Winter Woes - Engine won't start, fuel smell, exhaust popping (backfiring)

[Ben Lessani]

  is the only way to describe how I feel.

If you're not familiar, I didn't have antifreeze and everything froze up. I've replaced the metal pipe, changed the radiator, charged the battery and bought and fitted a new starter motor....and I go to turn her over and ...  NOTHING!

Here's what I know,

• The fuel pump is priming and the pressure is ok
• Compression is even 12bar across all 4 cyl
• Spark plugs are clean and there is a strong spark

I had gotten it to run once, but it wouldn't idle, it only kept going if you kept it on mild throttle.

The rest of the time when you crank it, after about 6/7 seconds theres a loud bang from the exhaust - almost like a backfire, but the exhaust is cold.

Interestingly when I took one of the spark plugs out to test the spark, it did bang and there was a light smoke coming out the spark plug hole.

The car has been sat stationary for almost 5 weeks - and I believe the valve stem seals leak, so its likely the cyl were full of oil? And I can only guess the bang was hot carbon deposits igniting fuel from a flooded engine?

The only thing I can think is that the timing could possibly be out from ice expansion - but its a long shot. What's going on!

Edit More googling has revealed it could be a vacuum leak, or moisture in the dizzy - so I'll check those in the morning.

[danny_p]

have you touched the plug leads ?

if have wind the neinge round so the timeing marks line up and look see which plug lead the rotor arm is pointing at.   form the sound of it leads are 180 deg out

[Ben Lessani]

The leads have only ever been removed 1 by 1.

"wind the neinge round" ??

[OakeyDoak16v]

Phff. It could be a hundred things as you know, but is it worth checking that everything regarding the air intake is done up right. Might be something really simple like that is all.

[Ben Lessani]

I know! This is a real kick in the balls when I'm so close to be able to drive the car again.

I'll go over all the vacuum hoses and the intake and check its all done up ok. I had removed the airbox > throttle body pipe to spray some cold start in when testing for a spark the other day - I might have not got the rubber boot on properly on the underside, so I'll check that tommorow too.

[OakeyDoak16v]

It's worth checking, i found out recently. A little thing like that can make all the difference.

[DarnPB]

Has the cam belt slipped due to the water pump being frozen up? (Can't even remember if the cam belt drives the water pump TBH. Long time since I've been in that area. )
This happened on my brothers car a few years back. Coughing and spluttering with wisps of smoke but no start.

[Conker]

It sounds like your getting a spark and fuel, so I would go with air leak or timing as the culprit.

[Ben Lessani]

Has the cam belt slipped due to the water pump being frozen up? (Can't even remember if the cam belt drives the water pump

The water pump is on an aux belt, so it seems unlikely. But it does remind me of my mums car when I did the HG - exact same thing, turned out to be the coil pack on hers...

It sounds like your getting a spark and fuel, so I would go with air leak or timing as the culprit.

It looks that way. Its p***ing it down right now so I can't play, especially since I still need to see if the water is leaking anywhere else.

Edit This site says

Backfire in intake

1)Check that CO adjustment is correct;
If incorrect,backfire will result if started and under a load.

2)Boot between airflow sensor and throttle defective;
Will result in a lean mixture due to secondary air(false air)

3)Vacumm leaks;
Self explainatory.

[oakgreengolf]

might be worth checking for broken wires especially as youve been working in the engine bay. check the one that plugs into the dizzy too, i know on the 16v these become very brittle and brake.