Cranks with Lost Cause

[yesItsdsm]

Ive searched and tried everything I could think of. My car's been sitting for a week and now It won't start. It cranks and has power but won't kick over. I hear the fuel pump working. The plugs are fine. I cant figure out why it was starting fine last week but now It just cranks and won't start.

I noticed that when I turn the key to start the car the fuel pump relay clicks once.. is this normal?

Like I said my car started fine last week so I'm ruling out ignition, compression, I can hear the fuel pump so its not that either. I also have plenty of power.

I hooked up a buzzer to my ECU and I dont get anything, not a sound when the key is in the on position. I'm hoping its not my ECU because I just replaced it with a junkyard unit not even 2 months ago.

Any Ideas?

 

[Braedon]

Sounds like a bad ecu.....got any friends with a dsm that you could borrow a ecu from to be sure before you buy one?

 

[yesItsdsm]

I dont actually.. I wanna rule out an Ecu because I just swapped mine out not long ago. Could a bad alternator be my problem? It cranks weaker and weaker but I still have plenty of battery power.

 

[Braedon]

You just replaced, but you did just replace it with one from a junkyard....could be bad. I don't think your alternator would keep it from starting as it, the battery handles the starting and the alternator handles the power after its started....correct me if I am wrong someone.

 

[MollEclipse]

check the fuses on the battery pos. term.

 

[yesItsdsm]

Fuses on the terminal are good. The only reason I dont think its the ecu is because it showed no signs of failure. I know usually when ecu's go bad there are signs. I've never heard of one going in an instant.

 

[MollEclipse]

look in side the spark plug hole see if there is any antifreeze. u might have a bad head gasket and the cylinders filled up

 

[yesItsdsm]

Not the headgasket.. any other ideas?

 

[oldman]

The answer for no start has always been the same and will always be the same, check fuel, spark and compression.

 

[MollEclipse]

Yeah check to see if you have a spark.

Easy way to do this is to unplug a wire and have a friend hold the end. crank it over. if he starts yelling then you have a good spark....JUST KIDDING

Stick a screwdriver in the spark plug wire touching the metal piece. get it about 1/8 in close to another piece of metal in the engine and have some one turn it over. Do not touch the anything metal hold the handle of the screwdriver. if it sparks and you hear a POP. then you have a good spark. check all the cylinders.

 

[yesItsdsm]

Thanks oldman, your always helpful. I guess its me and the talon again tomorrow! I'll be back to update.

 

[yesItsdsm]

Thanks to MollEclipse and everyone else too

 

[oldman]

Yeah check to see if you have a spark.

Easy way to do this is to unplug a wire and have a friend hold the end. crank it over. if he starts yelling then you have a good spark....JUST KIDDING

Stick a screwdriver in the spark plug wire touching the metal piece. get it about 1/8 in close to another piece of metal in the engine and have some one turn it over. Do not touch the anything metal hold the handle of the screwdriver. if it sparks and you hear a POP. then you have a good spark. check all the cylinders.

That sounds dangers!!

1. Spark : Pull one wire at a time, attach an extra plug to it, hold on to the boot with a plier, hold the tip of the plug close to the intake manifold, crank the car and see if you get spark. Do this on all fours.

2. Fuel : Remove all plugs, crank the car and make sure you're getting fuel into all cylinders.

3. Compression : First line up your timing marks, then perform a compression test.

If your ECU is fried again, you'll not get spark.

Thanks oldman, your always helpful. I guess its me and the talon again tomorrow! I'll be back to update.

No problem.

 

[steve]

Based on what I've read so far you can't rule out anything. Stuff breaks all the time (It's the nature of the universe) so the fact the it used to work means nothing. Ignore what you think you know and start from the beginning. Check compression, fuel, spark, and ECU. Go look up DSMFemme's guide in the tech articles and answer the questions as you diagnose the problem.

Steve

 

[MollEclipse]

no problem. check the above out and keep us up to date

 

[Braedon]

Yes, keep us updated on what happens....escpecially when you fix the problem. The answers to questions like this the better it will be for others down the road.

 

[yesItsdsm]

ECU is crap.. leaky, fishy smelling capacitors.

Anybody know who rebuilds ecus with the new capacitors and how much that costs?

 

[oldman]

ECU is crap.. leaky, fishy smelling capacitors.

Anybody know who rebuilds ecus with the new capacitors and how much that costs?

Post #14, wisemen steve, one of the best around.

 

[cruisintalonawd]

ok well i have the same problem but im getting fuel, spark and compressoin is 110,110,110,120...there has been a couple of times that is will start to run on its on then dies out and wont fire again....pulled ecu and it does smell fishy

 

[cruisintalonawd]

anyone???????

 

[tqmx1]

Post #14, wisemen steve, one of the best around.

^^^ ^^^

 

[MrBoxx]

Please do not bump extremely old threads. If you think you have a problem, post a new thread. And then do not bump it.