engine help

sputtering and i took it around the block and it barely made it up the hill floored. i know it has nothing to do with changing the battery, but what timing..never had a problem with the car and the toy drive is tomorrow...it seems that the right side 6 cylinders arent working. Warm exhaust is coming only from the left rear and cold from the right rear. can this be electrical issue?exhaust leak?Man this stinks!![/QUOTE]

Hi,
We did an experience on the car during the last overhaul : just to see what would occur, we tried to start the car with a fuel pump being disconnected. Actually it worked. So, the first point would be to say that your diagnosis might be right : your engine may well work on 6 cylinders only.
There are many skilled people on this forum and I'm not one of them. What I would suggest comes from recent personal experience :
- there is a mobile device (sensor plate) within the air flow sensor : check this is not stuck. Mine was stuck in an open position, I guess it can be stuck in a closed position.
- fuel pressure : there are at least two things you should have a look at : fuel pump and
fuel accumulator.
Fuel pump should be noisy, especially when you turn the key before attempting to start the engine : its role at this time is to increase the fuel pressure and it has to work for some seconds, pretty audible. Check both sides are processing the same way.
Fuel accumulator : I have no real idea about how to run a diagnosis. There are some complex systems to measure fuel pressure but I guess it won't be easy to find. As of me, I've just changed the two accumulators for new ones because I suspected them to be weak and I wanted to make sure this area was fine.
- fuse area : left side fuses and right fuses are separate, and the situation you experience shows there is something wrong on one side only.
- relays : fuel pumps relays are distinct as well, one for the left side etc ...
Maybe just remove fuses and relays, clean the plugs and refit it. Might work.
Hope this will help. I'm sure you'll soon get a full contribution from some skilled fchatters; Some of them really know a lot on these cars.
Good luck.
Olivier

 

If your car is a 400i, the fuel pumps actually does NOT run until there is air flow to the motor. It is interlocked by a switch on one of the air flow sensors. Disconnecting the connector bypasses the interlock and allows both pumps to run when the engine is not running.

If you have carbs, this interlock will not exist.
Ken

 

Just to correct my past contribution.
Ken is right. I have another car with another K-system flavour and I made a mistake. My apologises.

As far as I understand, the fuel accumulators are vested with the role to create and maintain pressure.

My engine was very difficult to start when hot.
Fitting new fuel accumulators sold this problem.

I understand from other contributions that fuel acc is not the only likely explanation for such a problem, but on my car it turns out this was the right thing to do.
Fchatters contributions were very useful, thanks to all.

Olivier

 

Oups ... solved this problem.
Olivier