2G Car just died

[GSTeve]

i was out for a drive today when my car just died. i was going up a hill in 4th going about 80 flooring it. the engine just turns off. i pulled over and check the intercooler pipes and stuff like that. everything seems fine. there was no smoke or anything from the engine. its not the timing belt. the engine cranks like its gonna start but it doesnt. please i need help!!

 

[Logue]

don't want to insult your intelligence or anything but did you make sure theres gas. in my 96tsi says theres a half tank and theres really only like a gallon, also did you do a compression check, and see if the spark plugs are firing

 

[GSTeve]

ok, im not getting spark. what could it be? before this. everything ran fine so i dont think its the wires. if the wires were going wouldnt i lose performance?

 

[Logue]

check your coil pack a wire might have come out of it when you floored it.

 

[GSTeve]

ok. im getting no spark. and its not my coil pack. any one have any idea??

 

[NA All The Way]

Check your ECU. And then check the power transistor, and then maybe the resistor pack on the firewall of the car.AND MAKE SURE THAT THE TIMMING BELT IS ON. JUST BECAUSE THE ENGINE ROTATES WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY DOES NOT MEAN THAT EVERYTHING IS OK WITH THE BELT.

 

[GSTeve]

ok, i think its the ECU but im not sure. how do i check it? theres no funny smell or anything like that.

 

[jrivard00]

I'd say check your camshaft position sensor. If that is faulty you'd get no spark.

 

[GSTeve]

can u please describe where it is and what it looks like. sorry im a newb.

 

[OneBadSkwerl]

CamShaft position sensor is located on the passenger side of the valve cover. It's round and bolted on with 2 nuts.

Check the ECU. My car died, would turn over, I was getting power but no spark. ECU was toast. Yank it out and check the caps.

 

[GSTeve]

if its the camshaft position sensor wouldnt the check engine light stay one? mines doesnt.

 

[jrivard00]

Not likely if the sensor just $hit the bed suddenly. Which in thise case the ECU didn't have time to sense the problem. ECU's don't detect problems right away and take time for them to pick up anything adnormal.

I believe the ECU cap problem was more prone to 1st Gen Eclipses, but I might be wrong. In any case, I'm skeptical it would be the ECU on such a new car.

In any case, a NO SPARK problem would be attributed to: burnt fuse(s)faulty coil pack, faulty ignitor, faulty CMP sensor, bad ECU, or bad wiring harness. I'd check them in that order so you don't put the cart before the horse.

 

[GSTeve]

ok, tomorrow ill start buying stuff and replacing it. but before i start. my car has 101k miles. so which one is most likely to go around that time?

 

[OneBadSkwerl]

The ECU is pretty easy to take out. It's right behind the stereo.

http://www.tmo.com/howto/ecu1g/checkeprom.htm

The VFAQ is your friend, that shows you how to take out the ECU.