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1987 Cadillac 4100 engine dies

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  #1  
Old 11-19-2010, 09:48 PM
stomper's Avatar
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Default 1987 Cadillac 4100 engine dies

i got my suspicions but any suggestions before i dig into it are appreciated.

car was parked for 3 months, charged the battery and started it up, no problem. went down the road, parked, came back, started it, no problem.

parked it for the night, started it again about 2pm next day, went out and drove it maybe 2 miles and engine did a momentary stall / burp while traveling at about 5 mph, engine kept running, car in motion. rounded around the intersection, rolled another 25 ft and engine died.

for 15 minutes, tried to start it up to no avail, battery got weak, tow truck arrives and tows car home.

next day, battery fully charged, tried to start, nothing .. not even a hint of wanting to start.

repeated following day, nothing ..

through all this, checked codes, no codes are set ..





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  #2  
Old 11-20-2010, 05:51 AM
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Sounds like a fuel problem. See if it starts on carb cleaner.
 
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Old 11-20-2010, 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by etbracket
Sounds like a fuel problem. See if it starts on carb cleaner.

hey not a bad idea, didnt even think of that one!
i think i even have a can of starting fluid ...

hopefully the rain will stop tonight and i will try that tomorrow.
charging the battery tonight so i can have a full crank .

thanks
 
  #4  
Old 11-21-2010, 07:01 AM
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If it does fire up try banging on the gas tank to jolt the fuel pump (with the key on)
 
  #5  
Old 12-07-2010, 11:50 PM
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well, finally got to it .. with starting fluid she fired up no problem, stayed running as long as the can was spraying.

the next day she just fired up with no assistance, jump in and went for a high speed drive, maybe 5 miles .. after slowing down, at a stop, she quit .. wouldn't restart .. banged and banged on fuel tank with rubber hammer .. no luck .. I did think of having someone sit on the engine and spray "starting fluid" while i drove it home .. (kidding) .. tow truck here i come .. that leaves me with 3 more AAA tows until July.

i think the fuel turned to gel after being parked for 3 months .. any stuff out there to "DISSOLVE" ethanol gel? i cant stand the though of dropping the fuel tank.

i will be doing a check on the fuel filter just in case it got clogged .. but .. the thing is, i cant hear the pump running when i power on the ignition so its highly suspect.

i wish i could back flush the system and then suck the bad fuel out the filler neck ...


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Last edited by stomper; 12-07-2010 at 11:57 PM.
  #6  
Old 12-09-2010, 11:46 AM
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Default Homebrew Sea Foam

in my quest to find a 'cleaner', i run into an old favorite .. Sea Foam ...





and then this came up! i guess its time to open up the lab and mix a few items.


Homebrew Sea Foam


http://hildstrom.com/projects/seafoam/index.html




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