car tries to start and stumbles

[dsm4fun]

i have a 95 gst and i have recently replaced the head from my timing belt teeth getting stripped off. This happened right after i bought it as you can amagine i was less than happy. Now for the problem. I drove about twenty minutes to the lake from my house and back for the day. I came home the car ran fine and strong all day. I went out about three days later to drive it again because it was time to go back to work .Well it wouldnt start if my life depended on it. I thought it was the head again but i checked with the timing cover off and the gear and belt still turn in unison. It will try and start if you let it set and stumble likes its having a hard time. So i checked the plugs they are fine. I took the fuel rail off and its getting fuel but no start. I have read tons of threads and none like this with these symptoms now i read about the coolant temp sensor does anyone know where it is? Also could it be vapor lock does anyone have any suggestions i need it running again asap. Help please it will be appreciated very much.

P.S
sorry for dragging the problem on so long on this post but i wanted to be thorough

 

[grnchevyz]

You're getting fuel but no start....do you mean no spark? Is there spark? If no spark, check the CAS or crank sensor.

If there is spark, it could be as simple as a bad ground wire to the battery seeing as you had engine work done. If it's loose or has a bad connection it would show those symptoms of bad running/no start.

Again, if there's spark and fuel, it could be air...check for boost leaks.

Also, the car starts if its cold but has a hard time/does not when tis warm/hot? If so, then I'd say CTS is bad.

Hope this helps out.

 

[dsm4fun]

Now it wont start at all and im getting worried. I have spark I have fuel and no boost leak. Also when I went out today I pressed my clutch pedal and it stayed down. Id say about two inches from the floorboard.

 

[grnchevyz]

hmmm....well I've had this happen once on a 3000gt maybe its the same here...

The clutch cylinder went so it got replaced but they forgot to refil completely the system and left air in the lines. (No we didn't do it here, the customer was stranded about 300miles out .) Anyway, the air and lack of fluid would cause the pedal to stay approx 1-2 inches from the floor and was never able to fully engage the clutch to start the vehicle. I'd start there now seeing as the basics (fule,air,spark) have been covered.

 

[kmcconn9]

Now it wont start at all and im getting worried. I have spark I have fuel and no boost leak. Also when I went out today I pressed my clutch pedal and it stayed down. Id say about two inches from the floorboard.

That sounds like crankwalk. That happened in my 2g gsx. But I doubt that is your problem of the motor not starting..

 

[95talon_in_ma]

Just trying to start simple, but did you check all of your fuses? Both inside and out?

Mainly the ECU and fuel injection ones...

Do you have a CEL on? If so, was it on prior?

Is the battery fully charged? (Only because it sat for three days)
Did you take of the fuel cap? (Unlikely but ya never know)

How many miles after the rebuild has it been driven? Was this 20 min the only trip?

At least check the crank and cas sensors to make sure they didn't loosen. Are the timing marks lined up?

Not many things can happen whil a car is just stting other than electrical. If anything else, then the car probably wasn't fine when you parked it...

Any mice in the car? Maybe they chewed through some wires?
(I bought a car that sat for 2 years, it really is a serious question....)

Let us know...

 

[dsm4fun]

Ok fuses are good no mice though i seriously considered that they are all over in the field next to my house. It has about 800 miles on the replaced head. Where should the timing marks be? The clutch cylinder is more than likely out and i will try leaving the gas cap off. Does anybody know about the coolant temp sensor i read about. Also if i have the stick in nuetral without the clutch cylinder would it still not start? Im open to possibilites and you have all been very helpful narrowing them down so thank you.

 

[95talon_in_ma]

Here is a good article on timing marks.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=182787&highlight=timing+marks

#15 I think is where it shows the marks.

Unless someone did the clutch switch mod, it won't start unless the clutch is pedal is depressed.

Does the CEL light come on when you turn the key to the on position?
If not, potentially it's a bad ecu...

Did you have a cel prior?

You might try getting the code through the key method?

 

[grnchevyz]

Ulike an auto tranny, simply having the stick in neutral won't do anything, the clutch switch must be activated. As 95_talon mentioned, unless the clutch switch has been bypassed, the car will not start if the clutch switch isn't activated. I'd replace the cylinder and take it from there unless there are other major issues that a CEL would reveal.

 

[dsm4fun]

Thanks for all the help guys im going to replace the clutch cylinder and see if it runs. It is still is under the shop warranty so they are going to fix it if it doesnt work. Thank you all for your help though