No start after adding Seafoam - got some q's

[haley10]

Any problems are not relevant to the work you did or the Seafoam, unless you knocked something else loose in the process.

Oil change won't help.

Sorry, but it looks like the computer may have gone South. You'll need a pro with the scan tool to determine. Since you decided to use Seafoam and change plugs, it must have be running not so good, so this was a pre-cursor to failure. I'd vote for electronic failure and may have be intermittent.

 

[Mike242GT]

Is this a Bosch LH-Jet FI system? If so, see if the car will start and idle with the MAF unplugged. If it does, but will not start with the MAF plugged in, the MAF is bad.

 

[unDummy]

Did you pour it through the brake booster with the vehicle running?

Sounds like you flooded it. Disable ignition&fuel, pull the plugs, and crank her for a minute. Clean/gap/reinstall the plugs, reconnect ignition/fuel, and she'll start right up.

 

[moribundman]

quote:

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Is this a Bosch LH-Jet FI system? If so, see if the car will start and idle with the MAF unplugged. If it does, but will not start with the MAF plugged in, the MAF is bad.

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His car has a Hitachi ECU. I'm not sure if the engine will run in limp mode without the MAF being connected. According to my repair manual it does run, but my repair manual refers to a Euro Bosch ECU.

I would think at a (full) VAG-COM scan would help in determining what's wrong.

I think he already tried letting the Sea Foam vaporize with the spark plugs removed.

cknyoc, glad to see you decided to sign up here. I hope you'll find out what's wrong with your engine. How well does the engine turn over? It's possible that the ignition lock/switch or battery have decided to poop out right now.

 

[Gary Allan]

Let's see if this works...moving to Mechanical ..and modifying the title a bit.

 

[kang]

For an engine that was running and now won’t start, there are three basic issues to check. They are compression, spark and fuel. Take away one of these and the car won’t start.

Compression: I assume it’s turning over at a decent rate? Unless the Seafoam severely broke your valves or rings or something, we can assume you have compression.

Fuel: Again, the Seafoam shouldn’t have affected anything in the fuel delivery system. Unless the tank is empty, or the Seafoam clogged ALL injectors (but it didn’t go through the injectors, so this isn’t it), I think we can rule out fuel.

Spark: We’re left with this. Check for a spark. Are you getting one? If not, figuring out why you don’t have a spark will fix your motor.

Good Luck

 

[kang]

quote:

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Originally posted by cknyoc:
I have a check engine light for the MAF sensor, but I put a new one in and it still doesnt start.

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Did you have this CEL before the Seafoam or after?

 

[cknyoc]

I ran half a bottle of seafoam over the weekend. I know I should of started it within 5 mins, but I could only get to starting in 30 mins later and now the car doesnt start. Did I clog something up by waiting too long?

[ June 14, 2005, 06:17 PM: Message edited by: Gary Allan ]

 

[Vspec]

Ran it in what the crankcase? Fuel? Brake Booster? More information needed I think.

Also the model, year, make, trim, engine information of your car would be helpful.

 

[cknyoc]

opps sorry, its a 97 audi a4 2.8 V6 12 valve engine. I ran it through the brake booster. I added some to the oil a few days earlier. i have 135k on the car. I have a check engine light for the MAF sensor, but I put a new one in and it still doesnt start. I changed the plugs yesterday as well. Would changing the oil make a difference?

 

[cknyoc]

I found out the connectors to the MAF were switched with another sensor. The car started fine after my friend and I tried it. Seafoam didnt do anything wrong.

 

[Palut]

quote:

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Originally posted by cknyoc:
I found out the connectors to the MAF were switched with another sensor. The car started fine after my friend and I tried it. Seafoam didnt do anything wrong.

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Its wonderful when it's something harmless, isn't it?

I'd recommend not driving around with Seafoam in your oil. I did, for quite awhile, and got huge lead readings in the UOA. Drove my next sample OCI without the Seafoam in the oil and BAM, lead dropped down to normal.

I think LC in the oil will do a better and safer job than Seafoam.

 

[cknyoc]

I noticed a pretty big difference in performance when I first used seafoam. I figured I'd just finish the bottle over the weekend. Changing the MAF, plugs and oil brought some life back into the car. I just wanted to do some mild to moderate cleaning by using the seafoam. I would have used LC if it was available locally.

Moribundman, Yes I knew I'd see you on this forum. You know I tried all the solutions but who knew it would be the easiest fix of them all. Well I'll take this as a learning experience. Wheel bearing and control arms are next...

 

[moribundman]

Unfortunately, the ignition output stage and the MAF wiring are close to each other, or rather entangled, and the connectors can easily be mixed up on the 12 v engine. I actually put colored zipties on those wires to make sure I don't mix and match incorrectly.

In any case, the new MAF will probably give you better gas mileage and better performance. Idle performance was better too after changing the MAF, and my MAF hadn't even triggered a CEL yet.

Since you are now registered, you may want to get second and third opinions regarding oil choice for your baby.