Won't start after UIM/LIM cleaning

Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives

So, got everything off okay and cleaned all the parts till they shined. Put everything back on the car today, and... nothing.

The belts all move and the starter is working. The battery isn't dead. It sounds like it wants to get going, but there's no "spark" to get it to turn over.

No CELs at this point.

Originally posted by cobaltblue:
So, got everything off okay and cleaned all the parts till they shined. Put everything back on the car today, and... nothing.

The belts all move and the starter is working. The battery isn't dead. It sounds like it wants to get going, but there's no "spark" to get it to turn over.

No CELs at this point.

You actually checked and there's no spark? Is the coil unplugged?

Many on this board have experienced a flooding situation when trying to start after "the cleaning." What happens is the cleaner you used has gotten into the cylinders and what you need to do is crank the engine with the throttle wide open.
I took mine about 15 seconds of cranking before all the cleaner was evaucated and she fired up. I hope this is your problem, good luck!

Cranked it for longer periods of time, still won't start up. I'm afraid of burning out the starter or something.

By "spark" I meant that the engine sounds like it wants to start, but it can't get past a certain threshold and won't turn over. Like there isn't enough "oomph."

If the secondaries were stuck open, would that have anything to do with it?

I had the same issue, it is probably flooded. Get some "Hot shot " and spray it in the air box. You don't need more than a two second spritz at a time. Do you hear the fuel pump prime the fuel rail when you turn the key to the run position?

Originally posted by eepals:
I had the same issue, it is probably flooded. Get some "Hot shot " and spray it in the air box. You don't need more than a two second spritz at a time. Do you hear the fuel pump prime the fuel rail when you turn the key to the run position?

Yeah, when I turn the key to the "on" position without cranking it, there's a slight mechanical droning sound (other than the power antenna going up).

What exactly is Hot Shot? Never heard of it before.

Starting Fluid, Ether, a volatile, highly flammable liquid in a spray can. Used in starting diesel engines on cold days.

Where would I be able to get it? Autozone?

This may be kind of a long shot, but when I did my LIM and UIM, I ended up with fuel never reaching the rail. What happened was I lost a little blue washer that sealed the connection between the flexible hose and the rail, and when I cranked the engine, fuel just dribbled out onto the ground.

You'd probably notice something like that, though.

I also didn't have a connector "snapped" tight, either, and that caused some trouble before I figured it out.

The connectors holding for the wires feeding the injectors were very brittle on my car and most of them pretty much disintigrated when I removed them. Perhaps yours aren't making contact?

Sounds electrical to me. I mean, I'm surprised I managed to do the job without destroying my car, and even a pro can forget a connector here and there!

I had this problem for a few good minutes after the cleaning, and it gave me a pretty good scare. just keep cranking, maybe give a TINY bit of gas, let it sit for a few minutes, crank, let sit, crank...and when you prime the fuel system, you're supposed to turn it to "on" then back off more than once. maybe 5-7 times.