Hi Everyone,

Hope you have all enjoyed your summer and fall.

I've been away from the computer a bit...er a LOT..and basically enjoying family friends etc all season. My eight year old is growing like a weed and I am just having a ball w/her.

Put a few thousand miles on the 97 XK 8 but it did sit a bit as I have been driving an old pick up back and forth to the Adirondacks.

Anyway, Went to start it up the other day...it fired then stalled. Then it would not start, sounded like it was free wheeling if that makes sense.

Bummer, nice day was forecast and I had some driving to do...but hey, I took the truck..(no radio, no a/c...lotsa fun).

Came back the next day and tried it again. Again, free wheeling sound...pumped it a bit and promptly flooded it..so let's assume i am getting fuel.

So: I checked the sticky and car won't start thread and it did mention the free wheeling I was experiencing but no specific fix.

This happened to an old Alfa I had and my trusted mechanic said pour a bit of oil in each cylinder. Started right up, (drove all the squirrels and vermin outta the garage too!!), and ran fine until I sold it years later.

So...Should I try this? Should I disconnect battery to reboot car?

Any ideas prior to the tow truck would be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance...would be nice to say nice to be back but certainly this is for the wrong reason!

 

Yes pull the plugs and squirt oil in each cylinder. Sounds like you washed the cylnders

 

First post since July 19th and you've only done 2000 miles!

Not surprised the Cat won't start - feeling neglected.

Graham

 

yeah I know....lot of shorter trips.

I just tried again, been about a week, same thing..even tried a different key.

Still think it could be wash down after all this time?

 

Yes, most likely. The early V8 (AJ-26) was particularly prone to wash down syndrome.

 

It does sound like it, worth a try with the oil and a cheap fix if it's good.

 

I've had to do this at least 3 times now. The oil does the trick. A big help is to have the car hooked up with booster cables, it cranks way faster and starts easier.

 

+ 1 to cylinder wash

If you've really been cranking it, flash the excess fuel off by holding a match to the plugholes before putting the oil in. You don't want neat fuel going anywhere near the cats.

Graham

 

tell the fire brigade and local hostpital up front

 

Yes, because once the cylinder walls are dry they'll stay dry until oiled again. Either by squirting or running.

Since running is not an option due to no start ... the conclusion is ...

 

Wasn't Guy Fawkes a couple of days ago?

 

Ok,


Sorry if I've totally missed out on an inside joke and I don't want to sound dense..... but are you serious about burning off the fuel in the cylinders? Seems a bit risky to me

Now I love a good joke and all but I do take your advice to heart.

Please remember, I have a loving wife, an adorable 8 year old daughter, both whom I cherish...a wood frame garage and no life insurance.

So all kidding aside: do I really take a match to the cylinders??

Oh and Guy Fawkes was yesterday.....

 

Graham was probably serious, but he's a pro.

A reasonable compromise would be to undo the plugs and let the cylinders air out for a day or so before squirting.

 

I think he's got a thing about members who don't post often enough.
Pull out the fuel pump relay and crank it with the plugs out, or


(sorry, Graham)

 

I think he's got a thing about members who don't post often enough.

Be careful what you wish for

no offense to Graham but I think I'll pull the plugs tomorrow (staying up tonight to watch the elections) and try it Saturday.

Thanks to all you are the best.

 

No dont match the cylinders, just pull the plugs heat those and burn off any gas. I use a mini torch on the tips. Just a couple squirts and fire it up. Remember that holding your foot on the floor before and during cranking shuts off fuel to any fuel injection system putting it in "clear flood" mode. When ever i oil the cylinders i just pull the drivers side(easiest) oil 4 and start it up. Those four fire enough to get the engine runing and at that point the crank throws off enough oil on the cylinder walls to fix you right up.....

 

Now where have I seen that pic this morning, Steve?

( I'll have to start copyrighting my PM's )

Graham

 

Couldn't resist !

 

Trust a guy who works flat-rate to come up with a neat shortcut

 

Well I finally got a few minutes to pop the hood on the car Sunday afternoon after returning from out of town.

Now keep in mind, my other hobby cars have been old MG's Alfa's my current 61 Corvette and older American cars. I could actually stand inside the fenders and change plugs in my old Pontiacs..when I was younger and thinner.

So....I popped on this site to get an idea how to get the plastic covers off, and then watched in horror as it was explained how to remove the coil pack.....

Went back in the garage and promptly closed the hood.

Had it towed to my favorite indy and they were going to do the oil trick.

Turned out they called and said come on down...plugs were shot, about a .070 gap, oil was gassed and the air cleaner was crud.

Ok, I'm busy...shoot me...

Car started right up, he took it for a ten minute drive. I told him I would be storing the car for the winter shortly so he asked for me to leave it overnight to check the cold start...I told him to take it home if he wanted to.

Ok, $295 later, (plugs, oil change new air filter, (needed)), I feel ashamed to be in the company of you experts having to hire out but hey, they're a great shop and assuming all goes well in the morning I have a few more weeks of driving pleasure, (and I will drive the wheels off it), before a cold winters nap.

Thank you again to all who commented, I printed this thread out before I met w/them and they concurred w/all you said...(no egos at this shop either). The lead mechanic and I went on this site at his shop and he was very impressed w/the content.

Kudos