Back in 2007, I removed the mechanical fuel pump, cut a block off plate from some scrap steel I had laying around, and wired in a new electric fuel pump... without a fuel pressure regulator. What happened as a result? I flooded the engine and then couldn't figure out why it wouldn't start. Surprise, surprise. So my plan right now is to return to the OEM setup since the mechanical pump only pumps what it needs and faster the cam turns, the more fuel pumps: it's genius! Obviously if I heavily modify the engine, there's going to be a point where the mechanical pump won't be able to meet the needs of the engine, but I don't think I'll be reaching that point any time soon.
Currently, the little 4A-C sitting in it is not running. As a 19-year-old kid, I bought a car because I wanted to be MR. DORIFTO, and not knowing anything about cars or engines, I flooded the engine and didn't even know it. I thought I destroyed the engine.
Five years later, after having to fix nearly every mechanical mishap possible on my daily driven Acura Integra myself, such is the life of a broke college student, I am finally realizing what happened in the past and what I need to do to fix it.
It needs a battery, a new fuel pump (with new fuel), most likely new spark plugs, a few new gaskets, and finally replace the oil. And then I don't see any reason why it wouldn't start.
As soon as it's running, I can start diagnosing the knocking that is coming from the engine bay. I've heard all sorts of explanations of what it "could be," but what I know is that until I get that engine apart, I won't know for sure.
I've been doing a lot of reading of a fellow Corolla owner in New Zealand, you can check out his blog at 86life.wordpress.com.
