FI Issue has Me Scratching my Bald Spot

[DeMinimis]

So, dropped the engine to install a new clutch, PP and TO bearing. Labeled everything, but did miss-label one thing and we'll get to that in a minute. Engine back in. Has spark, fuel, but won't run. I can give it a shot of starting fluid and it fires right up but dies when the fluid runs out.

The usual problem is the neg wire coming off the batt terminal, but that's just fine. The double relay is near new. I hear the click of the relay when I turn on the ignition, so that's good news. I cracked open a fuel line (one I had missed when swapping out to lined Goodyear lined lines) and fuel spewed all over. Fuel pump and filter are near new as well. I have backup lights, so that wire (which I understand powers the ecu as well) is doing its job.

Now, here's where I messed up. When hooking stuff back up, I unexplainably marked the white wire that sends the signal to the injectors incorrectly. So, I hooked it up on the hot side of the coil. Obviously, I discovered my error and hooked it up correctly, but not before trying to start the car. Although it doesn't seem like that would have caused a problem with the system, is it possible it fried the double relay, or worse, the ecu? I'll plug in a different new double I have for a quick and easy way to rule out a problem with the relay later today. To make it slightly more confusing, when I corrected the white wire fiasco, I got the car to run on its own, but just barely. I mean, just barely. Now, it won't even do that (sans starting fluid). All connections are correct. I'm stumped. Anyone?
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Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII In Progress.

[Tram]

First, check for vacuum leaks, then double- check the ignition system. Pull and clean the spark plugs. It's possible they're fouled. What happened possibly when you had the FI wire hooked to the hot side of the coil is that the injectors stayed open and badly flooded the combustion chambers. If you find this to be true, check the oil for fuel smell as well. If it smells of fuel, try to light the oil on dipstick. If it burns, change the oil before proceeding.

If the engine tries to start/ run AT ALL on its own (which it did) the ECU is OK.

BTW, starting fluid is Satan.

Do all this and report back. We'll go from there if it still isn't running.
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Немає виправдання для війни! Я з Україною.

[DeMinimis]

If the plugs were fouled, they cleaned up when I did the starting fluid regime.

I actually replaced all the vacuum lines. Well, the ones that matter anyway.

I better check to make sure the fuel didn't drain out of the tank over the three weeks between dropping the engine (supply line was capped with a hose and bolt, so I suppose its possible). Yea, I wonder. End of hose was slightly wet with gas, car on the gravel side of the shop, so wouldn't have a puddle if slowly leaking, and no fuel gushed out of the supply line as expected when I went to hook it all back up. Yup, that's got to be it. Maybe...hopefully. I'll check tonight. Some remaining fuel in the system could explain how it started but barely ran for a while. If i was a batting man...

I'll post up the findings.
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Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII In Progress.

[Tram]

[Randy in Maine]

If it were me, I would install my handy fuel pressure gauge in the fuel rail to confirm that you do have the 26 psi required to get you into the starting game.

I would also have my dwell meter hooked up to confirm that the points are actually working correctly.

Verify by testing at the ECU "big plug" that the temp sensor II is within specs.

Finally I would pull those plugs out and have a look at them. They could be all fouled still.

[zoti]

Assuming you have gas in the tank check that the injectors spray when you try to start the car. It sounds like a fuel problem.

[DrDarby]

Look at the Bentley Manual and see where the crank signal wire goes (white wire at the NEGATIVE side of the coil). I believe it ends up going thru a connector on the left rear floor under the seat. I find that connector *has three wires / connectors in a flat white connector* bad / corroded all the time.
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Midwest Autosavers, Inc. Crystal Lake, IL

[DeMinimis]

The Socratic Method succeeds once again. It was a fuel delivery problem. The problem was the tank needed fuel delivered into it after all the fuel apparently leaked out. I feel like "Balloon Dad" now.
_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII In Progress.