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

 

[gophishy10]

Yesterday I was doing some autocross and had a few issues. It seemed like a boost leak. It would bog down when I pushed in the clutch and go super lean. On one of my runs, the car bogged and then stalled. It wouldn't start back up. I tried again about 5 minutes later and it started right up.
Later on in the day, I made a big mistake and forgot to put the oil cap back on because I was rushed. Long story short, lots of smoke and a BIG mess. Got the car home, cleaned up the oil, everything seemed fine. However, when the oil cap was off, the car ran great, no bogging (too much crankcase pressure?)
Now on to today. I was headed back for the second day of autocross. I made it all the way through town and then when I went to get on the thruway, I gave it a little gas to get it going and it bogged down and died. It like stumbled when I gave it gas and my afr went to 22.4 on the gauge. I finally got it started and it made it about half a mile further. I pulled the fuel line going into the fuel rail and it seemed to be extremely pressurized. It shot out fast and a lot. I hooked the line back up and the car fired right up. Then it stalled half a mile further. I did this process about ten times to get it off the thruway before I called a tow truck.
Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[Chicken Patty]

Hmmm, bogged down when pressing the clutch on a hard turn? If the motor is starting to crank walk I know it can cause all sorts of hell with the crank angle sensor. If the crank angle sensor gets damaged you won't get injector pulse nor spark. Did the pedal stay down after the hard turn and which way were you turning?

However an inconsistent issue like that, usually a sensor. when the car does not start, do you get injector pulse and/or spark? If you don't, bad Cam angle and/or crank angle sensor usually.

Good info here:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/401865-starting-crankwalk-used-dial-indicator.html

 

[wickedz]

Well I have a 95 TSi 5spd. The motor is a complete overhaul and new, and tranny. Well went to turn the key and it clicked once, but didnt turn the motor over. After trying for several minutes to get the same result, we jumped with a wire, from the starter plug to the positive battary post, and the car cranks so nice. The car still will not start or even try to start. We tested and have awsome spark on all 4, good compression, and tons of fuel.

Its a 95 complete 7 bolt motor, but I have the 6 bolt CAS with the plug in play harness for the crank and cam sensor. We double checked the common problems like making sure everything was connected, and grounded under the hood. We are puzzled right now.

Oh we also unplugged the clutch plug and twisted the 2 wires together, thinking maybe by passing the clutch, and still only clicks once and nothing.

Could it just be bad gas maybe from sitting (unknown time!!!!)? But that wouldnt cause the no cranking. hmmmm

 

[clipto]

If old gas I would recommend getting new gas in there of course but for a running start check these methods first let me know how it goes. http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-miscellaneous/217951-how-diagnose-no-start.html

 

[Turbosnatch]

Check all of the earth wires, check for good contact

 

[Turbosnatch]

Did it kick a check engine light, if so it's sensor related, if not Id be measuring that for crankwalk

 

[wickedz]

what the heck are earth wires?

 

[meiko24169]

Think he means ground wires. Have you checked the ems? I had a buddy that disconnected his ems without unhooking the battery. It wouldn't crank at all after he hooked back up, checked the power at the starter, we were getting constant 12v at the starter..... When the car was off! When he turned the key, it dropped down to.4 volts or something, I can't remember. He towed it to a ship, and they charged him 500 bucks to reset the computer...

On my old 420a, I switched the cam positioning sensor and coil pack plug (same size connector) one is supposed to get 8v, the other .8 I think... I had to get another computer. It would turn over, but wouldn't start at all.

Hope that helps.

 

[wickedz]

Yeah the ECU is also a fresh job. Im going to drain the gas I guess, and see what happens from here.

 

[Chicken Patty]

Did it kick a check engine light, if so it's sensor related, if not Id be measuring that for crankwalk

Not the first time a Cam angle or crank angle go out with out a CEL coming on. I would still check both and for crank walk.

 

[Nathanxavierr]

Hey Guys!
So there's probably many stories really similar to mines, but hear me out!
So I was installing my gauges, i got the boost gauge, exhaust temperature gauge, and my narrow band air fuel gauge that i almost had all completely installed, as i was tapping into my Ecu for the air fuel ratio gauge, i started up the car and the car ran great for 5 minutes idled around 900 rpm didnt think anything of it. All of a sudden the car started to bog out and was feeling like it was off timing, or if i was losing spark into two of my cylinders so i instantly shut it off. Looked under the hood and found out that two of the wires from the cam angle sensor broke lose.So i replaced the Cam angle sensor and tried to start the car, but all it wants to do is crank, doesn"t start any ideas?

 

[TSiAWD666]

See if other wires broke, like perhaps your coolant temp sensor. I had that one's wires break on me recently seemingly out of the blue and the car would just crank and crank. Fixing the wiring of course solved the problem.

 

[Nathanxavierr]

okay I'll go check it out, and see if there's any other wires that could have broken off.

Okay so I checked all Wires and their all completely connected, so that couldnt be the problem? Where should i start the diagnosis?

 

[gophishy10]

Yes check engine light came on as if it was reading knock. I noticed it would do it when I hit around 20% throttle. I always let off right away.

 

[mattiouti]

When you crank the engine is there a tach signal? It the needle moving at all?
Check for spark and fuel. First two starting points of no start diag.

 

[pur97tsifwd]

Make sure the cam angle sensor is installed correctly it can be 180 out and not timed correctly and not start.

 

[Nathanxavierr]

Kay so by installed correctly you mean making sure the dial actually goes into the cam?
and yeah the needle doesnt move at all and i hear the hum because i have a walpro fuel pump.

i also think it most definitely is a spark related issue cause i sprayed starting fluid in the cylinders with no good results.

 

[mattiouti]

Have you checked the CAS wires and plug. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but if the tach doesn't move while cranking then there is a signal issue with the CAS

 

[Chicken Patty]

Yes check engine light came on as if it was reading knock. I noticed it would do it when I hit around 20% throttle. I always let off right away.

Check for crankwalk man. Couple of things point to it but hopefully not the case. That or crank angle sensor is going bad. Had something very similar happen to a buddy but not while turning, just when going straight. One day car shut off and never came back on. Trigger wheel came lose and voila, no spark/injector pulse.

 

[Nathanxavierr]

okay so just to make sure i went through a whole step by step instruction to make sure i installed the CAS on correctly and still nothing. Any other suggestions?

 

[gophishy10]

Check for crankwalk man. Couple of things point to it but hopefully not the case. That or crank angle sensor is going bad. Had something very similar happen to a buddy but not while turning, just when going straight. One day car shut off and never came back on. Trigger wheel came lose and voila, no spark/injector pulse.

Ahh you're scaring me. The time on the thruway when it shut off and would only run for 1/2 mile at a time, I wasn't turning. I was going straight.
However, now that I think about it, at autocross there was a large banking section. It was a left hand turn and when I first got into it and gave it gas, I let out on the clutch and it stuck down and the engine just kind of revved. I had to let off the gas before the clutch came out all the way. I just figured it was the clutch dragging.

 

[Chicken Patty]

Ahh you're scaring me. The time on the thruway when it shut off and would only run for 1/2 mile at a time, I wasn't turning. I was going straight.
However, now that I think about it, at autocross there was a large banking section. It was a left hand turn and when I first got into it and gave it gas, I let out on the clutch and it stuck down and the engine just kind of revved. I had to let off the gas before the clutch came out all the way. I just figured it was the clutch dragging.

I'm sorry I say but those are definitely symptoms of Crankwalk. Check ASAP!

 

[gophishy10]

What would you recommend? Measuring crankshaft end play? Is there an easy way to do this? I don't have a feeler gauge or dial indicator to use. I saw someone suggests grabbing the harmonic balancer and trying to move it in and out.

Also, after reading those articles, I'm becoming more worried because I definitely had a ticking sound that I thought was lifter tick but another member who was at autocross with me didn't think it was lifter tick.

 

[Chicken Patty]

What would you recommend? Measuring crankshaft end play? Is there an easy way to do this? I don't have a feeler gauge or dial indicator to use. I saw someone suggests grabbing the harmonic balancer and trying to move it in and out.

Also, after reading those articles, I'm becoming more worried because I definitely had a ticking sound that I thought was lifter tick but another member who was at autocross with me didn't think it was lifter tick.

You can try and pry the crank pulley, if you see it shift then you know it's walking. But the best and proper way to do it would be to measure end play on the crank.

 

[gophishy10]

Unfortunately, I don't have the right tools to measure end play. I'll try to pry the crank pulley as close to the crank bolt as I can get and see if it moves at all. I'll do this sometime today and let you know.