Foo - Mechanic Question - Engine goes "Waka waka puf puf waka"

Kind of a long shot asking here but somebody might know...

I had this Ford Taurus 1998 that was working OK and being used daily. One day it just didn't start. The starter wasn't moving. When you turn the ignition key nothing happened. Some mechanic wannabi thought it was a good idea to hit the starter repeatedly with a hammer. It didn't fix anything but it did succeed in breaking several internal parts of the starter/solenoid assembly. I took out the starter, got a replacement and installed it. But still nothing was happening when turning the key.

After lots of troubleshooting, I finally found a big fat cable (named starter cable by the way) that was broken. I replaced it and now the starter is moving. The engine makes "waka waka waka puf puf waka waka" but it doesn't start. It sounds like a gas trimmer that hasn't been used during the whole winter. By now the car has been stopped for months. I just put gas on the thing, verified all fuses, everything looks fine but I can get past "waka waka puf puf waka". I would call a mechanic if I had any money to pay him. Seriously. But I'm broke.

So... any ideas on how to start a car that was been stopped for months?

take out the plugs, pour a bit of gas in each cylinder, and then get someone else to try to start it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arCITMfxvEc

Call Car Talk.

Kind of a long shot asking here but somebody might know...

I had this Ford Taurus 1998 that was working OK and being used daily. One day it just didn't start. The starter wasn't moving. When you turn the ignition key nothing happened. Some mechanic wannabi thought it was a good idea to hit the starter repeatedly with a hammer. It didn't fix anything but it did succeed in breaking several internal parts of the starter/solenoid assembly. I took out the starter, got a replacement and installed it. But still nothing was happening when turning the key.

After lots of troubleshooting, I finally found a big fat cable (named starter cable by the way) that was broken. I replaced it and now the starter is moving. The engine makes "waka waka waka puf puf waka waka" but it doesn't start. It sounds like a gas trimmer that hasn't been used during the whole winter. By now the car has been stopped for months. I just put gas on the thing, verified all fuses, everything looks fine but I can get past "waka waka puf puf waka". I would call a mechanic if I had any money to pay him. Seriously. But I'm broke.

So... any ideas on how to start a car that was been stopped for months?
Did you try putting gas in the car? I know that, at this point, lighting the thing on fire seems like a good idea, but it's not, Ruben. :innocent:

Is there smoke coming out of the tail pipe when you try starting it? It could be that your old gas is too nasty to actually start it and that the new gas isn't diluting it enough. It also could be time for new spark plugs. You might want to do that anyway.

It could be that the battery is so run down that it's not turning over fast enough.

Did you try putting gas in the car? I know that, at this point, lighting the thing on fire seems like a good idea, but it's not, Ruben. :innocent:

Is there smoke coming out of the tail pipe when you try starting it? It could be that your old gas is too nasty to actually start it and that the new gas isn't diluting it enough. It also could be time for new spark plugs. You might want to do that anyway.

Well, the car was almost empty. I bought 15 bucks of gas this morning, best grade with cleaning agents and stuff... pour it on the tank... tank is now half full with new gas. I was working alone on the car. I'll get somebody to help me in the afternoon and check if there's smoke coming out.

Well, the car was almost empty. I bought 15 bucks of gas this morning, best grade with cleaning agents and stuff... pour it on the tank... tank is now half full with new gas. I was working alone on the car. I'll get somebody to help me in the afternoon and check if there's smoke coming out.
Replace the plugs if there's any black smoke.

take out the plugs, pour a bit of gas in each cylinder, and then get someone else to try to start it.

be sure to stand behind some sort of barrier

The Great Kahuna of Hawaii says"Waka,Waka,Puf,Puf"the Waikiki weed:thumb:

Ruben,
Did one of you friends disconnect the spark plugs and put them back on in the wrong firing order.
Check to see if all vacuum hoses etc.are still connected.
Call priest to preform exorcism on the engine if ex put a curse on it.

Throw some jumper cables 'on' it (attach jumper to anonther vehicle), see if it starts. If so, battery was dead. If not, get back to us.

Throw some jumper cables 'on' it (attach jumper to anonther vehicle), see if it starts. If so, battery was dead. If not, get back to us.

This. If you did have old fuel in the system and put fresh in, it will take some time to get it pumping through. Either put a fresh battery in or get a friend to bring his car over and get a jump off him/her. It could likely take a dozen tries to get it working, keep the jumper cables on until it fires up.

Throw some jumper cables 'on' it (attach jumper to anonther vehicle), see if it starts. If so, battery was dead. If not, get back to us.
This.

Go to Taurus Car Club of America (http://www.taurusclub.com/forum/index.php?) forum. They know all. Go to Generation 1-4 Taurus & Sable Platform (1986-2007) > Maintenance and Repair.

Start with what's the most likely: Battery, alternator, battery cables. Then move to the other stuff.

Try jumping it for a while. It sounds like you've already diluted the old fuel enough. At this point, even with crappy plugs it should run, assuming you've moved the fuel through the system. Is that pacific islander ritual you think your car is chanting the sound of the engine running but idling poorly, turning over slowly but not firing, or something else? I also second checking the firing order. Google can help you with that, although I'm not sure if that car is a distributor or solid state ignition.

So... any ideas on how to start a car that was been stopped for months?I let a car sit for about 20 months, once. Battery was totally dead, of course, but jumper cables started it right up...no problems.

If it was going FAP FAP FAP FAP FAP FAP then MV could tell you what to do.

THE CAR EXPLODED

First I changed the spark plugs, they looked real bad. Put new shiny ones. Car went "waka waka puf waka". No black smoke out the back. So I took out the sparks and poured some gas on the cylinders, put sparks back...."waka waka puf puf puf puf puf puf waka"... better. It almost started.

And they Ruben had the great idea of repeating the process putting even more gas on the cylinders. Then starter went "kank"... again "kank". I figured I put to much liquid and the cylinder now can't make compression. So, how do I get some gas out of the cylinders? Oh well (that was stupid) I took the sparks out and try to start the engine so the cylinders will turn and the extra gasoline will pour out of the spark plug wholes....

KABOOMMMMM

Big ball of fire engulfed the engine.

I got it extinguished quick, less than 10 seconds. No wire damage or anything. Just my hands charcoal'd a little bit.

After dealing with the fire, I put sparks back. Keep trying to start it. It seems that the fuel on the line has broken down and the more I try, the more "puf puf" and the less "waka waka".

I'm gonna put a fresh battery on it. The one I'm using is from the hyunday and it's starting to go "waka waaakkaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaaakaaaaaaaaaaaa".

Don't blow yourself up... yet!
a) Foo needs your threads for amusement value, and
b) there are women out there who have yet to be your exes!

I have to confess I felt tempted to let the thing be consume by flames. :D But I'm so close of closing that chapter that I must continue.

Aiiiii Ca rumba!
I can't believe you poured gas in the cylinders.Sure glad I do not live next door to you.

It still sounds like you have the plug firing order jacked up.

Aiiiii Ca rumba!
I can't believe you poured gas in the cylinders.Sure glad I do not live next door to you.

It still sounds like you have the plug firing order jacked up.

No, those are fine. The car has the cables with the exact length of each spark plug, and are labeled... you can't go wrong.

Gotta go... try to jump start the thing... later

Well... jumpstarting didn't work. Cables got too hot for continuous cranking. The car needs a new battery. A *good* one. I can't afford that right now so this will have to wait. It's just a few more waka wakas puf puf from the final waka waka puf puf puf brumm bruuuuuummmm. Oh well.

Thnx for the tips....

Ruben, pull the battery and take it to an auto parts store (like autozone) who can test the battery for a bad cell. If it's not the problem, don't waste money on it.

I am assuming that the battery currently installed is the correct one for this vehicle...

Ruben, pull the battery and take it to an auto parts store (like autozone) who can test the battery for a bad cell. If it's not the problem, don't waste money on it.

I am assuming that the battery currently installed is the correct one for this vehicle...

The Taurus battery is dead. Not even the radio turn on. I tried to start the Taurus with my Hyundai's battery which, strangely, is bigger. But it started to show signs of giving no more power so I put it back in the Huyndai before I ruin it. I put dead battery back in Taurus and tried to jump start it with the Cherokee but cables got too hot and it was not delivering fast enough waka waka, more like a waaaaaakaaaaaa waaaaaaakaaaaaa which is not gonna do it.

I already took the dead battery to autozone, it's certified dead. New battery at this point is a must.

Lets forget the wanker,wanker noises from the engine and just concentrate on the ignition for now.Put the G--D--- gas can away and clean all the electrical terminals.
You could stop down at the local car wrecking yard and see Jose about a used battery($10-20) if your short on money for now.

Cars sound like that when you're running them on Flubber.

146271

Remember back in the day when a tap on the starter was all you needed to be on the road again? Or when the above tips were all you needed to limp you to the nearest garage? Now you need a "factory trained technician" just to get you on your way. It's no wonder that I don't drive.

Waka waka puf puf waka? ZOMG! You have the Son of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Lucky guy. All you have to do is find a pretty Edwardian lady named Truly Scrumptious to sit in the car and sing the song to get the car started.

Oh you Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
We love you!

Everybody, sing along so Ruben can get his car moving.

:roflmao:

I told ya... go to the Taurus forum. They know what goes wrong with the cars and can walk you through the repair. Since all this weirdness as started, have you checked your fuses? I bet you've blown one or two and that's why it won't start.

OK, let's go back.
It wouldn't crank at all.
You tapped the starter to see if it has a flat spot, no change.
you beat the starter to bits, and replaced with new. Now it cranks.
New problem arises, cranks but won't start. Sounds like you have ignition, because it tries when you add gas (don't add gas to cylinders anymore for pete's sake)
SO...
I am most suspicious of things you did while futzing with the starter. Look around at what you disconnected and see if it's all in place, Wires, vacuum hoses, etc.
Find a chart (if there isn't one under the hood) of the plug wire routing, and make sure every one is in the right spot. Same with vacuum hose routing.
See if there is fuel coming out of the fuel line when you crank it, by disconnecting the line where it goes into the intake, and cranking it for just a second. If fuel sprays out, fuel pump is good. If not, get new pump.

I think you'll find you goofed when reassembling the starter. If you were sharp enough to beat the starter into chunks, you are probably smart enough to have left something unplugged.

^ Since spreggy got all of my possible contributions for this thread, I'll just remind you to check for one of these guys mucking things up:

http://sketchfu.com/images/drawings/121637.png

LOL... i didn't beat the starter to bits... that was the ex's evildoing. she's a witch ya know. :(

The only thing I've done wrong on this project was to set the car on fire with a big explosion. Besides that, I've done everything by the book. :)

Lets forget the wanker,wanker noises from the engine

wanker? Are you thinking of Wankel? They go "Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm", not "Waka waka puf puf waka"

wanker? Are you thinking of Wankel? They go "Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm", not "Waka waka puf puf waka"
urbandictionary is your friend. Or not...

Ruben, crappy jumper cables are just that. The bad news is that good jumper cables cost as much as a battery. On the other hand, someone you know may have a decent pair. 10AWG cables are going to turn into limp spaghetti if you try to continuously jump the car. 2AWG cables on the other hand would do the trick. If the cable get too hot, wait 15 minutes and try again. Also, If you're going to use the battery of the other car, do it while the other car is running. Car batteries don't like deep cycling.

Something like this might do better:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00002243Z/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000RGVAPG&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1MQ9661EWMWMEZ76X9NP

Wow, here are some with 1 guage wires. Might look at these next time I am at Harbor Freight.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=66834&xcamp=google&utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=cpc&zmam=13262200&zmas=12&zmac=112&zmap=66834

Kind of a long shot asking here but somebody might know...

I had this Ford Taurus 1998 that was working OK and being used daily. One day it just didn't start. The starter wasn't moving. When you turn the ignition key nothing happened. Some mechanic wannabi thought it was a good idea to hit the starter repeatedly with a hammer. It didn't fix anything but it did succeed in breaking several internal parts of the starter/solenoid assembly. I took out the starter, got a replacement and installed it. But still nothing was happening when turning the key.

After lots of troubleshooting, I finally found a big fat cable (named starter cable by the way) that was broken. I replaced it and now the starter is moving. The engine makes "waka waka waka puf puf waka waka" but it doesn't start. It sounds like a gas trimmer that hasn't been used during the whole winter. By now the car has been stopped for months. I just put gas on the thing, verified all fuses, everything looks fine but I can get past "waka waka puf puf waka". I would call a mechanic if I had any money to pay him. Seriously. But I'm broke.

So... any ideas on how to start a car that was been stopped for months?


Did you run over a bear wearing a hat?



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/Fozzie_Bear.png
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/wocka_wocka_mens_fozzie_t-shirt_lis.jpg

It's possessed by the ghost of Speed Buggy.

http://www.tvparty.com/bgifs12/speedbuggy1.jpg



Not that it's a likely culprit for your issues, but when you put the new plugs in, did you remember to gap them properly?

It's possessed by the ghost of Speed Buggy.

http://www.tvparty.com/bgifs12/speedbuggy1.jpg



Not that it's a likely culprit for your issues, but when you bought the new plugs, did you remember to GAAP them properly?

bean counted it for you.

Wow, here are some with 1 guage wires. Might look at these next time I am at Harbor Freight.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=66834&xcamp=google&utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=cpc&zmam=13262200&zmas=12&zmac=112&zmap=66834
Those actually look pretty good. In my case I bought some fine strand copper 1/0 gauge wire from a shop going out of business, and then got my own clamps. Unfortunately, they aren't quite long enough to go front to rear on my car, but at $0.50/ft for 600V rubber jacketed 0 gauge I couldn't pass it up. At some point I'll extend them. It's going to be fun soldering my extension in though.

[video=youtube;arCITMfxvEc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arCITMfxvEc[video]
:roflmao2:

How's the ground cable? Are you sure the connections are nice and clean on the starter cables (both ends)?

Someone's going to need to change the oil after it starts again, especially after you poured gas in the cylinders. The gas thins the oil out and then you'll be back to the cranking sounds after you hear the expensive grinding sounds of seizing pistons.

Ruben, Ruben, Ruben... *shakes head*

How can anyone NOT love Ruben?


Now for some reason I feel I HAVE to meet you. Or else I swear that you really don't exist.

Why would anyone pour gas in the plug holes?Rube is lucky he did not blow his balls off to Havana.
What about my used battery idea Ruben?The blue book on that cruiser does not warrant a new battery.

First I changed the spark plugs, they looked real bad. Put new shiny ones. Car went "waka waka puf waka". No black smoke out the back. So I took out the sparks and poured some gas on the cylinders, put sparks back...."waka waka puf puf puf puf puf puf waka"... better. It almost started.

And they Ruben had the great idea of repeating the process putting even more gas on the cylinders. Then starter went "kank"... again "kank". I figured I put to much liquid and the cylinder now can't make compression. So, how do I get some gas out of the cylinders? Oh well (that was stupid) I took the sparks out and try to start the engine so the cylinders will turn and the extra gasoline will pour out of the spark plug wholes....

KABOOMMMMM

Big ball of fire engulfed the engine.I've posted this to the 7 other auto-forums I visit. This will become more famous than the "Altima brake thread" from a couple year ago.. :)

BTW, there's only three things needed to get an engine running:

1. air
2. fuel
3. spark

ALL troubleshooting processes start from these 3 basic ingredients. And I agree with Spreggy that you did something when banging on the starter. Retrace your steps. Good luck!

I've posted this to the 7 other auto-forums I visit. This will become more famous than the "Altima brake thread" from a couple year ago.. :)

BTW, there's only three things needed to get an engine running:

1. air
2. fuel
3. spark

ALL troubleshooting processes start from these 3 basic ingredients. And I agree with Spreggy that you did something when banging on the starter. Retrace your steps. Good luck!

incorrect:
Rubens friend(wannabemechanic) banged the starter while Ruben banged the......:D