850 '94 won't start

brucek2080 · Post by **brucek2080** » 11 Nov 2009, 20:01

My 850, non-turbo just cranks but won't start.

Diagnostic connectors A2 and A6 are clear (fuel & ignition). I replaced the fuel pump relay and even bypassed the fuel pump relay using a paperclip, in case my new relay was bad. No luck

I took out the spark plugs and noticed they were wet with gas (flooded?) I left them out for several days, so the cylinders would dry out. Spark plugs are getting spark, wires & plugs are about 2 years old.

I think it might be a bad fuel pump but gas is getting to the cylinders, that's for sure. Need suggestions...

dbo550 · Post by **dbo550** » 11 Nov 2009, 20:25

It could be a bad ect sensor or bad gas. have you tried just cranking it for a really long time without giving it any gas?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 12 Nov 2009, 01:00

How does the car sound as it cranks? Is it faster than normal?

Many times with these cars the compression will drop to near zero on all cylinders if it has been severely flooded. That is easily repaired by pouring a teaspoon of oil into each cylinder, fully charging the battery, put the spark plugs back in, and keep cranking until the engine well and truly starts and keeps running on its own. It will be rough at first.

Don't try this with the car in the garage as the smoke cloud will be amazing once it starts. There is no permanent damage as a result unless your spark plugs are iffy to begin with and it may cause them to foul. I have had it happen to me a couple of times and after the smoke clears everything is fine again.

Since I have an entire fleet of old beater cars I have invested in the tools to try to keep the fleet running which includes a compression gauge, a fuel pressure gauge, and a spark tester. Those are really the only things that you need to make an engine run - fuel, compression, and spark.

If your compression is OK and you have no spark look at the Camshaft Position Sensor. It can die and not set a code but it will keep the car from starting.

...Lee

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 12 Nov 2009, 10:25

I would do what Lee says. Sounds like your car is suffering from lawn mower syndrome.

Japedo · Post by **Japedo** » 13 Nov 2009, 07:53

Although I have never experienced a faulty fuel pressure regulator, I believe from reading on this forum that it could cause your car to flood.
I believe if you pull the vacume line off the bottom of the regulator "the regulator is just to the left of the fuel rail" there should not be any free flowing fuel.
If there is fuel running out of this line your regulator diaphram could be damaged and causing your issue.
Do a search on fuel pressure regulator, the above troubleshooting is just what I remember and likely not 100% accurate.
I would otherwise say it's your cam position sensor , ive replace 2 in 6 years. Bu u said u have spark so that can't be the problem.
Good Luck

Curtis

Steskon · Post by **Steskon** » 13 Nov 2009, 14:03

My son recently had this problem with his 94 850. It too was getting spark and fuel. By pure luck I noticed a big hole in the air duct ( 3" dia) leading from air filter housing to engine block. I taped it up real good with some duct tape and it started up. This is near where the mass air flow sensor is located so it may have been getting a bad reading. Hope you have the same luck. Cheap fix.