No Start

[WOTDSM]

I went to start my 91 Talon TSi FWD manual today and it cranked once and then just started making a humming noise. Now whenever I try to crank all it does is hum. Tried jumping it three times with two different sets of wires and it did the same humming thing. Help I need to get my car to the shop tomorrow!!! (I suppose I could just push start it but that sucks)

 

[Glliw]

Check the connections to the battery. Make sure all wires are in there tight, they have been known to get loose. If that's not the culprit, check the starter.

 

[WOTDSM]

Checked the wires. Got nothing. I will be going to a shop tomorrow to have my clutch replaced and to get a new axle. I'll have the guy help me with the starter too. Thanks for the reply!

 

[fallenauthority]

Is the humming coming from around the center console? If so, its your ECU, your capacitors probably leaked and need to be replaced.

 

[WOTDSM]

Does sound like its coming from the center console... Would this also cause the car not to run? I tried push starting it about 3 times and it would kick over once and die... Please help. Where can I get capacitors? Or do I need a new ECU?

 

[fallenauthority]

Yes it would cause a nostart condition and it wont run. You will need to get the ECU rebuilt. go to FFWDconnection.com they do ECU rebuilds there, $250. Or you can go to a junkyard and fine an ECU there, just make sure it isnt from a 90, their ECUs are different.

 

[WOTDSM]

I tried cranking it again and now that I listen closely it actually sounds like its coming from the engine bay. Like the starter is pushing itself out but not spinning or its spinning but not pushing out or something... I'm trickle charging my battery right now. We'll see as the night goes on. I'm HOPING that the battery is just ass dead and thats why I can't push start it.

 

[WOTDSM]

Trickle charged for about 45 minutes and still nothing... I'm thinking the ECU is shot...

I am done for tonight but I called off work tomorrow so I'm gunna try some various things like shorting the starter relay and seeing if it cranks. Then I'll know if the starter is the culprit. I'm PRAYING that the guy I bought my car from has an extra ECU laying around if thats not the case.

 

[WOTDSM]

Is there anyway to tell if the capacitors leaked just by looking at the ECU board?

 

[fallenauthority]

Yes, look around the bottom of the capacitors on the board, if you see any kind of fluid or what looks to be chemical burns, they have leaked.

 

[WOTDSM]

Checked ECU. Looked fine but I smelled it and it smelled like seafood. I heard if it smells like seafood then its on the verge of going... I dont know. I'm so lost. I tried push starting it again today with two friends and it kicked over a few times but it would never run. It threw a CEL too when I tried push starting it. Also after two trys at push starting I could hear the starter click ever so slightly. I'm thinking the starter is fried? Any ideas?

 

[WOTDSM]

Went outside to push my car back into my driveway and thought I'd give it some cranking... Kept hitting the starter and it FINALLY cranked ONCE. I'm banking on loose starter cables or a loose ground. I still don't understand why I can't get it push started and actually running though.

 

[fallenauthority]

Im still saying ECU.

 

[plymubishi]

I Would Put In A New Mpi Relay Too If Your Goeing To Switch The Ecu. When mY Computer Went It Took The Relay With It. That Plus Your Right There If Pulling The Computer.

 

[KBasham03]

yeah sounds to me like your ecu is gone, that rotten ####y smell is leaking capacitors. Send your ecu to steve on this board, or go to the junkyard and scoop up another.

 

[WOTDSM]

Contacted steve about the woman smelling ECU. The ECU would have nothing to do with the no crank problem correct? I think I'm having two different problems here...

 

[evilredGS]

If the caps have blown, it will smell a lot like wet pennies. Odd observation.. but it holds true.

 

[chuckg]

Have you tried putting in a new battery? Maybe yours is done and won't hold a charge anymore.

 

[WOTDSM]

Battery was replaced in 9/05 and is fine. I still haven't heard a firm answer. Am I looking at two diff problems here? I want to know before I go checking the starter connections because I'm lazy. Anyways to reiterate- No crank but it will crank once if I push the car around in gear (loose starter cables?) And I tried push starting it and getting nil (fried ECU?) Please let me know if this sounds accurate or if the ECU could be causing the no crank condition.

 

[fallenauthority]

Like I said many times. Im putting money on a fried ECU. Fried by what, I cant honestly say, you have to make sure everything else is fine before putting a new ECU in, because if there is an underlying problem that caused the ECU to burn up, it will burn up a new one in short order.

 

[95gs200k]

ok early you said that you thought the noise was coming from the engine bay. Does it crank at all? and if so does it "hum" when you crank it? It nearly sound as if what you are describing is a bad flywheel and or starter teeth. many of my customers describe a hum or whir when talking about this. If you are getting the clutch replaced they wil be able to see both sets of teeth. have the shop check them out.
dj

 

[WOTDSM]

The fuel pump whines. Thats it... It will crank occasionally when I move it around in gear (Im assuming the wires are loose on the starter and the engine moving around is also moving the wires around making good contact with the starter) Get it? Now somebody please... I'm begging, will you tell me if I'm looking at two problems? Pretty please! In other words would the "fried" ECU prevent the car from cranking?

 

[WOTDSM]

Jiggled the starter cables around and FINALLY got the car to crank and crank and ALMOST fire but got nil. I'm getting spark and fuel (according to my fuel press guage). So I'm assuming its the ECU. Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[WOTDSM]

Tried spraying starter fluid in the TB and it ran for a while and then started shaking violently then died. It shook so bad I was kind of scared the engine was seizing... Now I'm really sure its got to be an ecu problem.

EDIT: OR plugs! I never thought of that but I bought new plugs and will be swapping them tomorrow. I forgot the motor has 30k on it and its more than likely time to change the plugs!!! w00t

 

[WOTDSM]

I pulled the spark plugs and put new ones in. Still didn't do the trick. The plugs were wet with fuel... Doesn't that mean the injectors are working so wouldn't that rule out an ECU problem? I don't know... I'm new to DSMs . Am I still looking at an ECU problem with wet plugs?