Starting issues - No / Doesn't / Won't Start - MERGED

[prodsm]

All "my car won't start" discussion threads are merged HERE. We've basically made it easier for those who insist upon not searching by grouping together all threads from those with similar issues so you can just scroll through and see some possible solutions. To search for info within this thread, use the "Search This Thread" feature in the black bar about 3" above what you're reading right now.

Could be anything from a loose battery terminal to internal engine damage, and literally everything in between which may involve the electrical, fuel, and ignition system...possibly even something that you screwed up while working on the car yourself. While it's unlikely we're going to diagnose and solve your problem over the internet, feel free to discuss any possible solutions.



I live in Canada and right now its not very warm out, about -30c
my car does not have a block heater too keep it warm.

I tryed to start my car this morning and it wouldent start, ive had this problem before but this time, the car doesnt crank at all it just makes a sound that sounds like an electric drill.

Whats wrong.

Thanks

 

[H4G64T]

Coil pack.

 

[LeeSD1]

I had this issue too. It was my Starter. Replaced it with a cheap used one and problem solved. Also a friend with a 2g has this problem also but it is in His KEY TUMBLER in the ignition.

 

[95twinturboawd]

95 tsi auto awd, no start no nothing, there's a clik sound behine the radio, i did get it to start once in the last week, but ive tryed 30+ times. so what im i looking for? i assume its electrical

 

[Dsm Rob]

Is the battery fully charged? Did you check for power at the starter?

 

[95twinturboawd]

yes and yes

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-miscellaneous/217951-how-diagnose-no-start.html

witch one is the starter relay?

 

[taberj47]

ok so i went to work today and came outside to go home and found out my battery was completey just done for so i went and bought a new one well took the old battery out and when i went to put the positive on the new battery my alarm goes off horn blaring not beeping and windshield wipers going. so i try the door trick with the key, i tried the holding the neg and pos connectors together not on the battery of course people say it drains the rest of the power out of the ecu and resets well that didnt work please i need some wise men oh and my starter went with the battery it was a stock one with alot of play in it thing was gone! so i just installed the new one so im hoping that it starts up so what im asking is how do i disable the alarm so it doesnt happen again?????

ok so i replaced the starter today and no alarm and starts up but my rpm stock gauge doesnt work and it runs pretty bad i have a safc2 and im wondering if it had no power for awhile can the car lose a tune or the safc get messed up?

 

[simons3z]

if your tune was on the SAFC and you lost power, i believe you would have lost your settings.

 

[taberj47]

so i traced down the problem bad sparkplugs, wires, and coilpack they were shot im trying not to have a daily service gst haha

well when i replaced the wires, plugs and coilpack still not getting my #3 piston and #2 piston to fire i checked spark and nothing please someone give me something to hope on this is my dd im lost on what to do now??

 

[a2tjhb]

so i did a compression test and my valves are toast. i have no compression in 1 - 3 and 70 on #4. im looking in to buying a new head. does anyone know a good place to order 1 from? and will i need to check the crank for damage?

 

[TireKicker]

Hi guys, I've searched all over the forums, and ALL over the internet. Myself and my car buddies are all stumped and having a hard time figuring this one out. I'm desperate so here I am!.

I recently did a 6 bolt swap for the second time, using black top CAM sensor spliced into Crank sensor. Did the timing belt (which is still spot on) Ignition timing, and the car was working great! I drove home for the night and parked my car, I went out the next morning and fired it up, and it was idling very rough, like it was on 3 cylinders, so I popped the hood and took a boo at it, I found one of my spark plug wires had managed to rub up against my cam gear (yes i know stupid for not having timing belt cover cap on) but it happened! So I didnt have any 7mm Spark plug wires kicking around, so a friend brought me over a 8mm wire, I figured it wouldnt matter if one spark plug wire was bigger than the rest, just to try and start the car and make sure i didnt wreck anything when the wire shorted out, anyways, when i put the 8mm wire on, the car wouldnt start at all.. So i was stumped. 2 days later i found the proper spark plug wire and installed it, Now i have no start.. the car just keeps cranking, I pulled out my spark plugs and they were all soaked.. So i unplugged the injectors, took out my spark plugs and turned the car over trying to unflood it. I put brand new, Gapped properly hot plugs in and still the same thing, pops a couple times and than just keeps cranking, and the spark plugs come out wet!. I have very strong spark, and clearly fuel is getting to the spark plugs. I tried replacing coils, Ignitor, spark plugs, spark plug wires, and still the same thing, my plugs just keep getting covered in fuel. but the car doesn't even try and start. So i bought a OBDII code reader and hooked it up, It is running ZERO fault Codes.. I am so frustrated with this talon, its been sitting for 3 weeks now and its depressing me, any help would be greatly appreciated, as my friends and I are extremely stumped, and ive been driving a lumina van for 3 weeks now =(. Just to be clear, the compression is good across the board, timing is correct, ignition timing is set properly, i have lots of spark, and fuel is getting to the spark plugs. Thanks for your time guys.

 

[95talongirl]

Are you positive its getting the proper spark? Where did you check for it? At the coil? After the coil? I also remember something about swapping spark plug wires on the 6-bolt swap.

http://magnusmotorsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/1gina2g.pdf

Also, what kind of plugs are you running?

 

[TireKicker]

I pulled the plugs, Put them in the plug wires, grounded them out and watched them Snap with White Spark. Its getting LOTS of spark. it sparks so well you can hear them Snapping. and i'm using NGK the Proper Copper plugs, I forget th exact code but they are the right plugs. I've had a few talons in my day, this one is just driving me nuts! Even after i figure out this huge mystery, she now needs 2 front wheel bearings from sitting . and yes i changed my Firing order aswell, 4 and 1 on one coil, 2 and 3 on the other coil. i appreciate the fast replay by the way. very much.

 

[95talongirl]

Gotcha. Ok, well I guess its back to fuel, then. Which it seems to be getting too much of. Have you checked the injectors to see if they are leaking; bad o rings or such? Maybe there's something there that's allowing it to just dump fuel and thus flooding you out? Bad FPR?

 

[TireKicker]

Whats the best way to test that? just pull out my fuel rail and turn it over and make sure they all squirting or? I just don't get it, the car worked AMAZING its like the only talon motor i have ever owned that did not have any kind of lifter tic it purred so nice.. and than the spark plug wire grounded out.. replaced it, and no start.. it seems like the short screwed something up! but you would think i would be running a fault code?!

It couldn't be my ECU Right? Since i have strong spark and im getting fuel? and my OBDII bluetooth module says it connects to my ECU fine..

Honestly I was thinking something similar.. Perhaps something is dumping to much fuel in, Which leads me to beleive Coolant Temperature Sensor, But it should throw a Fault Code, if there was a problem.

 

[95talongirl]

I usually just check the o-rings out for cracks and brittleness. As far as the FPR goes, although its not common, it can leak internally and cause a really rich condition; causing hard starts stalling and such. If you pull the vacuum line to it, and see fuel come out of it, then it's bad.

On the note about the ECU... you know, I wouldn't rule that out either. I mean, I wouldn't think that it would have got damaged since you are seeing spark, but you just never know. Electronics can be finicky.

 

[TireKicker]

I'm going to check the FPR right now hopefully fuel comes out of it and that would be a super easy fix! I'm really running out of ideas, I'm hoping with some brain storming from all of us DSMers we can figure out whats going on! IF there was a problem with my ECU, if i inspected it, would I be able to notice anything? probably see something burnt out i would figure.. Blah.. it's such a head scratcher!

 

[95talongirl]

Yeah, I'd think if something did short out that ECU, you'd see evidence of that on the board.

Ok, well good luck!

 

[TireKicker]

No fuel comming out of the FPR vaccum, taking out my ECU now, I guess we will know shortly if its my ECU!

I took out my ECU And i see nothing shorted out or melted or even Black smudges, it looks brand new.. Even more Stumped.

 

[92 GSR-4]

Hey I think you covered this a couple posts up but it wasnt clear.

When I swapped a 6-bolt 2.4 in a 97 Talon I had to change the firing order from 4-1-2-3 to 2-3-4-1. I basically just reversed the coils, or swapped them. However you want to say it.

Just a thought. I think you tried it though. The other thing I might ask is if you have DSM/ECMlink or some kind of "flashed" tune on the ECU. The 2G ECU resets if you loose battery power. So if you have 1450's or something, but you lost the tune and the ECU thinks it has stock injectors, you will flood the motor every time. Also check your deadtime settings.

Last, check and make sure you're holding fuel pressure. I doubt this is the issue, but will aid in getting it to run smoothly. I like to let the fuel pressure build, and then check the gauge about 10 minutes later. I usually have over 20PSI in the system which tells me I don't have a leak somewhere.

Besides that, as long as you have spark/fuel and you didn't jump a belt or have bent valves it should run. Have you done a compression test?
Hope this helps...

 

[TireKicker]

Thanks alot 92GSR for your post, Yes I have swapped the Firing order to 2-3-4-1. I do not have ECMlink or DSMlink, I just have a Stock ECU with a Stock tune, and stock injectors aswell, 450CC or 440CC Which ever they're stock, and I havnt checked fuel pressure because my spark plugs keep comming out wet, So i'm assuming the fuel pressure is there, or else it wouldnt be getting to spark plug, Ive done a compression test when it ran, and now when it doesnt and its mint across the board. Its going to be something really stupid, I just havn't figured it out yet . Every time i go to start it up, it gives me a couple Pops and than just keeps cranking.. i take plugs out, and there wet again. boy this is confusing stuff.

I'm wondering now if perhaps my CAM sensor is on the fritz, wouldn't it cause no spark tho? I read a couple posts today, One saying if your CAM sensor is on fritz, you will get Wet Spark plugs, Aswell, if the resistor pack on the fire wall is on the fritz, you will also get wet spark plugs. I've investigated both but they seem fine, I'm wondering what the proper way to test the resistor or CAM sensor would be? I'm soooo stumped! what is wrong with my poor talon . Soon it will be winter, meaning another summer past without her feeling the wind between her tires .

 

[92 GSR-4]

Have you pulled the spark plugs, left them connected to the plug wires & coil, and spun the motor over to see if they are firing?

 

[92 GSR-4]

EDIT: Re-reading your previous posts, I'm sure you've absolutely verified spark.

If you're spark is there, and you've still got soaked plugs, I would look at faulty injectors (hung open), resistor pack or injector drivers in the ECU.

You need to swap the ECU for a known good one. If needed, I might be able to lend you one if you cover shipping. It's not mine, but it's at my house

 

[TireKicker]

Hey 92GSR, Thank you so much again, Yes i have verified spark, Strong spark indeed! but they keep getting soaked! I checked the ECU today and there were no melting capaciters or burnt spots, I seen nothing that looked out of the norm! But I'm going to pull out my injectors later to day and MAKE SURE they are not leaking, or are squirting properly and all the same.. i'm wondering if my Resister Pack got Fried when the plug wire shorted out on the cam gear??? Think its possible?! something is causing it to send too much fuel into my cylinders, literally i can see dampness on my pistons after i try to start, than i air it out, make sure its not flooded, and i try again, and the exact same thing happens, Soaked plugs and damp looking pistons! something is sending far too much fuel!. If injectors/resistor pack are not the problem, I would defanitly like to take you up on your ECU offer. And YES i would cover any shipping/duty fees both ways. Thank you again 92GSR I appreciate the offer and your knowledge!

Trying your ECU is better than spending 200-400$ on an ECU i don't need!

Well, my injectors are working properly and not leaking, i'm out of ideas and my car is just sitting there with insurance rotting away. Blah what a crappy feeling.

 

[Chrispy0530]

So the issue is as the car turns over, it pretty much seems as if there is too much fuel being dumped in while trying to get fired up. You can smell pure gas after several turn over attempts on starting the engine..

I am getting spark, and obviously fuel. Pulled the plugs out and they're soaked in gasoline. I had the car started before, and ran great but now it refuses to fire up.

Any ideas?

 

[jayson427]

you could have an injector stuck open. have you tried to hold the pedal to the floor and start? there is a little bleeder valve at the end of the stock fuel rail. try and bleed the fuel off a little bit then hold the pedal to the floor. if you think your injector is stuck open unplug one sensor at a time to the injector and try to start and see if that makes a difference.