Starting issues - falcon

[trdtrueno]

Hi guys, ran out of fuel in my 97 falcon on the way to the petrol station

I was close enough to walk with my petrol can and get a few litres to fill it back up. After putting $20 into the car, it still wont start, it turns over fine but doesnt ignite. not sure what the problem is here, its on flat ground.
have also checked all the fuses which are fine and have left it turning over for some time in the hope it starts, but no dice.

any thoughts?

Cheers

[allencr]

What's the compression?
Check a plug for spark, sniff the exhaust for heavy fuel smell and you'll know if the ignition is working and/or the fuel.

[evil_si]

Turn the key so the dash lights are on for 20 seconds then off and repeat a few times to cycle fuel pump

[Stott69]

????

[Rob]

See post above

[trdtrueno]

have tried cycling the fuel pump as you can hear it as soon as the key is turned, still hasnt started, managed to tow the car back to my place, so will try again in the morning, inspecting the plugs and leads. the battery will need to be charged as it is nearly flat after trying to start the car.

as for compression, im under the impression the car may have a bhg. has been driving fine once warmed up, but recently has missed and stuttered on first start in the mornings.

have been saving for replacement engine for a while but im a uni student so it may take a while haha

cheers

[Mr Revhead]

Shit blocking the fuel line? Possible air lock?

Maybe see if there's a connection near the pump you can disconnect to see if it's flowing there?

[fangsport]

falcon and commodore fuel pumps do not like being run dry. they are cronic for air-locking, and prone to seizing.

$20 would barely cover the bottom of the tank!!
put another 20litres at least in it and try again. itf that doesn't work undo the fuel rail and blow compressed air into tank.

[Quint]

I had a fuel filter collapse when I ran a car dry once, it blocked up the fuel rail banjo bolt. +1 for blocked fuel line.

[Silent Knight]

Had the same issue in my XR6... had to replace the TPS.

[trdtrueno]

checked all the spark plugs and gave them a clean, managed to see if fuel was actually beeing pumped, which is was, and TPS appears to be fine. had a look for the fuel filter but no luck as it was dark.
turns over fine but still no igniting.

might tow to an auto sparky and see what the guts is

[Mr Revhead]

Oh memory flashback.... I know someone who has this issue.... I'll point them to the thread

[Distrb]

Sounds like the ign module on the side of the dizzy is toast. Toasting is accelerated by poor plug and lead maintenance. Replace this should see it starting again. May want to test rest of ign system and replace weak parts.

Be certain low compression is not caused by comp rings before you start on bhg path. Bhg will be number 1 or number 6 cyl. Will miss on cold start initially and develop into a constant miss at idle. Bhg fix is only a couple of hundred dollars to fix if you know your way round a spanner. So is cheaper than a new motor unless the head is too far gone, but you wont know that for certain till you get it off.

[Adamal]

????

Thats not a circle, this is

[BZG Wagon]

^^ Both as bad as each other IMO. Be a man and get a corolla.

Had any luck resolving this?

[trdtrueno]

yea, have been told its most likely something to do with the distributor so ill get round to that soon when i have the time, its going to be a mish as its under the whole intake manifold.

as for bgh, i took off the exhaust manifold heat sheild and the side of the block is wet most of the time and pretty sure its #1 cylinder where the problem is., and to make things worse is the water pump is poked so ill have to get round to replacing the seal in the back of that as the water just drips constantly from that.

as for getting a corolla, ill be looking for something once i get rid of this, only have it as i was given it by a family member, so no complaints there.

[AE82 FXGT]

to make things worse is the water pump is poked so ill have to get round to replacing the seal in the back of that as the water just drips constantly from that.

Those are easy to do, you have to undo a few bolts where there are brackets on the pipe that bolt to the block, then you pull the pipe out of the back of the pump, replace the o ring, (apply vaseline to let it slip back in to the waterpump) then reassemble, I've heard of some people slotting those brackets and pushing the pipe further in and bolting back up.

[Distrb]

yea, have been told its most likely something to do with the distributor so ill get round to that soon when i have the time, its going to be a mish as its under the whole intake manifold.

as for bgh, i took off the exhaust manifold heat sheild and the side of the block is wet most of the time and pretty sure its #1 cylinder where the problem is., and to make things worse is the water pump is poked so ill have to get round to replacing the seal in the back of that as the water just drips constantly from that.

as for getting a corolla, ill be looking for something once i get rid of this, only have it as i was given it by a family member, so no complaints there.

its easy enough to get to from underneath so you dont have to dismantle whole inlet manifold.

if it is p1ssing down the exhaust side of the block check for certain the pipe out the back of the water pump isn't cracked or holey, as they have a habit of doing that. if that's the case its usually bhg on cyl # 6 as they're the last to get coolant

[trdtrueno]

Fixed!!! ended up being the dizzy coil. got a replacement and its all going again. next on the list is the water pump issue.

cheers for the help guys, much appreciated!