737 Cold N Dark - Engines refuse to ignite?

[CptCaveman]

As the title suggests all my 737 simply refuse to start whatsoever from not igniting with the starter switch. I have viewed multiple checklists, and watched multiple videos on the start procedure. None of it works.

 

I have the APU on, The fuel pumps on, Battery on, VC starter switches to on flt @ N2 is at 25% for both engines.

 

However when I flip the master starters on the throttle, nothing happens. Both the VC starter and the 2d starter do nothing when activated. I have waited 10 mins but the engines just wont combust and start properly. Double check the switches actually work, as when starters are flipped to "off" the N2 level drops and starters are set to closed.

 

I can start the Airbus absolutely no trouble at all from cold n dark.

 

Either I am missing a critical switch, or my 737's are just completely bugged. Default 737's = nothing, mega pack of 737 with enhanced cockpits = nada, 737 gauges cab replaced with a "fixed" version = Bugger all.

 

I really just do not get it at all. If I do not use CRTL+E none of them will start.

[PhantomTweak]

I don't know about your particular case, but I've found that if I have an engine that won't start "manually" but CTRL-E works, I watch every switch on every panel, maybe a panel at a time, and I usually find some small, obscure switch/lever/reading...SOMEthing I missed doing it manually. It may take several tries, but it usually shows me something I missed.

Pat☺

[MBKHOU]

Sounds like no fuel. With the 25% N2, Doesn't sound like the packs are on, or a

bleed air problem. No go juice is getting to the engines for some reason.

When you flip the fuel levers after getting the 20+ N2, is the lever flipping forward?

It's been so long since I flew the default 737, I can't remember it's quirks, and what

works or doesn't.

 

BTW, the start switch should be set to "GRD" when ground starting, not "FLT".

Then usually set to "CONT" for takeoff. I turn the start switches to OFF at 10,000 ft.

And back to CONT when descending below 10,000 ft.

I've never actually used the "FLT" setting so far.. I'd have to look it up in the FCOM

to see what the difference is.. Maybe for windmill starts or sumtin.. I dunno.. :confused:

 

EDIT

I did a quick look in the FCOM, and it seems "FLT" is used when in turbulence, and

also when you have engine vibration due to icing. I didn't go any farther than that

though, and still don't know exactly what the difference is between say CONT and

FLT.. But.. I do know who to ask, which I'll do later. I'm kinda curious for my ownself..

[bdf369]

Try Ctrl+Shift+F4 before doing the startup

[CptCaveman]

@MBK - I dunno what your talking about, the default 737 only has two starter positions - GND or FLT with the selector switch in the center. I watched the panel closely during a startup and the autostart does not change this to GND until engines ignite.

 

 

Basically this is my checklist;

 

Battery switch - ON

Fuel pumps - ON

APU RUN switch to ON

Starter switches to FLT (using vc cockpit for this coz 2d panel dont work)

 

And this is where it gets iffy for me because there are 3 switches labeled generators, which the autostart leaves at "off" position till the engine is running, so I assume center one must be the APU unit and must be in the "ON" position.

 

Engines build to 25% N2

 

I flip the main starter switch on the 2d throttle display, which also flips the VC one.

 

And nothing.

 

As I said I have the all the airbus down pat, and its second nature to me. But this 737 is weird. I can find nothing marked bleed valve or similar so this is where I am totally condused.

[mallcott]

Base of pedestal:

 

Fuel valves open

[evm]

What bdf369 said: Ctrl + Shift + F4 (Mixture full rich) should do it.

 

If the engine was shut down with CTRL+Shift+F1, the starter behaves just like you describe. The above key combination cures that, even if it seems silly for a jet... but that is default airplanes for you.

[CptCaveman]

Tried that, no dice.

 

I must be missing a critical switch somewhere, but I cannot find it anywhere.

 

Checklist again;

CTRL+SHIFT+f4

Battery - on

Fuel pumps - on

APU run switch - on

APU generator switch - on (center generator switch)

Engine starter switch - FLT (on using VC)

 

Engine builds to 25% N2

 

Main fuel valves (throttle switch) - Open

 

Still nothing.

[il88pp]

Re-posted.

And Edited :(

Sorry, I made an error in ther assignments first time I posted.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The 737 has no fuel valve switches on panel / in vc.

Go to keyboard assignments and assign >control1control4

 

Then assign >controlshift1controlshift4

 

Then use that to open fuel valves 1 and 2.

Make sure you set the parking brake before you start your engines!

 

Why 4 (8) key assignments then? Because the 747 has 4 engines. That way you are prepared.

 

il88pp.

[evm]

Tried that, no dice.

 

I must be missing a critical switch somewhere, but I cannot find it anywhere.

 

Checklist again;

CTRL+SHIFT+f4

Battery - on

Fuel pumps - on

APU run switch - on

APU generator switch - on (center generator switch)

Engine starter switch - FLT (on using VC)

 

Engine builds to 25% N2

 

Main fuel valves (throttle switch) - Open

 

Still nothing.

 

One additional point for the checklist: check fuel quantity. Your tanks are full, right? Sorry, I know this is a dumb question, I just want to make sure.

 

Re: keyboard assignments: normally, on a fresh vanilla FSX, it just works, maybe the odd ctrl+shift+F4, but that's about it. Did you reassign any controls, are you using external controllers? (for example Saitek panels)

[ScatterbrainKid]

..I have waited 10 mins but the engines just wont combust and start properly..

 

Tip- Some FSX airliners engines take a loooong time to start spinning, so go to external view and pan around to the headon view to visually check that the turbine blades are beginning to spin, and also turn your sound up a tad to listen for the whine which begins very quietly and gets louder.

[il88pp]

I mixed it up again!

 

I meant >control1

and >controlshift1

etc.

 

Original post I said F1 - F4, don't change those of course!

[mrzippy]

On all of my 737-800s (default and addon POSKY models) I never have to use Ctrl+E for engine start from a cold and dark starting point. My default flight is set using the default Baron58 cold and dark with mixture levers at full rich.

 

All I do for engine start:

 

1. Turn on Battery. Make contact with ATC and program AP with appropriate info.

 

2. Do a pushback from the gate stopping in the proper positon and apply the brakes.

 

3. Flip up the start lever (left side first) on the throttle panel. Engine spins and ignites when N1 reaches 26 % (I'll recheck that number) Now turn on the generator for that engine.

 

4. Do the same for the right engine. Now both are turnin' and burnin'.

[MBKHOU]

@MBK - I dunno what your talking about, the default 737 only has two starter positions - GND or FLT with the selector switch in the center. I watched the panel closely during a startup and the autostart does not change this to GND until engines ignite.

 

I couldn't remember how the default 737 had the start switch settings..

I guess they are not exactly as real world.. The real world jet and likely most payware planes like the 737NGX I run have the start switch selections from left to right, GRD,

OFF, CONT, FLT..

 

 

Basically this is my checklist;

 

Battery switch - ON

Fuel pumps - ON

APU RUN switch to ON

Starter switches to FLT (using vc cockpit for this coz 2d panel dont work)

 

And this is where it gets iffy for me because there are 3 switches labeled generators, which the autostart leaves at "off" position till the engine is running, so I assume center one must be the APU unit and must be in the "ON" position.

 

Engines build to 25% N2

 

I flip the main starter switch on the 2d throttle display, which also flips the VC one.

 

And nothing.

 

As I said I have the all the airbus down pat, and its second nature to me. But this 737 is weird. I can find nothing marked bleed valve or similar so this is where I am totally condused.

 

The bleed is not the issue, nor time given to spool up as you have 25% N2.

Say with the NGX, if you had the packs on, you won't even get up to 20 % N2..

So no problems there. The engine is just waiting for fuel, which I would think

the Ctrl+Shift+F4 should have enabled if they were off.

I guess you could try setting the fuel valves with the key entries as one mentioned.

But in theory, Ctrl+Shift+F4 should have done the same thing I would think.

[il88pp]

The default >controlshiftF4

(also required)

 

I accidentally said F4, meant to say 4 (no F)

 

I think he needs to open the fuel valves. Actaully, I think he already did and is flying atm.:)

 

(MBKHOU, sorry, I edited my original posts. Maybe the last bit of your post has now become confusing. Sorry for doing that. But I couldn't edit posts before.)

[CptCaveman]

First off, thanks for all the suggestion folks. It is greatly appreciated.

 

I have remapped keys, but I do not remember ever changing any advanced short-cuts from default. I will check my key mappings though to be sure.

 

Its going to be a total "doh!" when I figure it out. Been having a lot of fun flying the 737-600 when its actually started. I started with the "short bus" A318, before progressing to the A320/A321. Trying to do the same with the Boeings, but this dark issue is putting a bit of a crimp on it.

 

 

PS to any modders - You folks are awesome and I love these airplane megapacks!

[CptCaveman]

Ok so checked keybinds, they are all good. So I ran an experiment. I auto-started the engines then auto shutdown them.

 

I then tried a manual start and the engines sprung to life in seconds. So again either I am missing a critical switch, or there is some kind of bug with the plane.

[il88pp]

those fuel valve switches are not: "advanced default assignments", they are not assigned at all by default until you assing them.

[CptCaveman]

Er yes mixture commands are default assignments. As noted above by other posters I found them in the control bindings and they are set as described, so no issue there.

 

I have even just assigned "auto fuel transfer" to a keybind also to check if its that or another issue.

 

Also, the gauges actually read fuel flow to the engine when I try to start (0.2) so its not starved.

 

*EDIT* Also double checked my realism settings, and its set to "auto-mixture enabled".

[MBKHOU]

I just tried it with the default 737-800 and it started up fine for me. Not the usual

start procedure I'm used to, but it worked. I had to click the start switch to flt,

and then it auto tripped to GRD. Waited until 20% N2, and flipped the fuel lever up.

Started right up. I noticed that Ctrl+Shift+F4 did control the fuel. If I clicked

Ctrl+Shift+F1 to cut off the fuel, it did, and would not start. Did Ctrl+Shift+F4, and

it fired up again. Also, the use of the keyboard fuel control does not effect the

position of the fuel levers. They should be towards the floor when off, and then

each one flipped up when starting. They did visibly change positions when using them.

 

I think what I would do is #1, start with a whole new fresh startup flight if you are

using one. It kind of sounds like the flight you are using starts with the fuel cut off,

and for some reason Ctrl+Shift+F4 is not enabling it. If that doesn't work, I'd backup

your present fsx.cfg, and let the sim build a new one. Then see what happens.

[evm]

Ok so checked keybinds, they are all good. So I ran an experiment. I auto-started the engines then auto shutdown them.

 

I then tried a manual start and the engines sprung to life in seconds. So again either I am missing a critical switch, or there is some kind of bug with the plane.

 

Hi, you wrote about 'megapack' and a replaced CAB. Is this a modification of the default 737? The 'bug' may be hidden there, something like magnetos or ignition (all not relevant for a jet but it may be for a default one, especially when modded). These are set correctly in the default flight though. If you no longer have it, you could try the safe default flight from Flight1 (freeware).

[ScatterbrainKid]

It's also worth mentioning that on some planes panels (sorry can't remember which ones), simply clicking a switch might not activate it, you have to sort of click-hold-drag it to activate it.

[mrzippy]

Hi, you wrote about 'megapack' and a replaced CAB. Is this a modification of the default 737? The 'bug' may be hidden there, something like magnetos or ignition (all not relevant for a jet but it may be for a default one, especially when modded). These are set correctly in the default flight though. If you no longer have it, you could try the safe default flight from Flight1 (freeware).

 

b738gaufix.zip I think this is the gauge fix .CAB file he used. I have that in several of my 737s and it doesn't affect the engine start. It was more for fixing the light switches and giving the lighted LE Flaps Extend light. I'd go with re-doing the default flight setup!

[il88pp]

Hi MBKHOU,

I hope I didn't cause to much confusion.

 

 

>contrshiftF4

That will starve the engine of course (also on a 737)

 

The switches on the throttle quadrant you mentioned are the fuel valves. (I thought at first the 737 didn't have those modeled).

With >contrshiftF4

[CptCaveman]

Just as you said zippy, the cab I used was the gauge and light switch fixer. No other changes to the cockpit. And I only did that after this issue arose, as I thought it possible a switch was broken which would be understandable as the plane has busted switches as normal.

 

Every 737 I try just does not start. Airbus all fire up in seconds easily. I also wiped all my saves (boooo) and flight plans (hisss), and my CFG file (garn!). Just redid my "default flight", but its not "there yet" as its still starting with spinning engines on the way to idle.

 

With my luck its probably the data I have is a bit wonky and needs a reinstall.