Engines wont start or stall!

[capt.nbs]

Hi,

I've been having trouble recently with engines that wont start or stall. This seems to be when I haven't used the sim for a while. But all generic aircraft and add ons are the same. I usually have it set so engines are on at the start of the runway, but the engines are either off, try to start and then die, or one engine running one not.

I have tried setting various flights as default flights with engines running and use these but engines are the same. I have tried switching to default cessna start engine then change planes, same result! In fact the default cessna wont run for more than a few seconds then gives chuffs of smoke then stalls! Please help!

Thanks in advance for any tips
Neil

[Foxtrot789]

You do have gas in the tanks, yes?

[tres2]

Hi Neil,

Mr. foxtrot789 is, of course, spot on about the gas. It is an absolute prerequisite to flying. But I'll bet you have already considered that.

I'm a little confused when you say that they won't start and they won'c stall either. Maybe you could amplify that a little for us. Also, what kind of engines are we dealing with here? I'm guessing piston? I am curious as to whether you have automixture enabled or not, and I am also curious about what altitude you are at, attempting to start the engine. But I really think more information is needed.

Tres

[Foxtrot789]

Also, are you trying to manually start the engines or doing the auto-start via Ctrl+E?

I've NEVER been able to manually start the Lear... for what it's worth.

[tres2]

I've NEVER been able to manually start the Lear... for what it's worth.

I had the same problem for years. Try the old control shift F4, or what ever you use to force your fuel valves open, and then do a manual start. The Learjet should have fuel valves but it doesn't.

[markdsmith]

I'm guessing piston? I am curious as to whether you have automixture enabled or not, and I am also curious about what altitude you are at, attempting to start the engine. But I really think more information is needed.

...Could be on the right track here.... a piston engine won't idle at full rich settings (which automatically happens when you push ctrl+E) at an airport over 5 or 6 thousand ft. At high altitude airports, a manual start and less than full rich settings is necessary. Probably 1/4 throttle. too.

[capt.nbs]

Hi,

Thanks for input, late reply due to working away. When I say engines wont start or stall I mean they start up then die or try to start then die, I am talking 99% jets.

The problem seems to be with the sim than the altitude or aircraft fuel. I used to have it set so engines were running at foot of runway ready to fly. But now the engines just refuse to start or start momentarily then die.

PS. There is always fuel onboard.

Neil

[cbear]

Are you starting a new flight or using the default flight. I wonder if your fuel valves got turned off. It is also a long shot but check and make sure your failures are clear.

Good luck
Bruce

[ScatterbrainKid]

Hi,This seems to be when I haven't used the sim for a while.... I usually have it set so engines are on at the start of the runway, but the engines are either off, try to start and then die, or one engine running one not...

Yes if we leave FSX for a while and then come back to it, we sometimes find something has happened in our absence, it's been mentioned in this forum before, weird, it's one for Mulder and Scully...
In your case the 'happening' is engines so all I can suggest (short of a full reinstall) is to juggle your throttle lever when trying to start the engines to try to coax them into life (think 'Flight of the Phoenix'), or open the throttle before hitting ignition.

PS- re jet engines, they can take a very long time to spool up, it could take a full minute or more after hitting ignition before they give any indication that they've woken up, so keep an ear out for the telltale whine or watch for flickering dials on the panel, or pan to external front view and hope to see see the turbine blades beginning to rotate.
Also, multi-engined jets and pistons usually start their engines in sequence one after the other and you'll need the patience of a saint after hitting the ignition key combo (mine is CTRL E).
Luckily only one hit of the combo is needed to start them all, you don't have to hit it for each engine.