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Car died?!

Pure2sin

Pure2sin

New member
I have a 2002 Monte Carlo SS top swapped with rockers and an intercooler.

I just put the car back together the other day and took it for a drive. On the way home I noticed that the car was running a little hot but thought I just didn't bleed the coolant all the way. I was going up a hill and the car started to chug then the CEL started blinking and the car shut off. I read the code and it was a misfire on #6.

I tried to restart the car and noticed a little bit of white smoke coming out the back. At this point the car would turn over freely. I didn't have any tools so I went home and came back later. The car would only turn over a few times but would come to a clunk in the middle of the starter cycle.

I tried again today and now the car won't turn over but the starter clunks only once. The plugs all smell the gas and so does the oil from all the attempts to start it.

I have checked or replaced:

-coil packs- (swapped out for 3 others with no change)
-wires- (PRJ) (Look good not broken or cut)
-spark plugs (None bent and all look good)
-fuel filter -(put a new one on)
 


Checked the ICM and it looks good. The ground is right where it should be. I am not missing any coolant and it doesn't seem like there is any in the oil.

I am having it towed tomorrow and I will try turning the crank to see what is going on. I hope it turns.
 
Remove fuel pump relay.
Remove spark plugs.
Crank.
Listen for any clunking or metallic noises.
If it turns freely it may just be a fueling problem.

How hot did it get? And were you mashing it when this happened?
 
Remove plugs.. crank over. Note the coolant all over the firewall or radiator. Fix coolant leak, probably at the LIM to IC if you didn't plug the LIM.
 
It wasn't getting that hot. I had the heat on to counter the effects of whatever the problem was so it wasn't getting over 250.

Coolant holes are blocked in the LIM. Doesn't seem like I am missing any coolant but I will look around closer.

I am wondering if I possibly did something to the flexplate and it's causing it to seize up and not be able to turn. That would explain why the starter seems to be catching.

Or my motor is FUBAR.
 
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Over 250 is kinda a big deal, but I'm thinking possibly hydrolocked as well either with a leaky LIM or since your topswapped you switched heads right? did you make sure to clean all of the surfaces and torque everything down correctly?
 
So I took the belts off with the plugs in and I can turn the crank with a breaker bar. It does make a weird high pitched noise when I turn it though. Almost like a shreaking noise.

Almost sounds like an Eel (only one of them) from The Princess Bride (Go to the 20 second mark):




At first I thought it was coming from the motor but it almost sounds like it is coming from around the balancer area?

Bill-

I took a few plugs out and they smell like gas. I will try to crank it over with the plugs out. It shouldn't matter if the belts are on correct?

The more you say hydrolock the more I think that might be it. I thought that I glanced down at the wideband and it went "Rich" right as the problem happened. The problem with that is that I have cranked it over many times since then (with the plugs in) which I have read is not good if your motor is hydrolocked with fuel. I wonder if the AFPR failed?
 
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I don't think its a spun bearing.

I went out and pulled the fuel pump relay then pulled all the plugs. As soon as I pulled plug #6 gas poured out of the hole.

I cranked it over without spark or the belts on and gas sprayed out of the spark plug holes. It seemed to turn over without spark and fuel just fine without any bad noises so I think I am in the clear on damage.

Basically I think when I was driving the car started dumping gas. I have not taken the fuel rail off yet but I am guessing either an injector or the AFPR went bad. I am leaning more towards injector.

I am going to drain the oil out and replace it but I read someplace that I should give each plug hole/cylinder a shot of WD40 before running the car. Good idea or no? Possibly some other lubricant?
 
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Probably not a bad idea, just to protect from corrosion, but yeah I'm wondering if you didn't somehow physically damage the injector before install then, you may want to pull them off and take a peek.
 
From what I have seen I guess the injectors can get stuck open if something gets caught in them. I don't know if that is what happened yet but I plan on just replacing them all.
 
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I just installed the #80 injectors I had because I don't have anything else and I scaled down the IFR table to run pump gas. I did an oil change and there was a lot of gas in the oil.

The car seems to idle fine and seems to run fine but I am getting a MIL that is saying I am running lean on bank 1. My wideband is also showing lean at idle when running yet the car idles and runs just fine without any KR at all.

Could I be showing or running lean because of the gas in the oil or do you think I just need to possibly mess with the injectors more?
 


Not sure if that is actually the issue. The car idles and runs just fine.

I guess I could add me to the IFR table and see what happens.
 
Honestly, the right injectors with the right table would be a good start. If after that it continues, then you have a legit issue. Or, you can use the old brake clean method to check for vacuum leaks.
 
hitman92499 said:
Honestly, the right injectors with the right table would be a good start. If after that it continues, then you have a legit issue. Or, you can use the old brake clean method to check for vacuum leaks.
Click to expand...

I guess I don't get what you think it "right"? If I can run these #80s with E85 I should be able to run them with pump gas without an issue. The only difference would be adding 30% back to the IFR table.

Other people a running them so I am thinking it's something else.
 
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