Need help!! Car cranking but not starting.

[dsrtfox1942]

Yesterday I was on my way home from work and stopped for gas. When I tried to start my motor again it would crank but wouldnt start. Tried to start it by pushing it to but no go. Got it towed to a Jack Williams at the mall by where I live. They did a diagnostics test on it and said the ignition module was toast. They couldnt locate one so I had to get a whole new distributor. They wanted almost $800 to do the job, so I told them to shove it. I bought a distributor at Autozone (didn't include the cap tho.). Got back and tried to remove my old distributor but couldnt get it out. So I stripped my distributor as much as I could and replaced the parts with the new distributor's parts, including the ignition module........tried to start it again and still no cigar. So here I sit at home with my car at the mall parking lot not being able to start. I am open to any ideas. I need my car running again. I have checked just about everything I can think of, including plugs, wires, air filter and exhaust. Oh...yeah... I have a 93 Talon DL 1.8 if you didnt figure that out . Barring any helpful responses.....I guess maybe a motor swap to a 2.0 is in order.

 

[Twinky-Ninja]

Have you checked for spark or fuel? Narrowing it down will help with troubleshooting ideas.

 

[dsrtfox1942]

Sorry should have said that. Yeah I check for spark on plug wire number 1 and didnt get anything.

 

[dsrtfox1942]

What was I doing wrong that I couldn't get my distributor out anyway? Took the mounting bolt off and it just doesnt want to budge. The housing will turn but wount come out.

 

[awdtsi724]

if its right after you got gas then thats ###### your problem, go buy a bottle or 2 of gas treatment( depending on how much gas you got) and put it in your gas let it sit a bit, shake the car to get it mixed up and see if that works, garages will tell you anything to make money... let me know how that works

 

[Menacing talon]

Check the MPI fuse. If that blows the car will crank all day but not start and its so small that alot of people overlook it.

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

Inspect the ECU...it is very easy to do.

 

[GVR4592]

if its right after you got gas then thats ###### your problem, go buy a bottle or 2 of gas treatment( depending on how much gas you got) and put it in your gas let it sit a bit, shake the car to get it mixed up and see if that works, garages will tell you anything to make money... let me know how that works

How will bad fuel cause a no spark situation?

 

[dsrtfox1942]

Check the MPI fuse. If that blows the car will crank all day but not start and its so small that alot of people overlook it.

Where is said fuse? I checked all fuses that were ignition related in my fuse box and under hood box with relays.

 

[tom04841]

if its right after you got gas then thats ###### your problem, go buy a bottle or 2 of gas treatment( depending on how much gas you got) and put it in your gas let it sit a bit, shake the car to get it mixed up and see if that works, garages will tell you anything to make money... let me know how that works

I swear to god that some people need to take a reading comprehension class. While we appreciate you trying to help, if you actually read the OP, you wouldn't have made such a rediculous post.

Like my 8 yr old son told me the other day about his step dad.....You can't fix stupid!

 

[ProjectTalon92]

i agree with the timing idea. there could be numerous things that could make it not start. take a list off here from what everyone has told you. check it, if it's bad replace it and mark it off the list. kind of a guess and check thing.

 

[awdtsi724]

I swear to god that some people need to take a reading comprehension class. While we appreciate you trying to help, if you actually read the OP, you wouldn't have made such a rediculous post.

Like my 8 yr old son told me the other day about his step dad.....You can't fix stupid!

well to correct you i read the forum i had the same problem and i wasnt getting spark right after i got gas, i found out that bad GAS WONT SPARK sometimes how bout that, you right the forums are to help people not ridicule them soo stop acting like you 8 year old son and try growing up...thank you

 

[dsrtfox1942]

well to correct you i read the forum i had the same problem and i wasnt getting spark right after i got gas, i found out that bad GAS WONT SPARK sometimes how bout that, you right the forums are to help people not ridicule them soo stop acting like you 8 year old son and try growing up...thank you

Ummm....I'm not new to the whole car thing by any means, I just can't see how bad gas has anything to do with getting a spark from one of your plug wires. If everything is functioning properly in your electrical system, you'll have spark, gas, no gas, or bad gas.
Besides, my tank wasnt empty when I put the gas in, with the fuel still in the lines, it would have started then died if it was bad gas. I know we live in the computer age, but our ECM's arent so advanced as to recognize bad gas from good gas, its going to try and ignite it regardless, until it realizes somethings wrong.

So anyway, where is the MPI fuse located? My timing belt is fine. The only thing left that I can think of is that they cranked my motor or moved it in gear while the distributor was off and the rotor isnt in the proper position to send a spark. My car was in gear when I got in it while the distributor was apart, but I figured they weren't that dumb........

 

[dsrtfox1942]

Ok.....Replaced distributor, replaced plugs, plug wires, and ignition resistor....little black box on top of distrib. Still not starting. Any ideas? Still no spark. The resistor was fried and the ignition module in the distributor was fried so I'm guessing power surge somehow. Only 2 things left I can think of, ECU or wiring harness is burned. Opened ECU and I dont see anything fried or leaking. Please help!!! . I need my car back.

 

[dsrtfox1942]

Oh yeah..... checked timing and belt both are spot on fine.

 

[dsrtfox1942]

I posted this car for sale in the classifieds. $500 OBO. I'm just to busy and too broke to find whats wrong.

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