QuestionIt has sat up for 2 years, but I drove it several times yesterday and went out to start it today and it started and then died and won't start. It is sitting with the rear lower than the front, has old gas in it and battery works good. HELP!! Just got it yesterday.
AnswerHi Karen,
Mechanics have a saying that goes; "The easiest car in the world to fix is one that won't run and the hardest one in the world to fix is one that won't run occasionally".
You are lucky in that yours won't run, so you fall into the first category.
Four stroke piston engines need only 3 things to run,
Compression, fire and fuel with a few conditions on each.
It needs "enough compression", "Strong spark" (fire) at the right time and a "combustible fuel" in just roughly the correct mixture available to the combustion chamber.
Compression is most likely still there or you probably would have heard a lot of banging and crunching noises. And it would take a few tools to check that. So, "Fire" and "Fuel" is what you need to look at.
Fire first, You need a few tools to do your tests. A spark plug wrench and a fuel pressure gauge with a "T" connection and a spray can of either starter fluid or something like WD-40. If you don't have these tools they are not expensive and can be purchased at any auto parts stores or even Wall Mart.
Pull one spark plug and put the wire on the plug and lay it on any metal part of the head and have someone spin the engine over several times with the starter. You need to do this out of direct sunlight so you can see the spark color. It should be as thick as a pencil lead and be blue in color. If it is yellow or orange and thin like a hair, it is no good.
That is the preliminary test for fire (spark)
Now put the plug back in and the wire on and spray the "Fuel" (spray can of what ever you bought, starter fluid or WD-40) into the intake to the air cleaner while someone tries to start the engine. If it starts but only runs a second or two each time you use the spray then the problem is "Fuel".
Now is when you need the fuel pressure gauge connected to the "T" connector close to or at the carburetor. Try to start the engine and read the pressure gauge. You need to see at least 1 1/2 to 2 PSI and up for the pump and supply to be OK. If you don't see any pressure you either have a bad fuel pump or stopped up line or a problem with the pick up in the tank.
This is a standard procedure used by mechanics in any shop to check an engine that stopped running.
I hope this helps, let me know.
Howard
