1998 Honda Accord DX V4 - 163K miles.

I slowly sucked in about 1/3c Seafoam into the vacuum line in front of the PCV valve. The car died. I waited 15 minutes and tried to restart. It chugged to life and then died immediately and hasn't restarted since (4 days ago). In that time, I have performed the following:

- Pulled the plugs and let air dry for several hours.
- Replaced the plugs. When I pulled them initially, they were wet with gas.
- Tested for spark by putting one of the plugs into the wire and grounding. No spark on any of the plugs.
- Verified the timing belt is not broken.
- Replaced the distributor cap & ignition coil.
- Verified the air intake system is not plugged (pulled out a plug, covered the air intake and blew into the vacuum line. Air came out of the plug socket).
- Turned the car over enough to drain the battery.
- Cursed. Yelled. Pleaded. Prayed.

I would be grateful for any ideas. Any at all. I know it's not just coincidence. The car has never not started. Ever. In fact, I started it 2 minutes before applying Seafoam in order to move it.

Seafoam: Why? We have been on such good terms for years.... I'll change...

 

My first guess would have been the plugs had fouled and could no longer provide a spark. But if you had replaced them, then you should be ok.

Does it sound the same(normal) while your cranking the engine?

 

seafoam should not have cause ur car to not start. How much were u pourin into the vacuum line? Was it chugging while using the seafoam??

The guy above me is right.. The only thing seafoam would really do is foul up your plugs and key ignition components.

 

@Booster: Like I said, about 1/3 cup. I had disconnected the vacuum line from the PCV valve while it was running in order to suck in the Seafoam. Yes, it was chugging.

@john: It sounds normal to me, but something changed when I was replacing the distributor cap and I'm not sure what to attribute it to:

The car usually starts so fast I've never really noticed the "pattern" it takes when turning over. I had pulled the plugs out several times, and replaced them when I noticed the starting pattern was something like this:

crank-crank-pause-crank-crank-pause

I replaced the distributor cap and it didn't change. Then I remember the little spring that sticks out of the distributor connecting to the cap (not the carbon button). It was bent, so I took the cap back off, straightened it, and refitted the plugs and wires. The pattern changed:

crank-pause-crank-pause.

I'm not sure what that is due to. Any insight would be appreciated.

 

Change your oil.....

You're trying to start it now with Seafoam filled oil - not good.

Also, you shouldn't have let the car die when adding Seafoam - it should stumble but not die. When this happened did you do it on purpose or did it happen accidentally?

 

Accidentally, but the other cars I've used Seafoam on in the same amounts (about 1/3 cup) have always died as well, and there's never been a problem. Additionally, per their instructions, you can add Seafoam to the crankcase, so I'm not sure why you think "Seafoam filled oil" isn't good. And how would that cause a lack of spark??

 

u have gas??

 

Wow. Yes.

 

It wouldn't cause your starting problem - however is a place to start, by that I mean flushing any existing Seafoam out of the system.

Do your accessories/lights/radio work when you turn the key?

*edit* The reason I ask about the dying is IIRC on the can itself it says add it slowly enough so the vehicle doesn't die then when the whole amount is in, turn the car off and let it sit.

http://www.seafoamsales.com/how-to-u...treatment.html

 

Having seafoam in your oil will not cause "no spark" nor will not having gas cause "no spark". Take the advice you get on here lightly. I would take it to a local mechanic and have them take a look. Sound like they could have it sorted out (good or bad) within a half hour. If you have more time then money than post up a video of it cranking. I'd like to hear it crank.

If it sounds funny while cranking than maybe your mechanical timing has somehow changed (slipped t-belt). But you would still have spark. I'd go recheck, by putting a spark plug in the spark plug wire and grounding the end. You will need an assistant. I know you've already tried this, but give it another shot.

 

@Muffin: You are correct in that the instructions say to not let the car die. I didn't have an assistant with me when I used the Seafoam, so i wasn't able to rev the engine.

@john: I will try and get a video up tomorrow. I would love to get this fixed myself as I'm trying to sell the car, and don't want to add insult to injury by paying to take it to a mechanic - though of course I will as a last option. Thanks for your help.

 

No worries celldss, just trying to get you back up on the road.

Does the accessory position on your keys work? I had a similar (equally frustrating) issue after doing minor work and turned out to be a worn out ignition switch. Your issue could be completely coincidental with the Seafoam. You not getting ANY spark is somewhat confusing - did you test all plugs or just one?

 

I would only use Seafoam through the brake booster line and fuel tank. Never the crankcase. The problem with products like these is that they can remove deposits too quickly instead of slowly. You should NEVER let the vehicle die when using seafoam through intakes and etc...it could be the same as hydrolocking. Liquid does NOT compress so something has to give....hence engine damage/valves bent and whatnot. When I did my Seafoam I made sure as hell to let the car barely suck up 1/3 of the can...took about 5-8 minutes to get it all sucked up.

Do what Muffin suggested, drain the oil to rid the motor of most of the Seafoam and then go from there. Do you have a CEL? The Seafoam may have dislodged all the sludge in your motor...this can cause some serious damage.

 

Try holding the pedal down all the way before you start the car to put it into clear flood mode.

You may have to compression test to see if you bent a valve(s) somehow.

 

I'm not sure where you are not getting spark from what is mentioned. If you're not getting spark at the plugs, but you are getting spark at the coil, then my guess is your ignitor. I don't know what the ignitor check is off the top of my head, but there is a test check in the Haynes manual.

I add seafoam through the brake booster line. I bought a plastic picnic bottle for ketchup/mustard at the store and it works flawlessly. You just add the seafoam to the bottle and let the vacuum suck it through the nipple of the bottle, you don't even have to squeeze the bottle. If it sounds like the motor is going to die, you just pull the nipple away from the line, let the motor catch up, and touch the nipple back to the side of the opening in the line.

 

have u tried checking/changing out your ignitor since u already replaced your ignition coil

 

I hate threads that never get closure.

I swapped both the ignition coil and ignition control module. Got the parts cheap on ebay. I immediately got spark (in fact, I shocked myself in the process) and the car fired up on the first turnover. I'm not sure how the issues could be related, but the problem is solved and life goes on.

Thanks all for your help.

 

had the same problem using seafoam..
cost me 200 for a new dizzy

 

If I saw this before, I would of said the coil.

How is the car running?

 

prob hydrolocked depending if it sucked the seafoam through the hose or you slowly poured it in.

 

 

Kinda off-topic: When I seafoamed my old Camry through the brake booster vacuum line, I had trouble getting it stop (as far as I've read you were supposed to stop the engine after the engine sucked the Seafoam). I was yelling at my friend at the wheel: kill it, kill it! and then he shows me the keys ). It only stopped when I plugged the hose with my finger...

 

I bet you are a ungrateful person in real life and I just signed up here to let you know that because of this one comment. I know this thread is a few years old but hopefully this would help you...

When you needed "help" and was ready to cry you were all open for replies (although you still had an attitude) I'm surprised fellow members here still took the time out of their day to help you and give you FREE advice (these are all volunteers who aren't obligated to help you)...

Now that you got your problem fixed you have a stink attitude. If this ever happens to you again I hope no one replies and you learn your lesson. Yes, I had enough time on my hands to type this out because I hate to see this type of ****.

People took the time to help you... don't be a bi*** about it after your problem is resolved. The more info you can provide would help others like myself who are searching for a solution. Hopefully you get my point and although I am a total stranger take my advice and put it to use. Even though its the internet your comments show who you are in real life...

All in all even if you don't take this into consideration, I don't care... since life _will_ go on

Bye now.

 

You read his post wrong.

When he said he hates threads that never get closure he was saying "I hate threads that never get closure so I'm going to give you guys my update as to how I got this fixed so that there is some closure to this thread"

You're the one with the bad attitude and I just posted in here to say that.

Bye now.

 

Closure