Cold start - Rough start barely idles and dies

[mowpow]

Just got 3154 this week and been researching issues here and there, man you guys have a great knowledge base here. Thanks and sorry I am so late to the party!

81 Delorean manual EFI. Pretty much stock from what I can tell, I think someone swapped the fuel lines with SS but I could be wrong.

Anyway, the car has problems starting after a day or so of sitting. Starter is good, I think I hear the fuel pump firing up (but mine does a hum 4 times or so on occasion other times just the one quick hum) but I can smell gas pretty strong. It's not a cold weather thing because I'm in Texas and it's like 103 today so after researching I guessed it might be the CSV. I pulled the CSV electrical connector and it turned over, sputtered a bit, then died so there is a bit of improvement there in that it wouldn't turn over at all before as if it was flooded (CSV stuck). Did this 4 times or so. It sometimes even surges to about 1700 RPM then comes back down around 700 and if I give it gas, it dies. I searched and can't quite find exactly these symptoms but I apologize in advance if I missed it. Any thoughts on where I should start? Fuel filter maybe?

Thanks,
Jake

[deloumis]

EFI?

Does not seem like you are efi according to your symptoms. Had the car been sitting when you bought it? How are the injectors? I would pull the injectors and check there. Could have leaky injectors.

[Spittybug]

+1
If you have a CSV, you aren't EFI by all indications. Stock Deloreans have mechanical fuel injection, Bosch K-Jet to be more specific. Many of us have converted to Megasquirt EFI to get rid of our K-Jet while others have chosen to go with carburetors. The vast majority have stayed with K-Jet and as a result, you will find countless threads on "issues" or "problems" or "fixes" for such in these forums.

There are very knowledgeable people in all three categories, so you're in luck.

I see you are n Mansfield. That's good, you have a nearby resource: John @ SpecialTauto in Forney, TX. I also pass through the area on the way to Norman, OK to visit my daughter at OU (the next BCS champs by the way..... sorry Tide....) Several other owners in Dallas area.

[mowpow]

Yea my fault, not EFI, mechanical (too much time with my other toy car 98 Vette :)). Yea It had been sitting a while basically being pulled in and out of a dealership building every day during it's consignment attempt. I'll pull the injectors and have a look. I spoke with John tonight, awesome guy, very knowledgable. I'll tinker a bit and if I get stuck I'll take it on over to John!

Thanks for the quick replies!
Jake

[David T]

If it has been sitting for a while it is possible the plunger is stuck. If the muffler starts glowing then you KNOW it is stuck. Makes it run VERY rich. You have to take the mixture unit off the metering unit and clean the plunger. Might also have to clean the injectors.
David Teitelbaum

[Rich]

..... but I can smell gas pretty strong......

Can you elaborate on this detail of the symptoms?

Gas smell is from the exhaust?

If so, during warmup or warm idle or other time?

If gas smell is not from exhaust then from where and under what circumstances? There are a few places to look, just follow your nose til you find it and fix it.

[mowpow]

I drove it a bit today so I probably can't reproduce the issue until the morning. I will try to track down where the gas smell is coming from. I plugged the CSV back in since it acted the same this morning when I tried to start it with the CSV unplugged. Cranked it 10 or so times off and on, would not turn over. I let it sit for about 10 mins. Cranked it again about 5 times and it turns over then dies immediately. Does this about 5 times. It then turns over and runs surging and falling about every 5 seconds. If I hit the accelerator during this time barely or a lot, it dies. If I let it idle for about 5 minutes, it's fine after that. Killed it on accident on my driveway, started right back up. Washed the car, fired up after just fine so I don't think I have that accumulator hot start thing I've been reading about. Been reading up on how the K-Jet works, seems that there is something wrong with the mixture while cold but once the engine gets to operating temp, it's good. Going to go back over the K-Jet docs just to learn it cold. Will find that gas smell origination in the morning and post again. Thanks guys.

Jake