My DeLorean won't start after sitting for 9 months

[dlipka]

Hi - Any suggestions to narrow down my search would be greatly appreciated...

When last driven 9 or so months ago, the car was working fine.

I tried to start it the other week and it won't fire. Engine cranks normally and there is a slight smell of petrol / gas at the exhaust after cranking on / off for a minute. At no stage did it 'fire'...

Suggestions?

Thanks,

Derek

[DMC5180]

Wiggle the connections on the Ballast resistor. Especially the white wire(s)


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[DMC-81]

Hi there,

If what Dennis mentioned above checks out, I can think of 2 things fuel related. First, what is the level of gas in the tank and the condition of it? I found that fuel evaporates fairly quickly in these cars so for example, if the tank was at 1/4 tank or less, you might have lost a fair amount over the 9 months. What's left can turn gummy. Because of that, and especially while I was restoring it, I always try to keep my tank as full of non-ethanol fuel as possible and start/run it at least monthly. More often is better.

Secondly, you might have fuel gummed up somewhere in the system as well or instead. Of course, I'd do the normal fuel and spark test first before dismantling anything in that system. There is a "plug swap" and a "mason jar" test that can be done. It could certainly be electrical (and I'm assuming a well charged battery after storage), but after sitting, my guess is something fuel related.

Every car is different of course, but for example, I think there was a recent non start condition after several months of storage. The fuel smell wound up being the car was flooding. It was a stuck plunger in the fuel distributor.

These cars don't like to be sitting that long unfortunately.

Good luck with your trouble shooting.

[NckT]

We'll assume that the battery is good and passes a load test.

[jmrydholm]

Mine's been sitting for a good 2&1/2 years. Don't feel bad. I'm probably going to have to check/bleed the brakes and clutch.

[dlipka]

Update...

Finally spent some time working on the car today...
- First confirmed that we have a spark;
- Then removed an injector and no fuel was present during cranking;
- Removed fuel line to fuel distributor and no fuel there either;
- Then checked that fuel pump had power - which it does;
- Removed fuel pump and bench tested - it works...

So I am assuming that the fuel pressure accumulator is not working / blocked...

What do other people think?

Thanks,

Derek