Problem Resolved [was I'm Stumped], Runs briefly, then dies & won't restart Options

[ThinAir]

Background: In preparation for last year's RRC I fixed the mounting on the MPS of my son's stock 1971 914-4. All seemed well until we went out for the Saturday morning run - we turned a corner and the engine suddenly died and was clearly flooded. It restarted quickly, but we had the same problem several times on that trip after that.

I assumed that I had disturbed something electrical on the passenger side of the engine and in digging around I discovered that the wire connecting the Cylinder Head Temp Sensor was corroded at its base (in fact it fell off in my hands). Ok, this is simple I said - so I bought and installed a new CHT.

Current Problem: The engine will start, but runs for only about 30 seconds before it dies. At that point it will not restart, but it smells of fuel as if it is flooded. I've checked for spark and I have spark. I've disconnected, cleaned and reconnected every electrical connection on the engine & relay board that I can find - including every relay on the board. The only connections that I have not checked are the connector where the FI harness connects to the brain.

Does anyone have any ideas on what could cause this and where to look next?

[ThinAir]

I have not yet gotten back to this to try and prove that it's a broken wire, but I do want to put to rest one thing - this engine does not have an operating cold start valve. It's been bypassed for several years so it was already out of play when the original problem came up.

One thing for sure - thanks to your advice about the impact of the flooding problems on oil, I'll for sure be doing an oil change before putting it back into service.

[orange914]

I do want to put to rest one thing - this engine does not have an operating cold start valve. It's been bypassed for several years so it was already out of play when the original problem came up.

is the fuel bypassed, not just electrical unplugged, right? does fuel pressure stay up and not leak down after it sits?

mike

[ThinAir]

I do want to put to rest one thing - this engine does not have an operating cold start valve. It's been bypassed for several years so it was already out of play when the original problem came up.

is the fuel bypassed, not just electrical unplugged, right? does fuel pressure stay up and not leak down after it sits?

mike

The electrical is disconnected and the fuel is bypassed. I have not checked how well the fuel system maintains pressure after it has been sitting, but there has never been a hint of a problem with the delivery of fuel through the fuel pump, hoses, injectors until the problem of it stalling and being flooded at that point.