[RESOLVED] just bought it and it wont start!

[hellarough]

Ok so just last week I bought up a 99 eclipse gs. I had driven it like 100miles before it started to give me problems.
The first incident I had just turned the car off and ran inside to grab something.I came back outside and I tried starting my car and it cranked then turned over but died immediately. So, I tried it again but the second it turned over I hit the gas pedal to rev the engine which didn't work at all...it died again. On the third try it finally started and had no problems. In the next two days the same thing would happen; my car would die right after starting or have trouble starting then after about two tries or sitting for 2 minutes it would start and run fine like nothing had ever been wrong.
Now, a week later, my car will not start at all but it will crank without giving a single fire. I did open up the intake and clean the throttle body with a cleaner. After I did that, I tried again and one cylinder fired like the car wanted to start (this makes me think that my car is not getting fuel)

Here is the list of things I have yet to check for lack time or knowledge about how to test:

fuel pump
fuel relay
Camshaft Position Sensor
Injectors
Coil
sparks

If anyone could explain how to test these components, tell me other things that I need to test, or pass along a shop manual in any format I would greatly appreciate it. I just want to get back on the road asap and I am damn near broke.

[ivan300]

I would suggest buying a chiltions(however you spell that) manual as it will cover all of your questions.


Try crankin the car for about 15s then pull the spark plugs right away and let us know what they look like. This will tell us if your getting fuel or not.
After that just replace them, they're dirt cheap.


Read this manual it will show you how to check the spark plug wires and the coil, it also has a bunch of useful information.
http://az2gnt.net/FSM/2gnt_420a_overhaul.pdf

[hellarough]

Originally Posted by ivan300

I would suggest buying a chiltions(however you spell that) manual as it will cover all of your questions.


Try crankin the car for about 15s then pull the spark plugs right away and let us know what they look like. This will tell us if your getting fuel or not.
After that just replace them, they're dirt cheap.


Read this manual it will show you how to check the spark plug wires and the coil, it also has a bunch of useful information.
http://az2gnt.net/FSM/2gnt_420a_overhaul.pdf

Yeah I am gonna buy a Haynes because it the only one I can find. Thanks for that pdf it will definitely come in handy. I will keep you guys updated as I try to troubleshoot the problem...now I just need some time to work on the damn thing. (School and work FTL)

[hellarough]

Okay so I tested the relays and made sure that they were making good contact along with spraying some throttle body cleaner down the intake. The car started a few times today after I did that and it ran fine each time until I actually drove it around for a while. Then it would crank and fire a few times then stutter and die. So I still need to check the Camshaft Position Sensor but how do I go about testing it. I have that manual that shows me how to pull it but I don't know what I am looking for when I pull it. Plus once I pull the sensor, I don't think I can pull the magnet without a star wrench.

Other than the CPS what could it be? Dirty Injectors? Bad ECU? Fuel Filter? Some sort of sensor? Help please!

[BigRand]

You need a multimeter, and the haynes manual should be able to tell you what each sensors resistance is supposed to be. Check it out on the multi meter. If they don't match then something is wrong.

It sounds like something is loose, or not connected properly. You might pop the rear seats up, and make sure the wire to the fuel pump is connected securle. Locate the cam and crank angle sensors and make sure they are plugged in securely. As well as the coil pack connector.

You said you've hardly driven it, about how many tanks of gas have you gone through and what kind of mileage are you getting. And what type of gas are you putting it?

[ivan300]

here are all the service manuals for our cars
Folder/File Listing for H:\Documents and Settings\User\My Documents\My Webs\manualcd.com\gift\dsm\*.*


also post and do a search on 2GNT.com - home its a forum specifically for the non turbo eclipses.
And you can search on Neons.org - The best neon site on the net! the 1st gen neons have basically the same motor we do, with a few differences.

[4UH8ERS]

SLOW DOWN! lol. Start by replacing your fuel filter first and foremost!!. Its maintenence that needs to be done anyway. Secondly, remove your back seat and turn the ignition to the on position and make sure your fuel pump is priming. Start the car and make sure the fuel pump is continuing to run. If spraying carb cleaner in your intake makes the car start when it wasn't prior, then theres a fuel issue presumably. Cam and crank sensors can be extremly tricky and in my case difficult to test properly. You can get used ones dirt cheap and replace them. get them off a previously running part out car.

[hellarough]

Originally Posted by BigRand

You need a multimeter, and the haynes manual should be able to tell you what each sensors resistance is supposed to be. Check it out on the multi meter. If they don't match then something is wrong.

It sounds like something is loose, or not connected properly. You might pop the rear seats up, and make sure the wire to the fuel pump is connected securle. Locate the cam and crank angle sensors and make sure they are plugged in securely. As well as the coil pack connector.

You said you've hardly driven it, about how many tanks of gas have you gone through and what kind of mileage are you getting. And what type of gas are you putting it?

Yeah I have gone through like half a tank...roughly 150 miles now so I assume gas mileage is fine. Thanks for the ideas

[hellarough]

Originally Posted by ivan300

here are all the service manuals for our cars
Folder/File Listing for H:\Documents and Settings\User\My Documents\My Webs\manualcd.com\gift\dsm\*.*


also post and do a search on 2GNT.com - home its a forum specifically for the non turbo eclipses.
And you can search on Neons.org - The best neon site on the net! the 1st gen neons have basically the same motor we do, with a few differences.

Thanks so much for the links and definitely the manuals; you just saved me like $20 at least.

Originally Posted by 4UH8ERS

SLOW DOWN! lol. Start by replacing your fuel filter first and foremost!!. Its maintenence that needs to be done anyway. Secondly, remove your back seat and turn the ignition to the on position and make sure your fuel pump is priming. Start the car and make sure the fuel pump is continuing to run. If spraying carb cleaner in your intake makes the car start when it wasn't prior, then theres a fuel issue presumably. Cam and crank sensors can be extremly tricky and in my case difficult to test properly. You can get used ones dirt cheap and replace them. get them off a previously running part out car.

I guess I am a little excited...I just want my baby back. Thanks for the advice!

[SurrealDSM]

i noticed you haven't stated that you checked your codes...do you even have a check engine light? i'm sure you would. i had a problem like this recently and it ended up being the crankshaft sensor which had a crack in it, so run your codes and get back to us that would point you in the direction where the problem area would be...try the key dance also if you cannot access a code reader from autozone

[hellarough]

Originally Posted by SurrealDSM

i noticed you haven't stated that you checked your codes...do you even have a check engine light? i'm sure you would. i had a problem like this recently and it ended up being the crankshaft sensor which had a crack in it, so run your codes and get back to us that would point you in the direction where the problem area would be...try the key dance also if you cannot access a code reader from autozone

No I haven't checked codes but I dont have a CEL (unless you count the starting sequence). As for the keydance...I have no clue what you are talking about...but I will search it right now.

[hellarough]

okay, I tried the key dance and got nothing and there is definitely not a CEL.

my car is me

[Locke]

Keydance won't work on your '99. You'll have to use a scanner.

[hellarough]

Well I now know that it was the fuel pump relay. When I first tested it, it was fine but I guess it was well on its way to totally crapping out on me. All this fuss over such a tiny part is what really gets to me....but anyways thanks a lot everyone for all the help!!! Hopefully I will have some pictures of it up soon.

[cturok7]

I actually had a hunch it was fuel pump or relay related. If it was running then injectors should be fine. Fuel problems get PROGRESSIVELY bad and the just go out. Just exercising my knowledge.