99 T5 - no start after 2 months - low compression?

Post by **j-dawg** » 11 May 2014, 17:05

BACKGROUND:
my 99 T5 hasn't been driven since about march. about two weeks ago i tried to jump it. it started once, sputtered, and died. it didn't have the juice for a second go - all i heard was the relay clicking. (the car is pointed inwards, so i had charged the battery off my roommate's car idling.)

since then i've been trying to start it with a charged battery and it doesn't start. video is at to me it sounds like low compression - there's a load on the starter, but nothing's happening. i smell unburnt fuel around the exhaust. i tapped the starter solenoid with a dowel and hammer just in case it was stuck, but it didn't help.

i read this thread and similar symptoms turned out to be a failing starter. why could that have been? any thoughts on the best next steps?

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 11 May 2014, 17:22

From the video it sounds like it is cranking. What makes you think the starter is at fault?

Confirm the basic things: fuel, spark, and air. Unless you have zero compression on every single cylinder (unlikely) it should still start.

No codes coming up I take it?

Post by **abscate** » 11 May 2014, 18:13

You can easily torch coils on these 99+ cars jump starting them.

Is the a Electronic Throttle Body whining when you power up the key, before starting?

Post by **j-dawg** » 11 May 2014, 20:09

polskamafia mjl wrote:From the video it sounds like it is cranking. What makes you think the starter is at fault?

i'm not really sure what to think - the sound my starter is making is either it spinning faster than usual or much slower than usual. it sounds different. the thread i linked was resolved when the starter was replaced. i'm not saying it's at fault, but i don't want to rule anything out.

Confirm the basic things: fuel, spark, and air. Unless you have zero compression on every single cylinder (unlikely) it should still start.

guess i forgot the basics. i have pressure at the rail and i smell fuel. i'll check spark. i have an etm so i don't know what's going on with air. i have no vacuum gauge to check for leaks.

No codes coming up I take it?

i don't have a code reader here, unfortunately. i'll try to hunt one down tomorrow. the dash is lit up (see attached). i can't remember - is this normal for key in Position II, engine not started, or should some of these lights be going away after a few seconds?

abscate wrote:You can easily torch coils on these 99+ cars jump starting them.

this reminds me - i had tried one of those jump-start booster battery packs, and that's when i first observed this behavior.

Is the a Electronic Throttle Body whining when you power up the key, before starting?

yes, it is. it ends with a little "clunk" after a moment. that's what i've always heard and i thought it was normal. i've never observed untoward ETM behavior, but it's a white-label unit and i don't know its history besides that it hasn't been replaced during the last 35k miles.

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 11 May 2014, 20:18

Yeah, key on will bring up all of the dash lights. Most of them will stay on until the engine is started.

difflock54 · Post by **difflock54** » 11 May 2014, 20:20

Engine turning over faster than normal may be down to very low or no compression?
Try a compression test.

Sagan · Post by **Sagan** » 11 May 2014, 21:49

Not sure if this applies to volvos, but it sort of sounds like an old honda I had when the timing belt cut loose.

Post by **abscate** » 12 May 2014, 03:41

After compression test put a strawful of motor oil into each cylinder. Try key cranking for 10 seconds. You might have lawn mower syndrome, which is good news.

Post by **tryingbe** » 12 May 2014, 06:30

Undo the wires/plugs and put a little oil into each cylinder, and replace the plugs/wires. I bet it'll start right up.

Post by **j-dawg** » 15 May 2014, 10:58

oil in the cylinders helped - you can hear ignition events happening, and it's clearly trying to catch in a way that it was not before. i still have battery issues and i think it just needs replacement.

however, it's still not starting, and now i am hearing an absolutely terrifying clacking noise during cranking. please see the video:

what on earth is that noise? if i get the engine going, will it destroy itself? has it already done so? i was diligent about not letting things fall into the spark plug holes, so i don't think anything is in there, but this sounds extremely mechanical.

EDIT: forgot to mention - the NGK R spark plugs were all at .040" for some reason, so i regapped them to .028". i don't know if that's significant.