was it struggling to turn over

Yeah it turned over quickly like normal.

[bradc]

Probably not battery then if it was turning over quickly. How long did you crank it over for?

[Robotnik123]

Probably not battery then if it was turning over quickly. How long did you crank it over for?

I cranked it a few times, each time for a good five seconds. Kept my foot hard on the accelerator after the first time I cranked it. You can't 'flood' an EFI car can you?

[bradc]

On my white VR-4 it would not start immediately if I left it for a few days. I would have to crank it over for a while. Leaving it for about a week would mean I'd need to crank it for 10 seconds before it would suddenly start. I assumed that it was a problem with the fuel not staying up in the fuel rail and that the fuel pump needed to pump it back up to the rail, but I never looked into it because I sold the car.

[Subaru ETA]

it does sound like its flooding itself. this can be caused by a number of things. it is usually caused by moving the car a short distance and turning it off without getting it warm. it can be caused by it just being really bloody cold and the ecu over compensating and dumping too much fuel on cold start.

next time it does it, put you foot right to the floor on the accelerator and crank for a good 30 seconds without stopping. this lets as much air in a poss to counter act theh fact there is too much hfuel in the engine.

[Davezj]

that takes me back to my old MKII escort when it flooded you would have to sit there with the engine off and foot on the floor to open the carb up and let some petrol evaporate from the inlet. Mmmmm Petrol! smell of the gods

[Kiwi VR-4]

This is very similiar to what I have just had happen, see here

http://www.clubvr4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41398