Help Ive flooded my engine and can't start it

[gt_james]

I flooded my engine so I took out the plugs, turned the engine over for a while. I cleaned up the plugs and put them back and then poured oil down the small carb barrels then turned over. There still seems to be no compression and It wont start. Ive pulled the plugs and cleaned and tried again a few times, and when turning over without the plugs it seems only the front rotor is flooded/spewing from the plug hole. Please help me rotorheads James

[ian65]

lift up the base of the back seat on the passenger side and you'll see the plug for the fuel pump.... unplug it otherwise you'll keep pumping fuel into the engine.
Take the plugs out and spin the engine over on the starter.... it'll spin really quickly with no plugs in and will eject most of the excess/unburnt fuel..... you need to spin it over for quite a few turns to get all the fuel out.
You then need to dry the plugs... I usually hold a plug with a pair of grips or pliers and warm it on a gas ring on the gas cooker.. this evaporates the fuel and dries the plug right up inside.
Put the plugs back in, plug the fuel pump back in, pull the choke out and then try to start the car.... don't touch the throttle while you're trying to start it or you'll flood it again

[Chud]

If all else fails, tow start it.

[Hobbawobba]

Instead of unplugging the fuel pump, can't you just pull the fuse in the drivers side footwell? If it still doesn't start then try doing what Chud said and tow start it

[spoddy]

i had to tow start my rx8 years back when the ignition coils burned out and after replacing them and the plugs/leads
i couldn't start the car. the tow start got the car going, big cloud of smoke, i was told later that it's not a good idea as can break the apex seals?

but i would do as ian suggests and disconnect the fuel pump and carefully remove the spark plugs, dry em out and spin the engine over to remove any excess fuel.
all in a well ventilated area and be careful of fuel flying out so old rags etc. put the plugs back in and try starting again.

i was thinking of some easy start too, but not sure how that'll work with the rotary engine.

[codge]

Easy Start is dead easy to use with the 1st gen car.

After you've done all the plug removal & drying out, replace them (still hot from the oven or gas ring if you can), unclip the blue air cleaner and spray the easy start straight down the carburettor air intake. About a 3 or 4 second spray. If that doesn't produce results there's something else adrift somewhere.

Remember plug torque is sensitive.....13 ft lb only on those aluminium housings.

[gt_james]

Thank you all for the replies.
I had disabled the fuel line, but by connecting the pipe to a can not the carb. The battery died so over night I charged it over night and my dad told me to put the plugs in the oven. Then in the morning I turned the engine over lots more, then put more oil in the small barrels. Then I connected the fuel back up and got it started with lots of easy start and smoke. I'm pretty sure I burned out a coil in the process, and have read that I should now change the oil fairly quickly. I didn't realise that the engine still hadn't dried out in the dark after lots of turning over, in the morning in the light It was clear. I don't do plugs up tight, I own a beetle, notorious for bad plug threads and the need to be very careful. Unfortunately I under estimated the smokedefinitely should've thought about ventilation

[spoddy]

Thank you all for the replies.
I had disabled the fuel line, but by connecting the pipe to a can not the carb. The battery died so over night I charged it over night and my dad told me to put the plugs in the oven. Then in the morning I turned the engine over lots more, then put more oil in the small barrels. Then I connected the fuel back up and got it started with lots of easy start and smoke. I'm pretty sure I burned out a coil in the process, and have read that I should now change the oil fairly quickly. I didn't realise that the engine still hadn't dried out in the dark after lots of turning over, in the morning in the light It was clear. I don't do plugs up tight, I own a beetle, notorious for bad plug threads and the need to be very careful. Unfortunately I under estimated the smokedefinitely should've thought about ventilation

that's good news you got her going again. yes it's like a sauna when you start a flooded etc engine in terms of smoke. i've had to start my rx8, 3 times due to worn down battery/flooding and coils going had to open the window of the garage and the doors to be safe. i have the faster starter and higher power varta battery too. if you have everything connected up again and car starting/running normally then a good drive well help things too.

interested to hear about your VW bug, always liked them and been toying with the idea of getting one. there is a stable mates thread for fb owners other cars you can use to show us all. i'd love to see your VW bug and hear how you get on with running one.

[gt_james]

Yeah it was great to get it to Retro Rides:)
well my beetle is a 1303 super that is my first car and my daily driver. My friend has one and he had a spark plug fly out the head, which aparently isn't uncommon. so since i've been very easy on tightening plugs haha. I don't think my picture worked

[spoddy]

oh nice model. i'd like something around 1970-1972.
do plugs do that if over tightened? they must be an easy engine to work on all the same?

how do you find running it compared to your fb?