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

 

[PPiechocki]

this was my daily driver. i don't have availability for down time. if i can't get it running tomorrow, i need to move on. and i'm tuning with a maft and datalogger, that's it

 

[PPiechocki]

ok, electrical nightmare was solved, thanks to tracing wires. apparently that big wire that runs to the alternator is supposed to be hooked to the battery and not just randomly hanging out by the block?? *facepalm* but now onto figuring out why it wouldn't run with the afpr and bigger injectors

i was ass backwards setting my base adjustments on my maft, so on my next day off, i'm gonna replace the turbo AGAIN, install my wally, and take another crack at the injectors

 

[RivalDSM]

Ok long story short I was was having a major misfire issue so I went and got new plug wires. I installed the new plug wires after fixing a few boost leaks. Installed new plug wires and the car back fired one time like I've never heard in my years and years of working on cars. Then the car wouldn't start. It sometimes starts but will stumble barely run like it's runnin oon two cylinders. Checked firing order after reading threads of twenty different opinions on the correct order.

4321 on vc
4123 left to right on cps

Tested, all getting spark. Pulled the fuel rail, all injectors squirting. Timing... Dead on. Tried a spare ecu I got with the car that has no burn marks or any such thing, no go. I don't get it. The car literally ran 5 minutes before I did the plug wires. I'm very mechanically inclined, as I own a shop but all my tools are at my shop. My cars stuck in my alley

Any ideas? CAS?

 

[98zx23369]

have you pulled your plugs since the back fire?

 

[RivalDSM]

Nope. I wanted to today but forgot my Damn plug tool at the shop. I will be pulling them tomorrow to see if I fouled any.

 

[98zx23369]

what type of plugs and wires?

 

[bradcurtis15]

so i pulled my plugs and they look horrible

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I went ahead and tested the compression on all my cylinders, from left(passanger side) to right (timing side) i got 160-160-100-120 ok so then i looked at my timing belt and it looks like its fraying

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I then looked at my cam gears and the gears line up good but i do see some oil

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so I'm wondering what caused the bad compression, and I am wondering if the bad compression is the cause of my no start.
what should I do next?

 

[RivalDSM]

NGK br7es and I think there duralast wires. But i tried my old wires and new wires.

 

[98zx23369]

ya id pull plugs tommrow

 

[RivalDSM]

That's the plan. Mad I have to wait all day haha

Changed the plugs over. Started right up, but seems to have a pretty decent misfire, wont really rev past 4k and running super lean. Grr.

 

[Mecheng1993]

Bent valves? I'm guessing you didn't time it properly. And without compression, I imagine it would be pretty hard to start,

 

[bradcurtis15]

Bent valves? I'm guessing you didn't time it properly. And without compression, I imagine it would be pretty hard to start,

cars been running great since 2010 on the same timing belt. it was timed just fine.
how could i bend valves if the timing is accurate? hmmmmmm

 

[MY1GDSM]

Without seeing if the Crank pulley is lined up while the cam gears are it's impossible to see if the timing is really in line. Even with the low and un-even compression ( if those are acutate numbers) it wouldn't stop the car from starting might run rough. But it should still run. Hell I've see a dsm drop a valve and keep running

Did you find out if you have spark?

 

[gsxlol]

Ive read all the other threads with similar titles and they have put a few ideas in my head, but I still think I have a different problem.

The other night I was driving home from work and my car died while I was driving. Only the engine shut off, all my lights and everything were still on. Lucky I was only about half a mile from my house and I was able to pull into a gas station right around the corner. I tried a few times to start the car and it would spin and spin but not crank. my first thought was fuel because on the way to work that morning my narrow band afr gauge would shoot lean and the car wouldnt accelerate, it felt like it was running on 2 cylinders. if i press the clutch in and let the rpm down to idle it was like the other 2 cylinders kicked back in and it was back to running pig rich like it usually does. this happend 3-4 times on my way to work and only twice on the way home. anyway, i thought maybe it was my fuel pump going out that had caused this. I got the car home and started going through the car trying to find anything that wasnt right. The pump is priming and getting fuel to the engine, Timing is dead on, I'm not getting any spark, i used a spare spark plug in all plug wires, I also tried a screwdriver. no spark. Now the first thing that came to mind was the coil packs, I checked the plug coming from the harness and I have power going to the coil packs. The only way I could think to test power coming out of the coil packs was to test power where the plug wires connect to the coils. no power there. It must be the coil packs, unless I tested wrong. I got another coil pack from a buddy of mine. i put the coil on put the car back together, crossed my fingers and turned the key. I'm back to square one.

What else can I check, What else could it be? this is my only car and im tired of bumming rides.

 

[gsxlol]

Ive read all the other threads with similar titles and they have put a few ideas in my head, but I still think I have a different problem.

The other night I was driving home from work and my car died while I was driving. Only the engine shut off, all my lights and everything were still on. Lucky I was only about half a mile from my house and I was able to pull into a gas station right around the corner. I tried a few times to start the car and it would spin and spin but not crank. my first thought was fuel because on the way to work that morning my narrow band afr gauge would shoot lean and the car wouldnt accelerate, it felt like it was running on 2 cylinders. if i press the clutch in and let the rpm down to idle it was like the other 2 cylinders kicked back in and it was back to running pig rich like it usually does. this happend 3-4 times on my way to work and only twice on the way home. anyway, i thought maybe it was my fuel pump going out that had caused this. I got the car home and started going through the car trying to find anything that wasnt right. The pump is priming and getting fuel to the engine, Timing is dead on, I'm not getting any spark, i used a spare spark plug in all plug wires, I also tried a screwdriver. no spark. Now the first thing that came to mind was the coil packs, I checked the plug coming from the harness and I have power going to the coil packs. The only way I could think to test power coming out of the coil packs was to test power where the plug wires connect to the coils. no power there. It must be the coil packs, unless I tested wrong. I got another coil pack from a buddy of mine. i put the coil on put the car back together, crossed my fingers and turned the key. I'm back to square one.

What else can I check, What else could it be? this is my only car and im tired of bumming rides.

 

[Chaosweaver]

Transistor (ignition control module) burned out, I can pretty much guarantee that's the problem from how you're describing it, but I'd also check the 20A fuse in the engine bay, the one labeled motor, but since the cluster lights (CEL, oil, ect ect) still turn on it shouldn't be that.

 

[Chicken Patty]

Bad crank or cam angle sensor will cause no spark/no injector pulse. That can very well be your problem as well. Especially since you said car felt like it was misfiring before that happened. Been there done that, speaking from experience.

 

[bradcurtis15]

I havent checked for spark yet I just assumed I was screwed with the compression that low

 

[uummm]

Are you loseing coolant? That spark plug looks almost exactly like one I took out of a cracked head once. You could try replacing the spark plugs and see if it will fire.

 

[bcjjones]

With the compression what it is, and the spark plug the way it looks..if lran toward a blown headgasket. Like stated above though, those compressuon readings shouldn't keep the car from starting. You could always do a wet conpression test and or a leak down test to verifu the conpression issue.

Id check for spark and go from there

 

[gsxlol]

Transistor (ignition control module) burned out, I can pretty much guarantee that's the problem from how you're describing it, but I'd also check the 20A fuse in the engine bay, the one labeled motor, but since the cluster lights (CEL, oil, ect ect) still turn on it shouldn't be that.

Thanks. First I'm gonna go make sure I plugged it in all the way. And I'll start looking for a new one.

 

[deviousgst]

Transistor (ignition control module) burned out, I can pretty much guarantee that's the problem from how you're describing it, but I'd also check the 20A fuse in the engine bay, the one labeled motor, but since the cluster lights (CEL, oil, ect ect) still turn on it shouldn't be that.

+1 ^..had similar issue and my transistor got hot, slapped another one on and it turned back on like Nothing ever happened

 

[TopGun8818]

I also had a similiar issue and it turned out to be a bad CAS. I'm running a 1g 6 bolt with Black Top CAS though.

 

[bscratch]

Have you checked the motor fuse in the fuse block under the hood?

 

[bigpatofpa]

Check your ignition system, plugs ,wires coil pack, transistor. If that all checks out pull your ecu and look for leaking capacitor or burnt components