It's hella-cold here in WI, (avg. -4F at night). My wifes 1988 Honda appears to be flooded due to this crappy weather.

We just got it back from the shop (unrelated) and I don't want to have to tow it anywhere just for them to change some plugs and do whatever else they do. :impatient

I've tried the little tricks of trying to start with the pedal to the floor, but that baby just doesn't want to start.

Is there anything else I can do? Or am I just going to have to get that POS towed again!?

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

i would roll it into a warm garage.

but are you sure it's flooded and not cranking dry?
put in ON position for 10sec or so and crank it... might
might not help.

 

If only I had a warm garage to roll it into. One very big downfall of still living in an apartment... outdoor parking only.

Pretty sure it's not dry, took the spark plugs out today and the tips were a bit wet.

 

If you can get an extension cord over to the car, an engine block heater might to the trick.

 

Older Hondas are sensitive to spark plug condition. Also, if there is not enough cylinder pressure, ie. compression, it will be difficult to start. If the battery is good and the motor is turning over at "normal" speed, I would check this.

 

The battery is good and it's turning over like normal.

The plugs are 2 years old now, so I suppose changing those wouldn't hurt.

How would one go about checking compression?

 

There are kits you can get. Sears has one and I'm sure the regular auto stores should as well. Basically, you pull a spark plug and insert a pressure sensor. When you crank the engine, it'll tell you how much compression that cylinder made. After doing this for all the cylinders, you can see if the sompression is consistent for all the pistons.

 

A quick shot of starting fluid usually gets things going even in the coldest weather.

 

Like such? : http://www.valvoline.com/pages/produ...asp?product=41

 

If the plug tips are wet with gas I'd take them inside and dry them out or maybe even use a match to heat/dry them- then give it another try.

 

Took the plugs out again to look...

There was a bit of oil on the top of them... where the wire boot meets the ceramic of the plug.

Why do I have a feeling this is not good?

 

Yeah, if it's getting a spark, that'll get it started. You local auto store will have a variety of brands.

I'm not sure about the oil on the plug. It could be from the valve cover gasket. Best to do the cheap stuff first. Replace the plugs and try starting fluid.

 

Stick the plugs in the oven for a while - on a decent level of heat - take them out with an oven glove and replace them quickly and try to start it again.

Some days it ws the only way i could get my CJ started when I lived 'back east'

 

Sometimes when an engine is just too damn cold, not spinning fast enough while cranking and the fuel is of questionable winter blending, there will end up being insufficient fuel vapor to ignite by the spark. The fuel stays liquid, coating the inside of the cylinder and just sits there. Starting fluid does it's magic by remaining as a volatile vapor even in a cold engine full of raw gasoline. Once a spark hits, the stuff fires off, creating instant heat and burning off the liquid fuel and gets the whole combustion process started. Note that this stuff is extremely flammable. Use only small amounts, a couple of puffs into the intake to start with is usually sufficient. Do not spray for more than a few seconds at a time. Crank for several seconds, if the engine does not catch, try once more. It should eventually light off.

 

So what you're saying is...

Small amount = engine ignition
Too much = engine incineration



Duely noted. Thanks for the advice with that stuff (I've never used it before)

 

My main concern aside from personal safety is that in a MCS engine, you will be filling the entire intake tract with volatile gas, and should the engine backfire (which is common when coaxing a cold, flooded engine), the blower, intercooler and all the associated piping will bear the brunt of it. With a small amount at a time, it should not be a problem if this happens.

 

Oh Noes!

The MINI is running great... it's my wifes 1988 Honda that's flooded.

..but still something to keep in mind.

 

Oh, an Accord? Spray the whole can in there and stand back.

I misread the original post. That makes it much easier and less of a worry. Short, simple intake tract. Hold the gas pedal about 1/4 open after hitting the air inlet with the spray. If you've got spark, it should rumble to life.

Since we are on the subject of starting fluid, never use the stuff on a diesel engine except as a last resort, and at that, use it very sparingly. Since a diesel engine controls it's speed/power delivery by controlling fuel flow only, adding fuel in the form of starting fluid can make a diesel engine run uncontrollably for as long as there is starting fluid vapor anywhere in or near the intake. You will not be able to shut off the engine via the ignition key. In fact, if there is too much starting fluid being drawn in and burned, the engine could over-rev and come apart.

This is a public service announcement.

 

hehehe. We used some starting fluid to get a VW diesel going when the fuel pump wan't primed. It ran for a few seconds on straight fluid. The smoke that came out of the tailpipe was pretty awesome too . A couple weeks later, the timing belt broke but that didn't have anything to do with the starting fluid (more, the loose nut behind the wheel )

 

Close... a Civic.

I'll take pics after the whole can goes in from a mile away. Maybe get a little of the mushroom cloud in there too.