Car won't start... I give UP

[dead_95tsi]

For the past few day i have been trying to get the maft/translator to work on my car. I tried different Mafs but have now confirm that the problem is with the translator itself. Even with the crappy translator the car would start up fine. I never had a problem with starting it. Today I go to start the car and it won't turn over. It cranks for a while but can't kick in. I checked everything and even put in the old mas..but the car just can't turn on. It cranks and cranks but just won't kick it. Yesterday the car turned on fine even with the bad translator and I hadn't touched anything since then. Now it just want start. Any ideas? Please help

 

[nineD5_GS-T]

Is you "engine" fuse blown. Are you getting fuel? Are you getting spark?

 

[dead_95tsi]

Well I just went out to try and start my car after i rechecked hte fuel lines, wires, and plugged in the old maf. The car cranked for about 2 seconds, then there was an electric zap sound and then everything stopped. Now when I turn the key nothing happens, no cranking or anything. I checked to see if any of the fuses were blown but none were. It is deff not the battery either. I pulled my spark plugs out and checked them, the spark plugs were wet with fuel. The plugs itself were still in very good condition. Nothing is wrong with the fuel system since obviously the engine is getting fuel, maybe the starter is dead?

 

[SpeedFreak03]

Try checking the ground on the starter, they come loose frequently, and people think their starter is dead but its just the ground!

 

[SilverEclipseT]

Coil?

 

[dsm4life]

when you say nothing , you mean no lights or anything ??? check battery cables ?

 

[eclipse90gsxt]

Try these then come back....

1)Take a plug wire out, and put a spark plug in it, and then put it near metal and turn the car over?....spark or no? If not then it may be the coil pack, ecu, power transistor.

2)If that works, take the fuel line off of the fuel rail (from the filter to rail), then put a small bowl of something over the end of the line...use a loger to energize the fuel pump, or turn the car over, see is fuel comes out.

3)Check the grounds, and battery connections for loose, corrotion, broke lines.

4)If all of this is good, check the connector under the Thermostat, and make sure the temp connector is connected. If its not the injectors won't open = no start

5)Then if this is all fine, take the ecu out and smell it, if it smells like fish its gone, or open it to check for leaks.

6)Reach around and make sure the starter power, and ground are still hooked up, if they are take the starter out and test it with a battery. Could be the starter soleniod.

7)Check for huge vaccum leaks

8)Make sure the battery is even charged enough

9)Your plugs are probably fouled because of all the fuel you have dumped in turning it over, so change those, or clean them (if the car gets fuel)

10)Make sure all 4 spark plug wires are getting spark

11)CAm angle sensor could be off

12)Timing could be way off

13)Timing belt skipped a tooth or more

14)Check all the major connectors are still connected

15)Check fuse's and relays for blown ones

I can't think of anymore right now..

 

[91awd]

Eclipsegsx you should save that and post it evertime their is a question like this . Good Work!

 

[eclipse90gsxt]

I am actually writing a faq about this subject of dsm's not starting. It can be a bunch of stuff, so i want to make single faq about it.

 

[dead_95tsi]

Thanks for the replies. Well this morning i rechecked all the connections, ground wiring, timing belt, etc. The ecu was not bad. The spark plugs were pretty soaked in fuel so I cleaned them off. Rechecked everything for a second time, then went to turn the key. The engine cranked three times....then for a split second it actually engaged. I could feel it shake/rumble like when it is about to turn on. There was then a loud POP that backfired out of the exhaust and then the engine died. I watched the rpms...and it actually rose to about 400-500 for a split second. I try to turn the car on again and all it does now is crank. The spark plugs are once again soaked in fuel. Each time I wipe them clean and try to start the car it cranks, stumbles for a split second, then dies. If I don't clean them off, all it does is crank. So i'm thinking that maybe the battery isn't producing enough power. I try jumping it, but nothing different happens. I'm just happy I have a civic for a daily driver

 

[eclipse90gsxt]

Sounds like your running insanly rich, or have a ton of fuel built up from cranking it over so many times. Try it again, and when the car stumbles hit the gas and try to rev it up, to burn some crap off. Also check to see if your spark plug wires are not arching, check for cracks or holes in them.

I have had my car not start like 6-7 times so I know your feeling


I see you have 550's and a 255 walbro, have an afc? or afpr?

 

[dead_95tsi]

Sadly enough I don't have any fuel control. The guy I bought it from a few months ago sold the s-afc, and I was planning on running dsmlink after I got the rebuilt 6 bolt put in. I hardly even drive the car and its just sits in my driveway ever since i bought it, but I start it up often just to make sure it runs. I had no problems with the car b4 and with 160k miles it still runs strong when I would turn it on. I actually was in the process of putting in the maft translator setup to lean things out a little, but then the car stopped starting out of no where. To update, I pulled one of the spark plugs and placed it against the valve cover. It didn't produce any spark when I started the car. I also tried removing the spark plug then contacting the metal inside the spark plug wire to an outside conducter. Should this have produce a spark?