Emergency! won't start out of the blue

[Leesfer]

I had my car on and then I turned the idler screw a bit and I unplugged and replugged the air flow meter? ( I think that is what it is... its the black plug that is on top of the cam covers '82 FI). But I turned my car off and now it wont start again...

any ideas? apparently my hands are the hands of grimlins

[So Cal Mark]

the air flow meter is attached to the end of the intake boot, and bolted to the air cleaner lid. What screw did you turn? The screw on the throttle body is the air bypass screw that will set idle speed. The mixture screw is in the corner of the AFM. are you sure you plugged the afm connector in tightly?

[Leesfer]

Whatever wire I plugged in is in there tight, I made sure of it coz after it wouldnt start I wiggled it around trying to see if that was the problem...

I believe it was the air flow screw that I turned

[Leesfer]

Whatever wire I plugged in is in there tight, I made sure of it coz after it wouldnt start I wiggled it around trying to see if that was the problem...

I believe it was the air flow screw that I turned

to make it easier than explaining... here are the two things that I touched

[pope]

That screw allows some air to bypass the closed throttle body to allow you to start your car at idle. If I can remember right, turning it counter clockwise, should allow more startup air into the plenium. You probably closed the screw enough to not allow enough air to start.

[Leesfer]

Okay I just ran outside and tried to turn the screw counterclockwise, clockwise and any other wise possible but no luck... i opened it all the way even but the engines still does the same, its turning over and just doing its little refuse to start spinning

[rlux4]

Would unplugging/replugging the connector cause a blown fuse somehow? I don't know, but when I was having trouble getting the wiring on my car correct a couple of weeks ago, it wouldn't start at one point. I traced the problem to one of the in line fuses (behind the fuse box). Your problem sounds the same, plenty of spinning, no starting.
You probably know this, but let the starter rest some, don't let it get too hot from over use.
Ron

[So Cal Mark]

the connector you removed is the auxillary air valve; that operates as a fast idle valve on cold start up. The screw in the first photo is the air bypass screw; it is used to set the idle speed as Pope pointed out.
Can you hear the fuel pump running when the key is first turned on?

[Leesfer]

ack! I don't hear the fuel pump... I hope this isn't as bad as I am bracing myself for

[So Cal Mark]

the afm flap has to open for the pump to run. Try pushing the flap open with the key on, you should hear the pump run. If you don't hear it, you may have an ign switch problem, a fuse problem or a dual relay problem

[Leesfer]

Where is this said AFM flap?

[So Cal Mark]

the AFM is on the end of the intake duct, bolted to the air cleaner lid. You'll have to unsnap the air cleaner lid, lift it up and reach inside to move the flap. It should move freely

try this link;
http://www.allisonsautomotive.com/fidiagnosis%20001.jpg

[Leesfer]

Ah, okay... I'm ganna have to wait till tomorrow to tinker around since its dark and the skunks are roaming

Thanks a lot for the help

[bandit]

Hey Leesfer


Just a thought have you checked the spark ? the plug you played with wouldn't have anything to
do with your Ign. or spark but just because your car stopped running at that point in time doesn't
mean 100% it isnt something else that happened . I'm sure you know how to test spark but just in
case remove a spark plug use a screw driver slide inside the plug wire
and then lay it with about a 1/4 inch gap from the engine as a ground turn over the car and watch
for a spark . I had a very odd thing happen to me once while working on a customers car not really
related to your issue but was a lesson learned his starter died while his car was left with me of
course it was my fault lol i had to replace it .
By any chance did you try starting the car while holding the gas peddle down about 1/8 of the way ?


Daniel

[Leesfer]

I'm sure the problem is one of those times of random failure...

Its starting to look like I'm ganna need my mechanic to check it
out

I'll check if its the fuse or sparks first though