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Please help 97 Challenger wont start.

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cadsii

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Hello everyone, name is Mario

Bought a 97 challenger back in the winter time for 3400$ cad from a guy up north. Brough her home and started it up when it got a bit warmer. Started fine shut it down and waited till now. I started it up and ran the hose through it, ran a little rough but started no problem. A couple weeks later, today i deceided to change the spark plugs, replaced with exact same model NGK since the other were a little dark.

Tried to fire up the boat and it just wont go.
though i flooded it so i left it open for a bit to dry it out, then tried agian and still wont go, killed my batter.

New to boats so help me out a bit.
I did a compression test and it read 150 on both cylinders.

Is the drive shaft suppose to spin when its starting up ?

I recently changed the throttle cable since the origional one was stiff. Now throttle moves nice and lose in full range.

How come the damn thing wont start?

Battery was only at 50% when i was trying, its getting charged as we speak. Smells like there is fuel going in to the cylinders and on the plugs, but when i pull the plugs out and try to see if there is a spark i only see a weak spark.

help me out please
 
You got my boat!

Well, your in luck. You got my boat! And she's a beauty. Packed with a 787cc engine, you can't beat the ride and looks on the river.

Couple things. You said it ran on the old plugs, just a little rich looking on the plugs. Did you try starting it by putting the old plugs back in, which you knew would run? Second, did you check the gap before installing them. Never, never take it for granted that the pre-gapped plugs are correct. If they got bumped or you tossed them into the car (or truck in my case) then you could have easily changed the gap.

Get a gapping tool and make sure the gap is set at 55mm (.021"). If the gap is correct and you still can't start, you should check the plugs for fire. Take one of them out and let it rest against the metal of the motor. The threaded part is the ground. The plug needs a hot wire (the boot cap on the other end) and a ground. So, make sure when you lay it down on the engine block, it's got a good ground. Usually, just laying it down will be fine. Not by the plug hole, if it sparks, you could ignite the fuel vapor and get a back fire; and do not touch the plug while your turning the engine over. Forty thousand volts can be a heck of a jolt.

Now, turn the engine over (you'll want to be shaded or dusk so you can see well), you should see a nice, light blue spark arcing across the electrode.

If you get no fire at the plugs and you got two beeps from the lanyard when you put it on the post, check your fuses.:cheers:
 
awsome quick replys...


ok gap looked identical, grabbing gapping tool in the morning from a friend to verify, will also throw old plugs in at that time.

i am taking the day off tomorrow going to be 20c here :) will also make videos as i go if i have any problems.

first thing on the list to do tomorrow

- gap plugs
- try with old plugs
- try with charged battery
- clean all battery plugs
 
Roflmao!

Now, that was really funny! I got a good laugh. But, it is a valid question. Chances are, he did have the gas on. But, I have done some trouble shooting before, about a year ago, where we were going over an electrical problem. The motor wouldn't turn over. After going through some things to do and check, I was like, scratching my head, ....then they came back and said it was working. Found out they forgot to attach the battery ground wire. I couldn't tell you what I was feeling at the time. Kinda like, "why didn't I ask if the battery was connected before all the other stuff".

So yeah, I think it's a pretty good question...........:cheers:
 
seadoosnipe said:
Now, that was really funny! I got a good laugh. But, it is a valid question. Chances are, he did have the gas on. But, I have done some trouble shooting before, about a year ago, where we were going over an electrical problem. The motor wouldn't turn over. After going through some things to do and check, I was like, scratching my head, ....then they came back and said it was working. Found out they forgot to attach the battery ground wire. I couldn't tell you what I was feeling at the time. Kinda like, "why didn't I ask if the battery was connected before all the other stuff".

So yeah, I think it's a pretty good question...........:cheers:
Click to expand...


snipe you keep doing an awsome job with all the technicial posts that you contribute and i will try and help with the "duh" questions:rofl:
 
ok up this morning, battery fully charged.

started by putting the old spark plugs in, still wont fire up, sounds like it wants to but it wont.

Cleaned out the fuel filter this morning. And it got filled up with gas as soon as
i connected it, good sign :)
Still wont fire up
cleaned up all battery connectors wires terminals etc with wirebrush on a drill worked great,

still no go
getting 2 beeps but wont start

i made 3 videos uploading now will post very soon

Video 1 , Cyl 1 Compression test
Video 2 , Cyl 2 Compression test

also can someone explaint to me what this cable does ? VIDEO its lose, i might have knocked it lose somehow when i was swapping the throttle cable but i really doubt that
is there a fuel pump on this system or is it pressurized?
 
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ssmedt said:
this is going to sound really stupid but easy to forget; was the gas turned on?
Click to expand...

yes its on,

question i have about 25 liters in there, how does the reserve fill, automatically ? maybe the 25 liter went into the reserve? i know stupid questions but im a newb and need to learn..
 
ok getting no spark now, tried 3 different plugs, even sanded a little area so there was good contact to the valve cover, so where do i go from here?

i keep hearing about trimming the spark plug wires, any write up on this or quick guide to reference
 
Last edited by a moderator:
cadsii said:
ok getting no spark now, tried 3 different plugs, even sanded a little area so there was good contact to the valve cover, so where do i go from here?

i keep hearing about trimming the spark plug wires, any write up on this or quick guide to reference
Click to expand...

remove the plug boots, cut wire 1/4in, then re-apply boots.
If no spark still, Unplug the black/red wire between the mpem and coil and see if it starts. If it does, you have an issue with a switch or the rev limiter in the mpem. If it doesn't, the stator or coil are the places to look. Also, if it does start with that unplugged, be prepared to kill with the choke since the stop and lanyard buttons are bypassed
 
ok i re did the wires now i got spark, still wont start up, sounds like it wants to then just dies...

anyone?

i put another 25Liters in her to make sure fuel supply was not a problem.

Also pulled off the intake and cleaned out the carbs that way with some break cleaner, let it dry and still nothing... anyone ??? please spend 10 hours today and still no go

is there a fuel pump or is it pressurized ?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
what did you do (wire wise) that you got spark?
take flame arrestor cover off, and poor a 1/2 cup fuel down arrestor and try kik over to fire.
 
i trimmed the wires, i am going to charge the battery a bit and put 1/2 cub down the carb correct? take of the wire filter on the top of the carbs and pour in there correct?
 
A quicker way to get her to fire up, is pour some pre-mix (like 2 oz. each cylinder) in the spark plug holes to get directly to the pistons and spark plugs.

Less chance of spillage and a fire from excess fuel everywhere.

Karl
 
timmyboy76 said:
no need to remove the screen, pour gas right over it..
Click to expand...

ok thanks so much just finished breakfast starting to work on it now... first i need to clean the rave valves since one is not moving freely up and down like the other one. Here is a question why do i have 2 different tops on mine ?

72.jpg
 
one on the left gets stuck up, it just not as lose as the other if i push it with my finger it will go down, but the one on the right falls down on its own after being raised up, so im thinking pulling the left one off and cleaning it all, correct?
 
:agree: The black is the old design. The white one is just a newer replaced model. I would pull both of them and do a clean up. They should be de-carbonized once a year anyway.

Karl
 
his raves...

Karl...you think, hav'n 2-different caps, will play a roll in the opening of the rave? Did they use a different "spring" load, with newer style...I didnt even know they switched them, thats why i posted the link, thought something was missing...:cheers:
 
The plastic pistons are identical. The black is the older model, while the white one is just new and improved. Also the nut on the black one is separate from the piston. The white one is attached to the piston as 1 molded unit. You can't get the black ones anymore unless it is old stock.

Karl
 
ok so out the came, just gonna clean them up and throw them back in.

once again i am a newb thanks for all your help.

i will post more pics of the carb and such to see if you guys can spot anything off or disconnected...

battery is almost done charging i will keep you all updated

one more quick question, is the fuel pressurized or is there a pump.

when i disconnect the y splitter right before the carb to see if fuel is coming out i have to shake the hose to get something to come out, it does not just come out easily
 
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