Starting problem

[85lc]

A week ago, I had a fuel leak so drained the tank and a couple of days later, changed the fuel lines from the gas tank to the pump.  The replacement was delayed because I could not find any 11mm fuel hose locally and had to order that hose.

Apparently I left the gas cap off after draining the tank and, in the time between draining the tank and installing new hose, it rained so I expect that I may have gotten water in the tank. 

After installing the new hoses, I put new gas into the tank  and cranked the engine.  It ran very rough and then quit and would not restart.  I drained a about a gallon from the tank to capture any water (if there was any) in the tank.  I checked the pump and it is working.  However, the car will not start. 

Does anyone have any suggestions (besides never leave the cap off the tank)?

[teahead]

It rained and got water in the tank?

You leave your Pagoda outside?

At any rate, try some Heet.

[rwmastel]

You leave your Pagoda outside?

Don't judge, we all got different situations and things going on.  Maybe his garage is filled with more valuable cars. Or, maybe he recently moved and still has a garage full of furniture or boxes.

[rwmastel]

85lc,

I see you're a (new) Full Member. Check the Tech Manual section on starting problems for lots of good info.

Also, go to the General Discussion forum section and introduce yourself and your car in the New Member Introductions sticky thread.  We love reading stories and seeing pics.

[85lc]

Teahead, Fair comment.  The W113 was only out of teh garage because because it had a fuel leak and there was not room oin the garage to work on the car.  I also didn't wan t to work on the hfuel system inside a small garage.  Unfortunately, none of the local parts houses had 11mm (7/16") fuel line so it was several days between pulling the old hoises and getting new hoses.

I realized that their was likely water in the system when the engine sputtee=red and dies.  I drained the bottom gallon out of the tank and pulled the fuel hose between the pump and filter.  At this point, I doubt HEAT will help as the fuel in the tank now doesn't have water.

My next step is to replace the fuel filter and hopefully drain contaminated fuel that exist before the injector. 

It looks like I need a helper installing the fuel filter.  From what I read, the front of the car needs top be put on a jack stand.  It appears that the fuel canister is removed by unscrewing a 13mm bilt and dropping the canster to the person below.  The filter is replaced.  I believe there is an O-ring in the top of the canister that is accessed from below and replaced.  With the canister pushed in place from below, the person on top rescrews the 13mm bolt.

Is that correct? 

[ja17]

Your probably making a simple problem difficult. Make sure you have over five gallons of fuel in your tank. Fuel is gravity fed from the fuel tank to the electric fuel pump. After draining the tank you will have trouble with the electric fuel pump picking up fuel unless you have plenty of fuel in the tank. Add fuel and press accelerator pedal to the floor and crank away! It will take some cranking. Crack loose one injector line at the head. When fuel finally emerges you are ready to start!

[85lc]

Thanks,  I may be over thinking the issue,  After draining a gallon from the tank, I did cjeck the fuel pump by removing the hose to the fuel line to the filter and, cranking the engine, the pump worked fine.

At some point, I want to change the fuel filter.  I have power steering and cannot access the fuel filter canister from the top.  (see picture from above, hard to see either canister)

It looks like there are two canisters on the left side of the engine.  The top of the forward canister is marked 0 450108003.  I was able to get a picture from the bottom which is below (marked fuel canister).  Isn't this the fuel filter canister?

The second cansiter is marked SL (see picture).  I assume that is oil. 

Also where do you place jack stands under the front of the car? 

[rwmastel]

That pic looks like an engine mount arm marked SL with the bolt going down thru to the engine mount.

I've replaced my fuel filter before, but it's been a while.  I first reccomend you use the search feature to find how it's done.  I did it myself from below, and it can get a little messy.

[85lc]

Well, the starting saga continues.  The fuel in the tank is fresh (and uncontaminated), the pump has been tested and it works, the fuel filter was replaced, the engine turns over well but just will not start. 

The car ran well before I changed the hoses between fuel tank and pump.  It took a week to get the 11 mm hose and I thought water may have gotten into the fuel tank during that time.  I drained the bottom gallon from the tank, checked the fuel pump for functioning, changed the fuel filter, and have tried starting the car. 

Any thoughts on what else I should try?

[ja17]

Crack the injector lines loose at the injectors. Crank the engine to see if fuel emerges at the injectors. It takes a lot of cranking to fill the long injector lines. Also floor the accelerator pedal, while cranking, until you see fuel emerge from the loose injector lines.

[Cees Klumper]

Also check to make sure you have spark ...

[85lc]

Well, the end of the story:  Don't go down rabbit holes.

I was convinced that the issue was a fuel issue and that after checking that there was new fuel in the tank, fuel hoses were new, fuel pump was pumping, and fuel filter was good, we thought that perhaps we had air in the injectors.

However, even trying started fluid, the car would not start.

I decided to climb out of the rabbit hole.  I checked the distributor and that looked fine.  I pulled the spark plugs and they had some carbon buildup.   I washed the plugs with carburetor cleaner and lightly sanded the contact areas.  Then the car simply started as it has done for the past 20+ years..   

I discussed this with my mechanic friend (with 40+ years of experience) and he laughed, admitting he had similar experiences in his career. 

Now, why were the plugs fouled?  I understand that these cars tend to run rich. (is that correct?)  Perhaps there was a little water in the fuel that somehow fouled the plugs. 

Although the car starts and runs well, I plan on replacing the plugs as I may not have gotten the plugs completely clean and also they are not that expensive. 

I see two plugs recommended which are Bosch Platinum and NGK Iridium IX. 

What do you recommend and what is the correct plug number.