420A car won't start.

[p_o_s_pc]

I have done some searching and have come up with things to try. All of which has failed to help, so I'm posting.
First some background.
99 eclipse oz edition 106k miles. Bought the car with rod knock. I replaced the rod, the crank was still within spec.I have put 1200 miles on it since. Timing belt, tensioner, watery pump, are all less than a year old.
Sometimes the car surged badly when cold and would smooth out when warm. One day I went out to start my car and I was greeted by very shaky and poor idle for about 5 second and then it died. Since then it won't start.it turns over and I can smell fuel.
What I have tried:
New spark plugs at recommended gap.
Switched coil with known working.
Checked fuel filter.
New plug wires.
Checked relays by swapping.
Inspected wire harness
Cleaned pcm connections
If anyone has some suggestions it would be appreciated. I would like to get this back on the road.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Ignition fuse??? I have a 1g so I'm not sure where yours is located but I bet they still used them in 99. Look under the hood in the fuse box and replace or at least check that fuse with an ohm meter to be sure it is good.

 

[p_o_s_pc]

I will check that out.any other things to try if it didn't work?

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Since you say you smell fuel I will assume (we all know what that does....) that the car is getting it but if you wanted to test for fuel, have someone try to start it and spray some carb cleaner in a vacuum port. If it responded to that then you have a fuel issue. I will keep scratching my head and I'm sure someone else will chime in to give a hand!

 

[p_o_s_pc]

I appreciate any help I can get. I will do a bit more testing when I get home.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Since you are a 420A car you could spray right in the throttle body for a fuel test. Ignitor (ignition transistor, if they still used that in 99) might be one other thing. I had a 420A in a 2001 Eclipse and it was a nice little car.....until a drunk driver intentionally ran me off the road. Now it is a huge bent up pile of metal, that's when I decided I needed a turbo car so I could get away from someone in an emergency like such.

 

[p_o_s_pc]

I thought 99 was the last year for the 420a. Sure it wasn't a 4g64? I am going to soon be building a block and head and msns and run a turbo.(obviously all other supporting mods needed) but I would like to have it drivable while I'm working on the other motor
I did some testing tonight. It's really cold so I didn't stay out long. The cam sensor is fine. I did find that my coil is only receiving .9v at cranking.
Could a faulty crank sensor cause this? Also are the ecus known to fail in the eclipse?
I came from the gm ecotec( j body and delta) to this eclipse. They are fairly similar but the electronics of the eclipse I am still learning what controls what.

 

[inthemidst]

You're not getting any spark check the crank sensor

 

[p_o_s_pc]

What is a good way to test the crank sensor?

 

[inthemidst]

The easiest is with an analog meter

 

[p_o_s_pc]

I just want let you all know that I haven't forgotten about this thread. It has been below zero with wind chill, so I haven't messed with it anymore yet.

 

[p_o_s_pc]

Just wanted to update for the people in the future that maybe searching with the same problem.
I replaced the crank sensor and still had no start but had spark now.I put a small amount of pure methanol in the tb,cranked and trapped the gas.She started.I had to hold the rpms to around 2k for ~30secs. Been running great all day today.
Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated.

 

[ThunderChild]

good to know you found the prob. good ol' 420a and the oil soaked crank sensor.