Starting Fluid

[soobscript]

Will starting fluid auto-ignite? (Fire without spark, only compression)

 

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I'm trying to trobleshoot my sister's car (not a soob, 98 Sebring :-\ ). It won't start.

 

Worked fine when she parked it. Then wouldn't start in the morning.

Starter good, battery good, connections good, no computer codes, all ignition parts could use a replacement but are in fine working condition.

 

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When I give it some starting fluid it will fire a couple times.

[4WDFrenzy]

Starting fluid doesn't auto-ignite to the best of my knowledge. You say that it is a Sebring? It might have a weak or bad coilpack. Does it crank okay?

[soobscript]

Starting fluid doesn't auto-ignite to the best of my knowledge. You say that it is a Sebring? It might have a weak or bad coilpack. Does it crank okay?

Cranks great.

2.5L Mitsu V6 - has an old fashioned distributor (surprise!)

It ran when parked and the starting fluid does something.

Has fuel to injectors.

Since it took me over 2 hours to get at the rear spark plugs and cap, I will replace all ignition stuff.

 

Next I'm checking for clogged injectors. (fuel filter requires seat revmoval and dropping tank...)

[leadfootracin]

Do not use starting fluid on a gas engine!! If the engine is out of time, or it has an spark problem it can and will shatter pistons, break rods, blow out oil pans, valve covers, intake manifolds. Use carb cleaner, if the engine is going to run (bad fuel system etc) it will run on carb cleaner. I have a ball of aluminum on my shelf that used to be a piston, (starting fluid and mistimed spark) my 2cnts

[soobscript]

Do not use starting fluid on a gas engine!! If the engine is out of time, or it has an spark problem it can and will shatter pistons, break rods, blow out oil pans, valve covers, intake manifolds. Use carb cleaner, if the engine is going to run (bad fuel system etc) it will run on carb cleaner. I have a ball of aluminum on my shelf that used to be a piston, (starting fluid and mistimed spark) my 2cnts

Note taken... I'm sick of smelling curry anyway.

[stumpy]

How much gas in the tank?

 

Had a New Yorker once that drove home fine, parked in front of house and the next time I went to drive it, no go!!

 

Turned out to be fuel related. As in the gauge was slightly off and the pump appanently couldn't pick up any even though the LOW FUEL light had just came on. AAARRRRR!!!

 

Put a couple gallons of gas in there, cranked a few times then fired right up.

 

Apparnetly picked up some dirt as it's preformance went down hill over the next few days until it would only idle. But thats another story.

[NorthWet]

Any combustible fluid can "auto-ignite" from compression only, given enough compression (a "Gas Laws" thing). Starting fluid uses ether, which ignites very easily, so I would think that it is possible for it to do it off off compression alone, but unlikely in a cold engine. Starting fluid is unlikely to cause engine damage if used normally; there is only so much energy that can be released given idle air.

 

Chasing similar non-start on a Legacy; basic issue is fuel pump is not running, but lots of possible reasons. If you have "noid lights", check to see if the injectors are firing as a start.