Impossible to diagnos 95 GST won't start after replacing crank sensor & timing belt

[bo0st]

Guys I got some serious problems with my 95 GST. I bought the car and it would just idle like shit and die so I ended up taking it to my local Mark Mitsubishi Car dealership for a diagnosis.

How The Car Was: 95 GST 5 speed, started like shit but would start and idle bad . Here's a video:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHgjgXbLIDw]dsm problems - YouTube[/ame]

I paid for a diagnosis @ The Mitsubishi dealer, they said it was the "coil." I asked them how sure are you that it is the coil the mechanic told me "90% sure."

I gave him the go-ahead so they replaced it and what do you know, no start.

Now it threw a CEL code for bad crank sensor and they said they're "98% sure" this will fix it. So I had them replace that sensor and also do the timing belt.

No start. Doesn't even start once. Before it was starting and dieing keep this in mind. (See video below, it would only hit 3 - 4k and I'd left off and it would sputter really really low and take a while to go back up. But you can hear the motor working and the BOV is recirculating not vented.)

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_jhd-FQwWs]dsm problems ### help - YouTube[/ame]

Now I'm left scratching my head. The mechanic was gone for the day but the service manager said "He's 100% sure it's the ECU"

I feel like I'm getting the run-a-around they are money hungry @ Mark Mitsubishi be warned.

Please guys I really need help getting my car going. At least starting, like it was before.

In conclusion: there's no CEL light at this time, car won't start. Need help please.

 

[Dsmkauai]

Without the car in your own hands how do you know they have the timing 100% dead on? And your bov isn't working properly sounds more like compressor surge to me. Wait you already made a post about all this dude, I've seen that video before??

 

[bo0st]

Without the car in your own hands how do you know they have the timing 100% dead on?

Thanks for the reply.

How do I know they actually worked on the car? I don't know anything. That's why I'm asking for help here.

Any replies are greatly appreciated.

 

[Dsmkauai]

Well gotta get the car in your hands bro, tell them your sick of there parts changing b.s. bro. If you can get the car I can help you thru test to figure out what's wrong.

 

[bo0st]

Well gotta get the car in your hands bro, tell them your sick of there parts changing b.s. bro. If you can get the car I can help you thru test to figure out what's wrong.

Thanks for the quick reply bro.

Your profile says your in Hawaii? I'm in Arizona looking for a guy that can just come down to my house and figure it out.

I'll be towing the car back from the dealership tomorrow morning. Parking it in my driveway and waiting for someone that knows these car's.

I've changed everything they've recommended and you know it's really frustrating to be spending money and seeing nothing for it.

 

[Dsmkauai]

Ya for sure bro well hit me up if you need help walking thru some test. I would start by checkin all fuses and relays, make sure battery is hooked up properly and has good voltage. Check timing for sure since they messed with it, and pray it has nothing to do with that. Because if they screwed the timing your engine is probably toast. Anyway check over all connections on motor make sure all ground wires are connected. We can help you figure it out bro and I may have a friend in Arizona that can help you, let me shoot him a txt and see where he's at compared to you. someone from this guys area help the brother out!!!

 

[Dsmkauai]

Try posting for help here bro
Phoenix Area DSM Forum - DSM Forums

 

[bo0st]

Thanks again for the reply bro.

Looking for some of the DSM gods on this one.

 

[Dsmkauai]

You'll get it bro I fought a bad crank sensor years back on my car, took me some time to figure it out. But once I traced down the problem it was all good after, that was the one time I almost gave up on my car that was 8-9 years ago!

 

[bo0st]

You'll get it bro I fought a bad crank sensor years back on my car, took me some time to figure it out. But once I traced down the problem it was all good after, that was the one time I almost gave up on my car that was 8-9 years ago!

I sure hope so bro. I don't mind reaching in my pocket to pay for parts and installs of this/that I just need to get the car running and not "guess" on diagnosis like the Mitsubishi dealership.

90% sure then 98% they're a joke. Won't be taking my cars back to them ever.

 

[Dsmkauai]

Ya bro its a bummer there supposed to be the experts right, not saying there all bad but you know what I mean .

 

[bo0st]

Ya bro its a bummer there supposed to be the experts right, not saying there all bad but you know what I mean .

Experts .

They got all this advanced equipment, the computer was hooked up to my car and he was showing me diagrams and this and that.

I thought hey maybe this mechanic will get her done. NOPE.

 

[Dsmkauai]

YA anyone can hook up a computer that's designed for the car. But knowing what to do with the information or how to figure it out when the fancy computer don't tell you jack is what's important!

 

[bryanwheat]

So are they charging you for the parts they installed and didn't fix the problem?

 

[bo0st]

So are they charging you for the parts they installed and didn't fix the problem?

Thanks for the reply.

I told him your diagnosis must've been wrong and they said "nope we did everything right" he agreed to give me the money back for the labor only.

I'm writing the paper-work now for small-claims court. I'll get every 0.01 back; until then I'd really appreciate some help getting it working.

Pretend this is your car...

What would you do/ check next?

 

[2000mitsygt]

Thanks for the reply.

I told him your diagnosis must've been wrong and they said "nope we did everything right" he agreed to give me the money back for the labor only.

I'm writing the paper-work now for small-claims court. I'll get every 0.01 back; until then I'd really appreciate some help getting it working.

Pretend this is your car...

What would you do/ check next?

Fuses, check battery, check timing, do a compression test if all those things check out

 

[GSTurbo1]

take the car back into your own hands and teach yourself how to work on it.

 

[bo0st]

Fuses, check battery, check timing, do a compression test if all those things check out

Which fuses would prevent the car from starting now? Battery is alright. Timing belt was replaced. Compression test was performed and they said it was good.

take the car back into your own hands and teach yourself how to work on it.

Any tips? I'm asking for help because I can't figure it out on my own.

They say "it's the ECU"

How do I know if my ECU is bad? I know how to check a bad battery, fuses, etc,

I'm not sure how to go about checking my ECU to know if it's bad besides pulling it out and putting it into another 95 GST which I do not have laying around.

All replies are appreciated keep em' coming guys. Need help here.

 

[Tyeler18]

That's odd. Marks is a pretty good dealer in the valley, sounds like you got a bad tech working on it. If you want help I will gladly give you a hand. It'd be easier if you could get the car down to Casa Grande, but I understand that can be a bit of a problem. I will be coming to Phoenix on Saturday though for the AZAWD meet and pavilions later. If you are free I can stop by and take a look for you. Shoot me a Pm, or call/text me 651-285-9772. I've got a lot of DSM buddies up in the valley that can vouche for my work as well as my 5 personal dsms to show for it.

Also, it very well could have been the crank sensor causing your no-start, however, like stated, a botched timing job will create a no start very quickly. I suggest you take lots of pictures of the engine bay/timing area BEFORE it leaves Mark's. The very first thing I'd be doing is checking timing, however, DON'T mess with anything until you've verified 100% timing is dead on. They may owe you a head, if not more if the timing job was done incorrectly.

 

[bo0st]

That's odd. Marks is a pretty good dealer in the valley, sounds like you got a bad tech working on it. If you want help I will gladly give you a hand. It'd be easier if you could get the car down to Casa Grande, but I understand that can be a bit of a problem. I will be coming to Phoenix on Saturday though for the AZAWD meet and pavilions later. If you are free I can stop by and take a look for you. Shoot me a Pm, or call/text me 651-285-9772. I've got a lot of DSM buddies up in the valley that can vouche for my work as well as my 5 personal dsms to show for it.

Also, it very well could have been the crank sensor causing your no-start, however, like stated, a botched timing job will create a no start very quickly. I suggest you take lots of pictures of the engine bay/timing area BEFORE it leaves Mark's. The very first thing I'd be doing is checking timing, however, DON'T mess with anything until you've verified 100% timing is dead on. They may owe you a head, if not more if the timing job was done incorrectly.

Thanks for the reply.

Sent you a text.

Anyone else have an opinion please reply I need all the help I can get.

 

[Dsmkauai]

Auruii!! Finally someone to help you bro, tyeler18 has been a great member on here for a long time, so your in good hands bro.

 

[bo0st]

Auruii!! Finally someone to help you bro, tyeler18 has been a great member on here for a long time, so your in good hands bro.

He's a great member no doubt lets just hope he has the time to help me out, it's not fixed yet bro!

 

[Dsmkauai]

Come on bro gotta think positive!!

 

[luv2rallye]

How do I know if my ECU is bad?

There's only 3 ways none of which is great or absolute.
1) Swap with a known good one and risk you don't blow that one.
2) Send it to an ECU repair place
3) Open it up and look for leaking capacitors, burnt components, or blown board solder traces (the circuits). Also check for rotten egg smell (certain capacitor leakage). This doesn't guarantee it's good if you don't find anything but it's certainly bad if you do.

 

[bo0st]

Come on bro gotta think positive!!

Positive is great The car will work one day, I'm just hoping for sooner rather than later.

There's only 3 ways none of which is great or absolute.
1) Swap with a known good one and risk you don't blow that one.
2) Send it to an ECU repair place
3) Open it up and look for leaking capacitors, burnt components, or blown board solder traces (the circuits). Also check for rotten egg smell (certain capacitor leakage). This doesn't guarantee it's good if you don't find anything but it's certainly bad if you do.

Thanks for the reply.

1) I could go through ECU's every weekend doing that if there's a short somewhere.

2) You know of any good ECU repair places?

3) As you said that doesn't guarantee it's good if I don't find anything.

Any way to start the car without the ECU?

I'm very knowledgeable when it comes to electronics I work on computers all day for a living. Usually electronics either work or they don't work.

With that being said, if I insert the key and turn right and those lights pop up "SRS,CEL,ABS" and they go away, I'm assuming that means it's good correct?

Or is there such a thing as half broken now

Also when doing this (turning the key to the right) the RPM TACK immediately goes to 3200 and stands there. Kinda odd?