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Recovering from Lawnmower Syndrome 850 1994

posted by  Jglave on  Mon Jan 6 11:52 CST 2003
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Hi there, well I didnt learn my lesson from the last time this happened -- when I ended up having to get the car towed to a garage. Sure enough, I moved the @#$@ car 20 feet and shut it off. Now it won't start. Classic lawnmower syndrome: engine cranks and cranks and stinks of gas. Flooded.

This time I am determined to get out of this mess myself. The last time, the dealer pulled the plugs and cleaned them thoroughly, and also changed the oil, which dealer said was full of gas. That did it.

So I pulled the plugs and cleaned them all thoroughly, then pulled the coil and had the wife crank starterwhile i touched coil to ground (without plugs in), in effort to blast out whatever fuel crud was in combustion chamber. Finally, I tried blowing compressed air into the cylinder heads (from a can, the kind used to clean electronics). I let the car sit for four hours to evaporate what gas might be in there. Returned plugs and coil cable, cranked again and got the same thing. Nada.

Tried another approach: pulled the fuel pump fuse and cranked engine to try to burn whatever fuel had accumulated in combustion chamber, then restored fuse and tried again. No start. Cranking, and cranking, and catching once every second or so but never getting it together to actually start.

I don't want another tow and $150 bill. I am open to suggestions. ALSO, should I have my foot flat on the pedal when attempitng to start (wondering if this pours air into the chamber)?

Thanks.








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    UPDATE Recovering from Lawnmower Syndrome 850 1994

    posted by  Jglave on  Mon Jan 13 09:18 CST 2003
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    The gamble did not pay off.

    Waited a week for the new coil to arrive. It did and I just installed it, and it didn't make a damn difference. Crank crank crank crank. The battery is now very low from my repeated efforts to start this car. I have had to try and turn it over with the help of jumpers from my Jeep and even then power is very low - dash lights are very dim - after 20 seconds of trying to crank.

    I do not have a car battery charger.

    I am at wit's end. Last option is another two to the dealer like last time. They have never heard of LMS and probably don't care as they will somehow get it started and charge me $200 for the honor.

    Sorry, I am a frustrated person at the moment.

    jtg








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    Recovering from Lawnmower Syndrome 850 1994

    posted by  someone claiming to be homer on  Tue Jan 7 02:52 CST 2003 [RELATED]

    Try a new rotor cap-it would have saved me the $150 when in the same mess!








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    Recovering from Lawnmower Syndrome 850 1994

    posted by  jeff w on  Mon Jan 6 13:54 CST 2003
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    last visit: Tue Jul 24 17:32 CST 2001
    [RELATED]

    It is possible that your coil is getting weak. I used to get the lawnmower syndrome constantly on my 1987 RX7 Turbo II. This was my method for a flooded fuel injected car. It worked for me at least 30 times.
    1. At the first sign that you have a flood condition (don't keep cranking the starter over and over, you will just make the situation worse)stop trying to start the car. Push your accelerator pedle to the floor. Now try and start the car 2 times maximum (3 seconds each).
    2. Now remove the fuel pump fuse.
    3. With the fuel pump fuse now removed, try starting the car. Try cranking 2-3 times for about 5-10 second intervals.
    4. Re-connect the fuel pump fuse and try starting the car again (do not touch the accelerator pedle). Try it up to 3 times.

    The i would repeat steps 1-3 one more time. If that wouldn't start the car then i would:

    5. Remove 1 or 2 spark plugs and pour 6-8 tablespoons of oil into the rotor (piston housing in the case of a volvo).
    6. With the fuel pump fuse connected i would try to start the car normally. This method worked every time. Fortunately i only had to revert to this method about FIVE times in the life of that car. Sadly enought i used to have this procedure automated with an oil funnel attached to a rubber house that i would put into the rotor housing. I always left this handy setup in my car as i never knew when i would have to use it.
    I did see another post in the archives that also talked about this procedure too.
    Good Luck
    Jeff






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