Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Topic: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla) (Read 922 times) previous topic - next topic

Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

February 05, 2021, 04:39:43 pm

Hi again,
I live on a hill. I spent a while on the ignition system, and the alternator is reading at 14 now.. so all is good.
I was just trying to move it, but It stalled and will not start.

Admittedly, I did not let it warm up much. certainly not for an older vehicle.
oil gauge suddenly reading low, but it was normally been reading at 50. no major oil beneath the car to indicate a sudden burst.

As I check the engine coolant levels and the oil, does anyone have any thoughts aside from cancelling my weekend plans?

[updated topic title to include coach year and model. OP - highly recommended to put that info in your forum profile signature so it shows up in all your posts - Michelle]

Re: Will not fire up- on hill

Reply #1 – February 05, 2021, 05:02:50 pm

For starters what are you driving or did I miss something.

Re: Will not fire up- on hill

Reply #2 – February 05, 2021, 05:06:31 pm

Quote from: Dub – February 05, 2021, 05:02:50 pm

For starters what are you driving or did I miss something.

"For starters" is a nice play on words. Love it.

Think all of us missed something.

Pierce

Re: Will not fire up- on hill

Reply #3 – February 05, 2021, 05:28:43 pm

From previous posts battery not charging 87' GrandVilla '87 GrandVilla

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #4 – February 05, 2021, 05:32:36 pm

nice!

I live in Southern Oregon. At this point, I was headed to the gas station. Currently stalled in the street out front.

The oil pressure builds as I turn the key, but is reading low. Is there an emergency shut off with low oil readings?
The gauge has been reading at 50 until now, so I am not sure that this is or is not accurate. I am reluctant to check thin on a hill, unless there is an emergency shut off valve.

We did manually add gas, so there could be air in the line maybe.

Basically, I got it running, then it moved 5 feet ( i did not really let it warm up enough) and now it does not go..

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #5 – February 05, 2021, 05:33:29 pm

Quote from: Michelle – February 05, 2021, 05:28:43 pm

From previous posts battery not charging 87' GrandVilla '87 GrandVilla

battery is charging...
mechanic found the broken wire, battery is new. amps when moving were 14, so alternator is also working.

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #6 – February 05, 2021, 05:34:41 pm

Quote from: Dub – February 05, 2021, 05:02:50 pm

For starters what are you driving or did I miss something.

OH!

so sorry, its an 87 GrandVilla OREG

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #7 – February 05, 2021, 05:39:04 pm

If it's gas, try a little gas in the carb or fuel injection intake. If it kicks over, you may just not have gasoline to the carb/injectors. Be careful and don't catch yourself or coach on fire.

Pierce

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #8 – February 05, 2021, 05:53:15 pm

Sorry you are having a problem.

Low fuel tank letting fuel pickup suck air ?

Not relating to start problem: Do you chock wheels when parking on a hill? Is hill steep?

Add RV specs & your name on your forum signature so others who have ideas can help with an answer.

Let us know what you find.

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #9 – February 05, 2021, 06:28:48 pm

May add enough gasoline to the tank to be sure it can pick it up while doing as Pierce mentioned.

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #10 – February 05, 2021, 06:38:49 pm

is there a fuse for the fuel pump? i should check that.

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #11 – February 05, 2021, 06:50:09 pm

Quote from: Firewhirrrl – February 05, 2021, 06:38:49 pm

is there a fuse for the fuel pump?

Does your Ford 460 have a carburetor or fuel injection?

If carbureted it could have a mechanical fuel pump or it could have a electric fuel pump.

If fuel injected it definitely has a electric fuel pump. I don't know where the fuse (if any) might be located. Look under the lift-up dash.

Is the gas fresh or stale? Have you changed the inline fuel filters between tank and engine? There may be more than one...

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #12 – February 05, 2021, 06:56:10 pm

Some fuel injected engines will shut off the fuel injection if oil pressure is low, so your low oil pressure reading might be the problem.

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #13 – February 05, 2021, 07:59:29 pm

So, the rig will not roll backwards into a parking spot.

So, I'm locked I to gear which also means it won't start, right?

So now what?

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #14 – February 05, 2021, 08:05:24 pm

How do I tell if it is a fuel injection or a carburetor?

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #15 – February 05, 2021, 08:24:35 pm

87 should be a carburetor. It could be flooded. It has an automatic choke. It does have an electric fuel pump. I don't remember but think that the roll over switch is under the lift up dash. It has been a lot of years since I worked on those coaches. Take off the air cleaner and while looking into the carburetor move the linkage to see if it squirts gas. If it does then you need to check if there is spark. If no spark check the wiring to see if the ignition module is getting 12 volts. I think that it is mounted on the firewall.

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #16 – February 05, 2021, 08:29:21 pm

Quote from: Firewhirrrl – February 05, 2021, 08:05:24 pm

How do I tell if it is a fuel injection or a carburetor?

Easiest way is to take your smart phone, take a photo of the engine and post it here. Not hard to do as there are directions on this forum.

If it's has a carb, it will have an air cleaner right in the middle of the engine and probably a wing nut in the middle to you can take the top off.

This video shows what a carburetor looks like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXP5qnpVtwo

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #17 – February 05, 2021, 10:44:08 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – February 05, 2021, 10:15:07 pm

Seriously! That was the best video you could find to "show what a carburetor looks like'? 20 minutes long?

Pierce, I know you can do better than that.

Just trying to show him where the carb is located. I'm trying to watch Manx, eat dinner and post at the same time.
The first minute is all he needs to identify it. I'm going to graciously hand the task over to you.
Pierce

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #18 – February 05, 2021, 10:57:49 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – February 05, 2021, 06:56:10 pm

Some fuel injected engines will shut off the fuel injection if oil pressure is low, so your low oil pressure reading might be the problem.

ok... in exploring the reason that the engine suddenly will not turn over...
the low oil pressure gauge does seem to play a part.
From my research, seems the low pressure will stop the fuel pump.. and voila- no ignition.

I have checked, and there is enough oil. the pressure suddenly plummeted, so I will be looking at the sending unit.
Some people have mentioned jumping the pressure gauge. is it better to replace the sending unit or bypass the gauge ?

I see videos how to replace the sending unit. I do not see how to bypass the pressure gauge, however.

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #19 – February 05, 2021, 11:01:01 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – February 05, 2021, 10:44:08 pm

Just trying to show him where the carb is located. I'm trying to watch Manx, eat dinner and post at the same time.
The first minute is all he needs to identify it. I'm going to graciously hand the task over to you.
Pierce

Hello all.... Um for the record, I am a female.

and I watched the video, ( thank you, by the way) yes, I do have a carburetor. I will inspect the filter tomorrow.

Question: if i put fuel down the carb, then the engine would start ( theoretically) and then the low pressure reading would not matter and the pressure would be able to climb back to the normal 50 psi, right?

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #20 – February 05, 2021, 11:15:48 pm

Whatever you do, do not torque hard on the wing nut on top of the air cleaner when tightening it down. Too hard and you will distort the carb housing enough to cause the choke to stick.
Bet you can guess how I know.

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #21 – February 05, 2021, 11:22:27 pm

Quote from: nitehawk – February 05, 2021, 11:15:48 pm

Whatever you do, do not torque hard on the wing nut on top of the air cleaner when tightening it down. Too hard and you will distort the carb housing enough to cause the choke to stick.
Bet you can guess how I know.

love the hard earned lessons.

Thank you for sharing the knowledge.

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #22 – February 05, 2021, 11:24:52 pm

If you pour gas into the carb, don't pour a lot. Maybe about a teaspoon. If it tries to start you can add a little more after it stops running

If you get a backfire and flame shoots out of the carb, you put too much. Others may have a better suggestion on how much to add at a time.

If an electric fuel pump, you can try turning on the key for 10 seconds, then off and on again. May need a few times, This will build pressure in fuel system

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #23 – February 05, 2021, 11:44:06 pm

Hey, we were all new at stuff at one time. Putting fuel down the carb is sort of tricky. You don't want to have a container in one hand as if the engine backfires, you could catch on fire. We only want to put a couple of tablespoons in it to see if it will try to spring to life. If it does, we know it needs more fuel to run so either the fuel tank is low or the fuel pump is not working. So, best to put in a couple of tablespoons, get behind the wheel and crank it for a few seconds. Then we can go from there.

Pierce

Re: Will not fire up- on hill (87 GrandVilla)

Reply #24 – February 05, 2021, 11:47:23 pm

Quote from: Firewhirrrl – February 05, 2021, 07:59:29 pm

So, the rig will not roll backwards into a parking spot.
So, I'm locked I to gear which also means it won't start, right?

Your Ford 460 engine should have a Ford C-6 automatic transmission. Just because the engine stalled should not prevent you from shifting into Neutral, or into Park. Even with the transmission in Drive the coach should still roll backwards on any kind of noticeable slope.

There may be a safety interlock that prevents the starter from cranking the engine unless the transmission is in Park.

When you say the engine "won't start" do you mean it does nothing when you turn the ignition key to "START" or do you mean the engine turns over (cranks) but does not start running?

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