Help! Car is stranded, won't start...

RexSpeed · Post by **RexSpeed** » 04 Jan 2011, 15:37

My '97 850 GLT is stranded in the lot at work. AAA will be towing it home for me a in an hour or so.

Car won't start. Wants to, but won't. The upper intercooler hose (between IC and TB) collapses in on itself, choking the engine and preventing running. The hose is a brand new Samco.

This is the 3rd time this has happened this winter, but the first time it's ever been bad enough to prevent the car from running at all. The other two times it just sat at idle speed for 10 minutes until things had warmed up. Once warm, it always ran like a champ. Lately it's been dropping a P0172 code that I haven't been able to trace down.

Ideas?

Once the car is home this evening I'll be tinkering around. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 04 Jan 2011, 15:56

My bet is that the intercooler froze up. What are your current temperatures?

There is a drain hole on the bottom of the intercooler that should drain condensation but it is not uncommon for that hole to get plugged up and the condensation builds up to a point where, once it freezes, it completely blocks off the airflow.

P0172 is a vacuum leak, normally the elbow that goes into the end of the intake manifold.

...Lee

RexSpeed · Post by **RexSpeed** » 04 Jan 2011, 16:26

Ozark Lee wrote:My bet is that the intercooler froze up. What are your current temperatures?

There is a drain hole on the bottom of the intercooler that should drain condensation but it is not uncommon for that hole to get plugged up and the condensation builds up to a point where, once it freezes, it completely blocks off the airflow.

A whopping +9 was our high today and it had dropped to 5 by the time I got out of work. So get the car home, aim space heater at the bottom of the IC until it starts, let the engine come up to temp, then drain the thawed gunk? Weird thing though, it was only +3 when I left the house this morning, and it fired right up.

Ozark Lee wrote:P0172 is a vacuum leak, normally the elbow that goes into the end of the intake manifold.

Already checked it, it seems solid.

Post by **boosted5cyl** » 04 Jan 2011, 18:55

You could try disconnecting the outlet from the intercooler and the MAF. Ie run it practically as an N/A car. It should run then, but I wouldnt drive too far.

RexSpeed · Post by **RexSpeed** » 04 Jan 2011, 21:19

Thanks Ozark Lee, you were right on the money!

The IC is now thawed and drained, and shouldn't give me any more trouble, now that I know to keep an eye on purging the condensation periodically.