Dead car, I'd love to fix it.

[german_style]

Alright, I've got a 1990 Eclipse N/T that I bought from someone for 400 bucks, mostly because I wanted to take the interior, shifter, exhaust, and suspension off of it. Why was it only 400 dollars you ask? Because it doesn't run. Now, the battery is good, the spark plugs are fresh, alternator and started are fresh, and coil pack is good. The engine seems to be getting power, turning over, but its not getting any spark, I'm not sure if thats the way to describe it...its just not firing up. Now with the power to the engine, when I tried it, before the battery was drained of all its juices, it didn't seem to turn over completely, like it was just sluggish sounding. I dont think, or hope at least, that its a seized engine, but the guy I bought it from said it may be a fusible linkage? I dont know what that means, but he said it involved going through all the wires and checking to make sure they're all good. I swapped all sorts of sensors from my currently running car to see if one thing or another was broken, but I can't figure it out. Has anyone else seen something like this? Or maybe have any pointers as to what could possibly be wrong with it? I imagine the list is endless...feel free to ask any questions to help narrow down your attempted diagnosis for me.

 

[Quasimondo]

No spark? Check the cam angle sensor, the coil pack (already checked, I see), the power transistor, and finally, the ecu itself.

 

[K_Hill]

1990 DSM ecu's are bad for the ecu's to go out.. Take your ecu out and open it up then check and see if any caps have leaked any. New caps are like $4 if you can replace it. Ecu's run on ebay from $100-$350.

When I bought my 1990 talon the car would turn over but no spark so I put a new computer in the car and bam it started right up.

But your problem sounds like the ecu is shot.

 

[K_Hill]

Here is a good link that might help you out.. It shows how to replace your ecu caps. Also don't try this unless you have a understanding of how to use a solder gun or work on anything electrical.

http://www.tmo.com/howto/ecu1g/caps.htm

 

[PaulN]

Are you sure you're not getting spark? You need air/spark/fuel to get your engine going. Start with a simple test to be sure.

Squirt some starter fluid in the intake and see if it fires up. If it does, then you know you have spark and can then investigate fuel issues. If it doesn't then you know you have a spark issue and can then start investigating the problem from that angle.

No reason to jump into the whole ECU thing just yet unless you're absolutely positive that a) there's no spark and b) you're ECU is definately to blame.

Let us know how you make out. Good luck.

 

[K_Hill]

Well, He did state that it did not have spark..

 

[PaulN]

The engine seems to be getting power, turning over, but its not getting any spark, I'm not sure if thats the way to describe it...its just not firing up.

Doesn't sound too sure to me.

 

[K_Hill]

Doesn't sound too sure to me.

True True.. But the way he puts it in the first part is that it is not getting spark thus not starting. Maybe he will post back and tell us for sure. There is noway to help him if he is not given us correct info.

 

[PaulN]

Hmmm....How did you make out? Inquiring minds want to know.