Motor wont start!

[LowchevyII]

so my car has been sitting for a while maybe about 6 months without being started...thinking it wasnt going to be sitting long i havent put any additives in it for long term sitting. Now i want to get the motor started so i know it runs so i can sell it. However, went to go out to start it this morning and it wont turn over. any ideas and or suggestions of what you may think it is (i know its vague) or any suggestions/tips on how to start a motor after long term storage?

thanks guys

jeff

[NOT A TA]

Dead battery? Maybe a kill switch you forgot about?

[LowchevyII]

battery is brand new yellow top..the motor cranks but wont fire. i tried the kill switch too. doesnt seem to be the issue. i poured some fuel in teh carb and it still wont go.. even if there was a clogged filter it would still fire for a minute wouldnt it?

[Vegas69]

First thing I would do is pull a spark plug and see if it's fouled. If it is, I'd check for spark. If you have no spark let me know and I'll walk you through it.

[LowchevyII]

ill pull a plug tomorrow and check that out. thanks for info, ill let you know if i have spark or not. i appreciate the walk through offer :cheers:

[ssinister]

if you poured fuel in the carb and it still wont fire you need to pull a plug and check for spark. Is it electronic ignition or points?

[LowchevyII]

its an electronic ignition. its just weird becuase about 4-6 months ago when i started it last i had no problem. its sense been sitting so not sure what could have gone wrong

[Pdale]

Does it sound like it's turning over too fast? Maybe it's got no compression?

[LowchevyII]

sounds like the compression is there. when i turn the key the motor turns turns over but it doesnt even spit or hiccup like its firing or even wanting to, if that makes sense.

[70rs]

If it sat long enough and the fuel went bad in the carb or varnished and clogged the passages it may not be getting any to the cylinders. But pouring it in the top down the intake would get past that. Check all of your wiring and look for rodent damage. Check the plugs for fouling. Check for moisture under the cap(distributor), and maybe the control module in the ignition if it is an HEI. Can you see the carb squirting fuel when you work the throttle linkage by hand? Look down inside it and pump the throttle a few times by hand. (DO NOT crank over the engine while doing this. A backfire would ruin your day...and hair)
It is either not getting spark or fuel or both. Eliminate one thing at a time.

I am going to guess it is a spark issue and either the control module or rodents and the wiring.
Please let us know what it is. Good luck.

[jcal87]

I had the same issue with mine turned out to be the msd box went bad had to buy a new one fired right up!

[Vegas69]

I'm betting on fouled plugs.

[ccracin]

If you have a Mallory Unilite, The pickup module in the dizzy is Bad. They go bad faster than milk on a hot day.

[wedged]

battery is brand new yellow top..the motor cranks but wont fire.

define "brand new" with actual age - days , months ?

What ignition system do you have ?

[LowchevyII]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v610/jefro69/IMG_6332.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v610/jefro69/IMG_6331.jpg


ok so heres what im working with plug wise. would probably be wise to change them anyway but do you think these little guys would be my source for not starting?

[70rs]

Exactly what ignition do you have? Standard GM HEI? MSD? Other aftermarket electronic?

[Vegas69]

Plugs are fouled, check for spark and replace them. Make sure the choke doesn't close all the way.

[LowchevyII]

Im using a standard gm HEI unit i believe, its whatever came stock on the GMPP 350/330hp motor. how to do go about checking for spark? and how do i make sure the choke doesnt close all the way? im using a Carter 600cfm (same as edelbrock) by the way. thanks for the help this far guys

[ssinister]

Im using a standard gm HEI unit i believe, its whatever came stock on the GMPP 350/330hp motor. how to do go about checking for spark? and how do i make sure the choke doesnt close all the way? im using a Carter 600cfm (same as edelbrock) by the way. thanks for the help this far guys

You can buy a spark test tool at any automotive parts store. You will connect your plug wire to it and then ground the other side. When you crank the motor it will either spark across a gap or light a bulb (depending on the type of tool) if you have spark. You could also do it by leaving your plug wire attached to a loose plug and lay the ground strap of the plug on a good ground. Crank the motor over and see if it sparks. Dont hang on to the plug while doing this because you will find out really quick if it is sparking.

Did you by chance check the ignition fuse?? I know it might be a stupid question, but something easily overlooked.

[GregWeld]

If it sat that long your fuel has gone sour... and obviously your plugs were fouled...

I ALWAYS have cans of starting fluid around - they're the cheapest thing a car guy can have - a squirt or two of that in the carb (don't even need to remove the filter) and if it doesn't fire IMMEDIATELY with that - then you have 'other issues'. Using starting fluid is WAY easier on the battery - since if all else is okay - she'll fire off - and it tells you what is or isn't working. If it doesn't fire with starter fluid - you've got not mister sparky.

If the gas has gone bad - then firing it off with the starter fluid gets just enough heat and compression going - that sometimes she'll keep running.

If you're going to let gas sit that long - be sure you add some type of storage / fuel saver (whatever brand you have)....

[LowchevyII]

If you're going to let gas sit that long - be sure you add some type of storage / fuel saver (whatever brand you have)....

thanks greg. i know, stupid me, i wasnt intending it to be sitting this long but one thing led to another, and low and behold, here we are 6 months later, im in this boat.

and thanks everybody else thus far. going to get some plugs tomorrow and some start spray and see what happens. hopefully its just the plugs. i have a sinking feeling its the distributor which i dont know anything about...:(

[LowchevyII]

alrighty, so hopefully i'll be able to narrow some things down tongiht/tomorrow. getting new plugs shortly and getting some start spray. going to see if that remedies the problem. ill let you guys know how it goes and if its not the solution id like to hear some other theories if you got them.

thanks again for all the responses guys!

[LowchevyII]

just wanted to give everyone that responded on this thread a big thank you, especially GregWeld and Vegas69. Vegas, it was the plugs. just installed them and she fired right up, until i ran out of gas :lol: . But just a huge relief knowing the issue is resolved. thanks everybody once again

--jeff

[GregWeld]

Jeff -- Good to hear.

Plugs will do that :rofl:

Motors don't really need much "to run" - Fuel - air - spark... if it has those essentials - she should fire off.

Glad it was simple.