Engine Flooded I Think? HELP

[Clocker]

Anyway my car wont turnover. Previously the gas pedal would stick and I relubed the accelarator spring. Unfortunately I think I pulled the accelerator spring a few times. And then I think the engine is flooded. This may be a silly question but what can I do to unflood the engine?

Clocker

Or can any of you guys point me to a car oriented repair website. I dont know of any..

 

[element]

Just wait until the fuel evaporates. Maybe removing the air cleaner will help it evaporate a little faster. Course put it back on before you try and start it so no debris gets inside the carb.

Btw, do you even have a carb? Cause if it is fuel injected then it isn't flooded. You can't flood a fuel injected engine.

 

[woodie1]

If it is flooded then hold the gas pedal to the floor and crank the engine. Otherwise let it sit for 30 minutes or so and then try again.

 

[Clocker]

I have an Altima 97 and the car is fuel injected. And I was told by a mechanic the fuel injected vehicles can get flooded. Is this true?


Thanks for the response.

 

[Clocker]

Wouldnt holdin the gas pedal to the floor flood the engine compartment more?

 

[notfred]

Flooding the engine won't keep the car from turning over. Sure you dont have a dead battery?

 

[Clocker]

My lights come one. Maybe it could be a dying battery I dont know now.

 

[element]

hmm that's odd I was under the impression fuel injected engines cannot get flooded because if the engine is off the fuel injectors would not pump fuel into the intake. I could be wrong though. In any event I do not recommend flooring a fuel injected accelerator while cranking the engine, that only works to resolve flooding problems on carburated engines.

Maybe it's not flooded? One of the first steps in diagnosis is to check for spark. Have you done that? Gotta be careful not to get shocked yourself you really need to know what you are doing before attempting this. A safe way to check for spark is to use a timing light on the no.1 spark plug wire.

edited a typo

 

[Clocker]

The car does turning over a bit. It has a deeper tring to cranover sound. If that makes any sense. Is there a pasrticulkar forum i could get into regarding this matter.

 

[element]

You said it wouldn't turn over, but does it crank? If it cranks obviously the battery works.

 

[notfred]

<< The car does turning over a bit. It has a deeper tring to cranover sound. If that makes any sense. Is there a pasrticulkar forum i could get into regarding this matter. >>



Say that again?

 

[element]

Clocker, if you really want to do it yourself, you need to check for spark. This is the first step in diagnosing what is wrong. Without spark the engine will not turn over. Invest in a small timing light you can get in any auto parts store for like $30.

Alternatively, you can remove a spark plug and clamp it to a good ground on the engine block, then view it for spark while someone cranks the engine. Careful as it has a very high voltage going to it, so don't touch it.

edit: And keep in mind the spark can travel short distances through the air or material. So don't touch it with thin gloves either.

 

[Clocker]

OK I believe the battery works. The engine seems to almost crank over.

I guess the engine is flooded then. And I need to find a way to unflood the engine.

I dont want to keep tryin to start the car because I might drain the battery too much.

I found that for some vehicles there are unflood procedures (ie RX7) but that isnt helpful for the altima

 

[veryape]

Sounds like you've killed the battery trying to get it started and now you need a jump. When you get someone to give you a jump and if it still won't start hold it to the floor. Some people say not to do that because it's fuel injected but they don't know what they are talking about. Just hold it and don't let it up until it starts because then you will just flood it more, and yes, being fuel injected as it is turning it is spewing more fuel forth, but not nearly as much as it does every time you step on the pedal or turn the key. Holding it sends a slight steady stream. If it's flooded then that is the only way it is going to start, other than letting it sit for a while and then trying it, that usually works too.

 

[element]

Ok the only way to flood a fuel injected engine is for there to be no spark, so the fuel keeps going in but not lit, so it gets flooded. But still the underlying problem would be that of no spark! Like I said you need to diagnose this in the manner i described earlier.

btw do you smell fuel? especially with a spark plug removed? this indicates flooding.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Get a new battery. Everything points to that being the culprit. A flooded engine will crank over just fine, but it will not run on it's own. If the engine is cranking slowly then it's the battery. Flooding an engine will NOT cause the engine to crank slowly. Starting your engine is far and away the hardest thing for your battery to do. The lights, radio, A/C-Heater fan, power windows, etc. can all work even when the battery is beyond the point at which it is capable of starting the engine. Very hard to flood an FI engine, though it can be done. Flooring the gas pedal for a few seconds with the engine off, however, is not enough to flood it. At least, it's not enough to flood any FI car I've driven.

ZV

 

[element]

<< Sounds like you've killed the battery trying to get it started and now you need a jump. When you get someone to give you a jump and if it still won't start hold it to the floor. Some people say not to do that because it's fuel injected but they don't know what they are talking about. Just hold it and don't let it up until it starts because then you will just flood it more, and yes, being fuel injected as it is turning it is spewing more fuel forth, but not nearly as much as it does every time you step on the pedal or turn the key. Holding it sends a slight steady stream. If it's flooded then that is the only way it is going to start, other than letting it sit for a while and then trying it, that usually works too. >>



I disagree, I think the ones who don't know what they are talking about are the people who think the battery is dead when the engine is still cranking. I could be wrong, but I still hold to my opinion that a proper diagnosis is to first check for spark.

 

[cavemanmoron]

put the car in park or neutural;if standard,hold tha accelerator {gas} pedal to the floor,
crank the motor,while counting to 30,do NOT let up on the gas pedal,unless the eninge starts!,if it does start,as soon as the motor starts to rev up,start letting up on the gas pedal Slowly....
If the car does Not start after you count to 30,count to 100,and repeat the above.for a max of 4 times.
my one fuel injected vehicle did this Today, after you get it running,let it idle till there is Heat from the heater,then drive it slowly to the gas station,and if they have it,buy a bottle of ISOPROPYL dry gas..
NOT methanol,dry gas,add it to the fuel tank and put some super in it too..
when you get a chance get a tune up done..

Lee cavemanmoron,!!

 

[TekViper]

just a word of caution...if a lot of gas fumes have built up in the cat/muffler system, you going to be in for one hell of an explosion when u get it to start. might do some serious damage if your not carefull. id go find the proper procedure on what to do with a flooded engine for your car before attempting anything. also if you tried cranking it a lot, your batt might be discharged. check that too.

 

[element]

Exactly what TekViper said.....proper diagnosis is very important! Do not just try things out randomly! You'll may just kill the battery, or worse, light the fumes! But you would smell if fumes built up. Don't crank without the hood open.

 

[TekViper]

jeezus cavemanmoron. let the starter crank for 30-100 seconds? thats a good way to kill the starter. if it doesnt start withen 5 cranks wait a bit and keep trying.

 

[element]

The starter should never be cranked for more than a few seconds....certainly not 30 seconds! Please do not spout misinformation!

 

[etech]

The engine seems to almost crank over.

Do you mean when you hold the key the engine just barely seems to turn over or it turns normally when you hold the key and it almost catches and starts.

If it just barely turns over when you hold the key on, then your battery is dead and you will have to deal with that first. Get it recharged or replaced if necessary. Most auto shops will test if for you, many for free.


This is how to tell if your car is flooded.

 

[notfred]

I still can't tell if the motor's turning over or not.

Better information, please.

 

[element]

LOL@that pic etech!

To test the battery you can buy a battery tester at an auto parts store too, they're relatively cheap.