85 XR-7 sat for years, won't start April 23, 2009, 04:31:36 PM Hello,I just picked up a yard-ornament. It's an 85 XR-7 that has sat for at least 3 years. It only has 32k miles on it, and it is in very good shape (interior is perfect, and the body is rust free). Only problem is that it is wrecked lightly on the passenger side. I thought that was the only problem. I lubed up the turbo and engine prior to attempting to start it. Turned it over with a wrench a few times, nice and smooth. Put in a new battery, and hit the key, it turns over fine, but no start.No spark, so I changed the ignition module, now I have spark, but no fuel. I pulled the intake hose and sprayed some carb cleaner in there and hit the key and it fired for a second.I pulled the fuel hose from the filter underneith and hit the key, it squirts out decently. I replaced the filter and went back up top and pulled the fuel hose from the pulse damper. it squirts about a 7" shot when I hit the key. I assume this is adequate? I need to dig out my pressure gage. Perhaps my injectors are stuck? I need to test them to see if they are even being energized... Any other ideas?This is my 10th cougar (8th fox body cougar) and I am really pleased with it's potential :)CoogarXR Quote Selected
85 XR-7 sat for years, won't start Reply #1 – April 23, 2009, 04:44:40 PM I'm in the same boat with the exact same car except mine sat for 5 years at least, I started with dumping the 5 yr old gas and pulled the fuel pump (I will be replacing it juts bc I think its needs done. I wish you luck. Quote Selected
85 XR-7 sat for years, won't start Reply #2 – April 23, 2009, 05:08:22 PM Get rid of the gas, gas loses it stuff in 6 months anymore. Quote Selected
85 XR-7 sat for years, won't start Reply #3 – April 23, 2009, 06:29:22 PM I have seen the injectors stick before.You have fresh gas in the tank correct?Try tapping on the injectors with a screwdriver handle. That sometimes will work them loose. I've personally done it a couple times.If not, pull the injectors and attach wires from a 9V battery lead across the connector on the injector. If they are "good" you should hear them click. If they are seized up with varnished gas, they won't. If they are seized, you either need to have them cleaned, or replace them.I'd also check your FP as well. Even with low pressure, it would still try and start though. Quote Selected
85 XR-7 sat for years, won't start Reply #4 – April 23, 2009, 11:12:26 PM You need to see if when cranking the injectors are receiving voltage,They make a plug in light that works awesome. Quote Selected
85 XR-7 sat for years, won't start Reply #5 – April 24, 2009, 08:49:04 AM Quote from: Cat Daddy;268878You need to see if when cranking the injectors are receiving voltage,They make a plug in light that works awesome.not exactlythey are gonna get power, that's pretty hard to avoid unless the harness is cut.the ground is managed at the correct time by the eec.to work around this and verify each injector...........remove one injector connectorjumper the red wire to the injector correct pinjumper the other pin on the injector directly to chassis groundplace injector inside an old water bottle or somethingturn on keyinjector should spray for the same amount of time the fuel pump runs (about 1-2 seconds).do this for each injector.to test to see if the eec is giving up a gournd .......remove the light socket harness from your left instrument panel main light switch.this should include the socket , bulb with a plug.(bulb must be good)unplug injectorjumper from the bulb socket to the injector (doesnt matter which wire goes where)turn on keylight should go bright then dim off crank enginelight should flashthis tells you the injector is on line with the eec.as for your problem, beat on the fuel tank while your are cranking,,unless i read wrong and you are getting fuel.if you are getting fuel up to the rail, then keep at it, something is clogged and you may find it best to do what chuck is saying. The next thing i would do is resort to using your 12v battery and momentary apply power to the injectors like he dscribed to listen for the click. Quote Selected
85 XR-7 sat for years, won't start Reply #6 – April 24, 2009, 10:15:31 AM Scott you're gonna burn out injectors jumping a straight 12v to them... This applies especially to the low impedance injectors on the turbo engines, as the are only about 2.5 ohms...Yeah you're only going to do it for a second or two, long enough... Quote Selected
85 XR-7 sat for years, won't start Reply #7 – April 24, 2009, 10:20:29 AM Quote from: TurboCoupe50;268937Scott you're gonna burn out injectors jumping a straight 12v to them... This applies especially to the low impedance injectors on the turbo engines, as the are only about 2.5 ohms...Yeah you're only going to do it for a second or two, long enough...That's kinda why I test w/ a little 9V battery. It doesn't take much to see if they work or not. Quote Selected
85 XR-7 sat for years, won't start Reply #8 – April 24, 2009, 11:00:54 AM Definitely check the fuel pressure as it seems this is (or one of) your issue(s). My car with a walbro blew the pressure line inside the tank, the pump was pressurizing the split line (and tank) enough so that the car would idle, but stall just off idle. The stream of fuel this shot out was much like what you describe. I pulled the line off before the regulator aimed it outside the car, and it almost cleared the fender but not quite....No where near adequate, and finally hooking up the pressure gauge revealed that I needed to drop the tank again. Quote Selected
85 XR-7 sat for years, won't start Reply #9 – April 24, 2009, 11:19:24 AM Yeah, I am leaning toward the fuel pump too. It may not be the whole problem, but I think it's todays problem.I can disconnect the fuel line and hit the key a few times and it will squirt out, like I said, but never on the first try. Also, no matter how many times I hit the key, when I push the schrader valve, all I get is dribbles. I wanted to officially test the pressure with my gage, but the fitting is smaller than the one on my 83, and my gage wouldn't fit.I also jumpered the pump relay and let it run for 30 seconds or so and it still wouldn't start. I think it has volume but no pressure.My project is on hold until I can find another $100 to buy a pump... Plus the tow truck guy backed it up almost against a wall so I wil have fun trying to change it from the side (I can't roll it since the front wheel is messed up from the wreck).Thanks guys, I'll keep ya posted.CoogarXR Quote Selected
85 XR-7 sat for years, won't start Reply #10 – April 24, 2009, 02:53:56 PM Quote from: CootersXR7;268943Definitely check the fuel pressure as it seems this is (or one of) your issue(s). My car with a walbro blew the pressure line inside the tank, the pump was pressurizing the split line (and tank) enough so that the car would idle, but stall just off idle. The stream of fuel this shot out was much like what you describe. I pulled the line off before the regulator aimed it outside the car, and it almost cleared the fender but not quite....No where near adequate, and finally hooking up the pressure gauge revealed that I needed to drop the tank again.That was my issuie too, but didnt know if the 85,s had the same setup..... id drop the tank and check the $1.50 hose like cooter said.. Quote Selected
85 XR-7 sat for years, won't start Reply #11 – April 24, 2009, 09:26:28 PM your right tom,, the smaller batt ampacity is better.Actually, i have an old pc power supply i use for various DC needs around the shop, most people dont. Quote Selected
85 XR-7 sat for years, won't start Reply #12 – April 25, 2009, 10:37:47 AM I think the injectors get gummed up inside when they sit. I tried to use old 30# injectors on my new motor that sat for about 4 years and have the same issue with starting the car. Theres a write-up on cleaning the injectors at this link check it out http://fordfuelinjection.com/?p=82 Quote Selected
85 XR-7 sat for years, won't start Reply #13 – May 08, 2009, 04:05:35 PM OK, sorry for the long pause here, heh. My back went out and I wasn't able to do anything on the car until today.Anyhow, after reading a few threads, I found that some have had a problem with the fuel line cracking inside the tank. So I decided to look and see if that was my case. I figured, worst case, I would need to replace the pump anyhow. Dropped the tank, cleared off a huge nest of some sort on the top of the tank (mice maybe). Not the problem, but funny. Tank is very clean, no rust on the lines or anything. Very pleased! Pop the lock ring off, pull the pump out and the line is indeed split about an inch. Try to pull the hose off, and it's like putty (wierd!). Go get a new line and some new clips for the pressure lines. Put it all back together and now it will start and run! WOOHOO... but for only a few seconds. It will stay running if I hold the RPMs at 2k or above. below that it sputters and dies. If you hit the key without the gas, it sounds good for about 3 seconds. Vroooooommmmppuuhh...Gonna go search the boards for answers to this one now. If you have any ideas, please post em! I am dying to see if this tranny is any good.CoogarXR Quote Selected
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