[RESOLVED] This Newbie needs help!! My car is not running!!

[Executionerhk]

Hello to all masters!

I really need all the helps I can get to get my car running again!! I love my DSM 1G very much. And here is the story.

I got this car from my cousin, it is a 1990 Plymouth Laser RS 5spd Turbo. He is the first owner. Car has about 115000k, he claim that timing belt and water pump is changed.
Before I first get it, it had been sitting under a tree for about 1 year. When I first drove it, it has some bad burning smell... donno what it is but it run a way after couple days.

1 week later, the clutch is out... so I have a shop replacing it. And they said my ECU is bad too... so I have it replace along with the clutch. I donno if they install it right, but anyway now I have 1 in the car 1 in the trunk.

This is what happen before it broke down. It has been running about 12-13 mpg daily driving on local street... not enough power, and pull... no power what so ever going up hill... high RMP the engin has no noise... seems running ok... I had another friend take a look at it about the fuel problem when I went to Austria over the summer for 3 months... (people now tell me he just claim he knows about car, but not really) when I came back, people said he did nothing but my car is not working no more. The fuel pump relay is out... the small thing by the ECU next on the passenger side fire wall... I took that apart, 1 wire is missing so I think that is reason why the car crank but not starting... now I have a good part from junk yart still the car crank but not starting.
Where can I buy a good part? Do you know what part I am talking about? anyone know why my car burning so much gas and why it is not running now?

Please help, I want my 1G running like a champ again!!

Steven

 

[Executionerhk]

Please, I really want to know what is wrong, anyone had the same trouble before?

 

[Executionerhk]

Hello to all masters!

I really need all the helps I can get to get my car running again!! I love my DSM 1G very much. And here is the story.

I got this car from my cousin, it is a 1990 Plymouth Laser RS 5spd Turbo. He is the first owner. Car has about 115000k, he claim that timing belt and water pump is changed.
Before I first get it, it had been sitting under a tree for about 1 year. When I first drove it, it has some bad burning smell... donno what it is but it run a way after couple days.

1 week later, the clutch is out... so I have a shop replacing it. And they said my ECU is bad too... so I have it replace along with the clutch. I donno if they install it right, but anyway now I have 1 in the car 1 in the trunk.

This is what happen before it broke down. It has been running about 12-13 mpg daily driving on local street... not enough power, and pull... no power what so ever going up hill... high RMP the engin has no noise... seems running ok... I had another friend take a look at it about the fuel problem when I went to Austria over the summer for 3 months... (people now tell me he just claim he knows about car, but not really) when I came back, people said he did nothing but my car is not working no more. The fuel pump relay is out... the small thing by the ECU next on the passenger side fire wall... I took that apart, 1 wire is missing so I think that is reason why the car crank but not starting... now I have a good part from junk yart still the car crank but not starting.
Where can I buy a good part? Do you know what part I am talking about? anyone know why my car burning so much gas and why it is not running now?

Please help, I want my 1G running like a champ again!!

Steven

 

[pj91gsx]

sounds to me that the reason you car didnt have power is probably because of a boost leak. A boost leak will mean the air that is supposed to go into the motor is escaping, so the car is useing a lot of gas and very little air. so bad gas milege. However, the reason why you car wont crank... the burning smell in my car was a fried ecu from but it was not a natural cause. its a long story (rewired main harness wrong). The ecu is under the dash behind the radio. it is golden. the ecu is not in the engine bay. also you can test to see if the motor is getting a spark. Take out a plug wire and put a spark plug at the end of it and turn it over to see if it will spark. probably a bad ecu if they didnt change it.

 

[Executionerhk]

Thanks, but my car now will crank but not starting.
i will take my ECU to some auto parts store to check in couple days...
but about the Fuel pump relay, some people call it the MPI reply...
something like that. a small golden box by the passenger side firewall under the CD Player... around that location.

yaya when the gas run so badly, i had a turn up... and it don't help...
and i put some gel call XADO in it... will I mess the engine up?

 

[pj91gsx]

well my ecu is under the dash. mine is a 91 gsx. I know 90's are different so Idk if that is where your is. Ok. It doesnt take a genius to know that the ecu is blown. Take off the ecu cover and look at it. If there is a problem then it will be very obvious, expecially because of the smell. I have a burn 12v transistor. You put gel in the fuel filter? ok. like i was saying take a plugwire and put a plug at the end of it and see if it sparks. When the motor doesnt crank the problems are either. Timing is off, no spark, or no gas. If you can tell me if there is or isnt a spark then you are much closer to fixing the problem.

 

[19gale2gGST]

Get a new fuel pup relay installed. Change your fuel filter, get new injectors, and change the spark plugs. I dont know what part your talking about next to the ECU, sorry. Hope ou get it running soon, keep us updated.

 

[1sic1G]

Hello to all masters!

I really need all the helps I can get to get my car running again!! I love my DSM 1G very much. And here is the story.

I got this car from my cousin, it is a 1990 Plymouth Laser RS 5spd Turbo. He is the first owner. Car has about 115000k, he claim that timing belt and water pump is changed.
Before I first get it, it had been sitting under a tree for about 1 year. When I first drove it, it has some bad burning smell... donno what it is but it run a way after couple days.

1 week later, the clutch is out... so I have a shop replacing it. And they said my ECU is bad too... so I have it replace along with the clutch. I donno if they install it right, but anyway now I have 1 in the car 1 in the trunk.

This is what happen before it broke down. It has been running about 12-13 mpg daily driving on local street... not enough power, and pull... no power what so ever going up hill... high RMP the engin has no noise... seems running ok... I had another friend take a look at it about the fuel problem when I went to Austria over the summer for 3 months... (people now tell me he just claim he knows about car, but not really) when I came back, people said he did nothing but my car is not working no more. The fuel pump relay is out... the small thing by the ECU next on the passenger side fire wall... I took that apart, 1 wire is missing so I think that is reason why the car crank but not starting... now I have a good part from junk yart still the car crank but not starting.
Where can I buy a good part? Do you know what part I am talking about? anyone know why my car burning so much gas and why it is not running now?

Please help, I want my 1G running like a champ again!!

Steven

Yeah you just need to do a good tune-up on it, that should take care of the most of it...

 

[slcorman91]

Is the new ECU still working properly. The worst thing you can do to a dsm is let it sit. Capacitors leak out and ruin the ecu. You can tell by kicking the key on so all the accessories come on and watch the boost gauge. It should got to zero. If it doesn't move then the new ecu is bad.

 

[Executionerhk]

I hope you guy will come back and help...
First I do have to take the ECU to have a check up...
maybe in auto parts stores...

Frist, I do have a tune up to see if gas milage helps... but it doesn't...
anything else will be bad by chance? because it is a lot of gas for that DSM...
i mean 12-13 mile per gallon on the local Daily driving...

Please you guy come back and help again.

 

[Executionerhk]

<a>eBay Motors: 90-94 Eclipse Talon Laser N/T 1.8 MPI Fuel Pump Relay (item 320191655466 end time Mar-02-08 19:27:02 PST)</a>

the part looks like that, but it is for turbo car... but it look excatly the same... anyone have idea what that does?

 

[Jrgunn5150]

It turns the fuel pump on after the key comes on

 

[turboboy4]

You definately need to watch your grammer, when you post. There are rules about spelling and being clear on what you are trying to say. Just warning so you dont get in trouble from the moderators

 

[Diplomat]

Before you go so far as to remove the ECU to look at it, I would suggest you start with a basic diagnostic trouble code check. In a 1G, this is a simple procedure that does not require any special tools. An analog multimeter is your "scan tool". The procedure can be found here. This will tell you whether or not the ECU is even functioning and report any DTC's that might be stored.

 

[Executionerhk]

Before you go so far as to remove the ECU to look at it, I would suggest you start with a basic diagnostic trouble code check. In a 1G, this is a simple procedure that does not require any special tools. An analog multimeter is your "scan tool". The procedure can be found here. This will tell you whether or not the ECU is even functioning and report any DTC's that might be stored.

That is some really great tips. But I have a question now. The problem is my car 's check engine light is not on... so what other problem will it be?

 

[Executionerhk]

so it turn the fuel pumps on...
that is the reason why my car stop running even it is not in gear?
is that why my car only crank, but not starting?

 

[Executionerhk]

Yeah you just need to do a good tune-up on it, that should take care of the most of it...

Yes, when I just got the car, I have the ECU and clutch replaced... and therefore I did a full tune up, wire, plug, everything should be done...

my cousin told me that timing belt and water pump should be changed...
p.s. he is the first owner of the car...

so i really don't know what is going on...

 

[Executionerhk]

Get a new fuel pup relay installed. Change your fuel filter, get new injectors, and change the spark plugs. I dont know what part your talking about next to the ECU, sorry. Hope ou get it running soon, keep us updated.

where can i get a fuel pump relay? because auto parts shop don have it...
the Advance and O'rxxxx

any idea? also is that the one I post below?

 

[Dave532]

Some quick ideas...

Take a moment and pull the timing belt cover. Make sure the belt is there and in one piece. Grab a DSM repair manual of some kind and make sure the cams are aligned with the crank and the belt didn't jump.

Make sure fuel is in the rail by removing the fuel return line off the regulator.

Have a buddy crank the motor while you short a plug wire to ground in a low-light setting. Make sure you have spark.

DSMs run on 3 things: Air, Fuel and Spark. If you have enough of all these things and it doesn't start then the motor timing is probably an issue.

-Dave
#532

 

[Executionerhk]

Some quick ideas...

Take a moment and pull the timing belt cover. Make sure the belt is there and in one piece. Grab a DSM repair manual of some kind and make sure the cams are aligned with the crank and the belt didn't jump.

Make sure fuel is in the rail by removing the fuel return line off the regulator.

Have a buddy crank the motor while you short a plug wire to ground in a low-light setting. Make sure you have spark.

DSMs run on 3 things: Air, Fuel and Spark. If you have enough of all these things and it doesn't start then the motor timing is probably an issue.

-Dave
#532

Thanks Dave, I will try those.
And guys, please more ideas Thanks for all your help DSM fans!!

 

[Diplomat]

That is some really great tips. But I have a question now. The problem is my car 's check engine light is not on... so what other problem will it be?

That's good news. Do you know if the check engine light still works? It should come on with several other gauge cluster lights when you turn the key to "On". They do burn out once in a while. It's almost unheard of, of course, but it happens. On a car this age, it's not unreasonable to be suspicious of things like that.

However, the reason I was suggesting to check for DTC's, in this case, is that it's a quick way to determine if your new ECU is still alive or not. If no diagnostic trouble codes are stored, the needle on your multimeter will show constant "short" sweeps. That is the ECU's way of saying, "I'm cool and none of the sensors whining about anything. Thanks for asking.".

Of course, if there are any DTC's to report, the needle will respond differently. The point being, as long as you're getting constant movement of some type, it's evidence that your ECU is working.

 

[Executionerhk]

You definately need to watch your grammer, when you post. There are rules about spelling and being clear on what you are trying to say. Just warning so you dont get in trouble from the moderators

Sorry dude, I am from Hong Kong SAR...
English is my second language, and excuse me for that!!
But I will try to improve my grammer!! And you can help too!!
Prove read it if you may!!
Thanks!!

 

[Executionerhk]

Side question, before the car die, it is running really bad Gas mileage... like 12 to 13 on local...
can anyone answer that as well?
shouldn't it be running about 19 to 20??

 

[Dave532]

Rich condition possible causes are (but not limited to):

Stuck open fuel injector(s)
Bad 02 sensor
Bad temp sensor (to ECU)
Serious vacuum leak causing car to go full rich to compensate
Bad ECU

 

[Executionerhk]

Rich condition possible causes are (but not limited to):

Stuck open fuel injector(s)
Bad 02 sensor
Bad temp sensor (to ECU)
Serious vacuum leak causing car to go full rich to compensate
Bad ECU

How to check all those?
I know I can check the ecu with the buzzer...
I never do a boost leak test or anything, can anyone tell me a bit more?