Car wont start and lights dim

[DSM BoosT]

Okay So I got car to crank by hand, cylinders in the right position and the timing is perfect. So I go to start it and it doesn't start ill put a video up. I checked to make sure injectors were firing, they are and the spark plugs are getting gas. But when I try to turn the car on the lights dim and it wont run, (bad alternator???) I even try to jump it but it wont start. If it help I just installed a new water pump don't know if that would have anything to do with it but anyway and when I did that I cut the belt for the ac and took the one pulley out for it. help?? could it be a stupid sensor or something? ask me stuff if i have seen it or already tested for it to start the process of elimination

turn volume up on video so you can hear it

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[RoryBarron]

are the plug wires on tight? battery terminals tight? Both have caused problems with my car starting. Make sure all grounds are tight as well

 

[DSM BoosT]

o.....I think its the starter, sorry I found a thread where someone had the same symptoms

 

[RoryBarron]

Might be, I could barely tell from the video but thought it sounded funny!

 

[DSM BoosT]

yeah the light dim and all that crap so Im going to try and hit the starter with a hammer while someone tries to turn it on lets see what happens

 

[black_gsx]

sounds like a bad alt or battery. Check all your grounds too!

 

[DSM BoosT]

Ok FLAME ON BUT I DC seriously I cant find the starter???/ isnt next to the cruise control actuator, it has a black plastic case around it??? or and I that bad cause It doesn't feel hard, like if I hit it with a hammer I think it might fall off correct me if Im wrong but Im serious and I dont care what you think I need to get this car started tonight

 

[TJs91tsi]

ok i dont get why people are suggesting the starter and battery. It sounds like its cranking to me.

OP, the car CRANKS but doesnt START correct? if so that means the starter is doing its job and Cranking the engine over.

When did you do the waterpump? Has it run since you did the waterpump?

it sounds like the timing may be off or you dont have spark. did you unplug any sensors while you were working on it? Cam angle sensor?

go check for spark at all the spark plugs and let us know.

 

[DSM BoosT]

hasnt run since I swapped the water pump, it cranks the engine but the lights dim and then the car like dies, I had it running off another car and the same thing happened. The timing belt is on perfectly lined up, Ill check my spark plugs

how can I check the spark plugs to see which ones are dead and which are good?

 

[TJs91tsi]

you jump start a car when the battery is dead/weak. yours isnt so thats not going to help. you have an ignition problem i would imagine.

ok, well did you disconnect any wires or sensors? I havnt done a timing belt on a 2nd gen yet. CAs is behind the crank pully right?

what you're going to be doing is checking to see if the coils are providing spark TO the spark plugs. if you have a spare spark plug handy it makes it easier.
unplug the spark plug wire from one of your spark plugs on the engine. remove that spark plug (or if you have a spare spark plug) plug the spark plug in to the loose spark plug wire. now prop the spark plug on your intake manifold or some other grounded metal obect so its strait up and crank the engine while looking at the plug. it should be sparking a nice blue spark from the plug to the manifold or whatever you set it on block or head etc...

 

[nAiFk1e]

Ok FLAME ON BUT I DC seriously I cant find the starter???/ isnt next to the cruise control actuator, it has a black plastic case around it??? or and I that bad cause It doesn't feel hard, like if I hit it with a hammer I think it might fall off correct me if Im wrong but Im serious and I dont care what you think I need to get this car started tonight

i seriously doubt youll be able to get a hammer in there. i use ####in pliers and just slam that bi*** but what you do is follow the 4gauge wire from your batter to your starter solenoid. then there will be a 12g black wire? and then a ground wire... that ground wire goes to your starter all of this is right on top of your tranny right under the throttle body. mine is bad too but i just carry something to beat it with and im straight

 

[TJs91tsi]

was it just you that did the waterpump?? did you use a manual or just wing it?

the lights dim when your cranking because you're starter is pulling hundreds of amps from your battery. thats what its supposed to do. when you start most new cars, youll notice the lights turn off when you start it. Thats to give all available power to the starter.

 

[DSM BoosT]

ok Im going to check the starter and see if I can wack it while its being turned over, then if that doesnt work, im going to check the spark plugs for spark, Im going to replace them anyway then Ill let you know what happens

 

[TJs91tsi]

i seriously doubt youll be able to get a hammer in there. i use ####in pliers and just slam that bi*** but what you do is follow the 4gauge wire from your batter to your starter solenoid. then there will be a 12g black wire? and then a ground wire... that ground wire goes to your starter all of this is right on top of your tranny right under the throttle body. mine is bad too but i just carry something to beat it with and im straight

ok now that he beats the S*!t out of his starter now what? the car cranks. his injectors are firing becaust the computer knows the engine cranks. listen to the video again.

ok Im going to check the starter and see if I can wack it while its being turned over, then if that doesnt work, im going to check the spark plugs for spark, Im going to replace them anyway then Ill let you know what happens

Think about what thats going to accomplish DSM BoosT. The car is cranking which means that the starter is doing its job. What is hitting it with hammer going to do?

that can work if the car doesnt crank at all. yours does crank,or turn over, but it doesnt start.

 

[DSM BoosT]

ok just tried wacking it and it didnt start, and for the post about thats what the car is supposed to do ( lights dim for more power) How come is NEVER did it before? So starter might be bad, but going to get new plugs tomorrow to see if that is the problem with the car

 

[nAiFk1e]

ok now that he beats the S*!t out of his starter now what? the car cranks. his injectors are firing becaust the computer knows the engine cranks. listen to the video again.


i havent watched the tape he asked where the starter was...

ok just tried wacking it and it didnt start, and for the post about thats what the car is supposed to do ( lights dim for more power) How come is NEVER did it before? So starter might be bad, but going to get new plugs tomorrow to see if that is the problem with the car

have you tried pushing it and starting it w clutch?

ya bro i just watched the tape you can hear your starter trying todo something... your battery looks good too. hitting that starter wont do anything for you

your alternator could be bad but that isnt the reason it isnt turning over. if your alternator was bad your car would run off your battery for a bit then everything would slowly die.

 

[95TalonOwner]

Not to be mean but if you didn't know what the starter is then my money is on the that the timing is off somewhere and the valves are bent, that is if you have fuel and spark.

 

[TJs91tsi]

ok just tried wacking it and it didnt start, and for the post about thats what the car is supposed to do ( lights dim for more power) How come is NEVER did it before? So starter might be bad, but going to get new plugs tomorrow to see if that is the problem with the car

possibly because youve been cranking it and now the battery is low. or you never noticed it before.

and im not saying all 4 of your spark plugs are bad! im saying test to see if you have spark. we are trying to diagnose whats wrong. im asking you to check because if you unplug a Sensor or it goes bad, its possible that you dont get fuel or spark. does that mean the fuel pump or spark plugs are bad? NO.

do i need to ask again if you unplugged anything while doing the waterpump again?

 

[DSM BoosT]

No I didnt unplug any sensors, I just rechecked to make sure the CAS was in and all the sensors around starter, TB, battery all plugged in., Im sorry for the noob question about the starter but The timing is dead on i followed vfaq timing belt tut exactly and had a fello dsmer help me with it, it cranks fine and the head is good, I have a feeling its the spark plugs because the fuel is getting there but they aren't creating the spark to get it going.

its an auto so I cant roll it

 

[95TalonOwner]

How did you check for spark?

 

[6bolt2gdsm]

How do you know the fuel is gettin there? Is the spark plug wet or smell like fuel when you pull it out? Have you pulled your spark plugs to check? Pull a spark plug connect it to a boot and hold it against the engine block while someone cranks the car to see if you have spark for sure. If you know for sure that you are gettin fuel and your timing is dead on and all your sensors are plugged in and good then the only thing left is spark.

 

[DSM BoosT]

spark plugs are wet and reek of gas so fuel is getting there gonna check spark tomorrow too tired. thanks for all the help

Ok this is weird, I am getting spark on all four, I even tested the wires and they are all producing spark, WDF??????? I tried to check anymore sensors and they are all in. I have the car hooked up to a battery charger cause It keeps dieing, even then it wont start, But today was the first time my BOOST gauge moved when I tried to start it it was sooooo close to starting but it then proceeded to sound like my video, any other ideas?

 

[95TalonOwner]

Do a compression test.

 

[DSM BoosT]

did, got nothing but zeros, to be honest I dont think it even cranked enough, But I could tell a valve was bent, and if it is just something electrical, When I take the old head off to find its fine Ill just have an extra one. I just got a new head going to put it on tomorrow I think

 

[minuteswidegsx]

not a starter issue, and to do a comression test you only need to crank for about 5 seconds. about 3 revvolutions. deff sounds like bent valves. was this a used head you put on with out doin any research on it? as in checkin it for warpage and if the valves seat? very easy to do both. but you need the head off