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

 

[RussianEclipse]

I hate to sound this way but can't compression start a car with no spark or fuel. Since there is no fuel near the engine for the past 3 weeks and no way to ignite said fuel.

 

[Batman272]

check the relays.... it happend to me when i dint know there was a kill switch on my old 2g. fuses and relays are evil. i mean i would replace them all. the fuel pump may not be getting power to push the fuel so on and so forth

 

[RussianEclipse]

Exactly it's not getting power. I can run a constant to it and it will run but not when I turn the car on

 

[BIRDCLAWTSi]

Your issue most likely lies with the crank sensor. Either you have a bad sensor, Or the wiring is at fault.

You already removed the timing belt and installed the crank sensor right?

If so, Check the wiring at the crank sensor for a 5 volt reference, Key on engine off, Check for ground on the other pin, And hook up a volt meter on the signal pin ( Backprobe) and crank the car.

See if you can see a 5 volt voltage fluctuation while cranking, It may be hard to see without a scope. But if you have a reference and ground going in, and nothing coming out, Its the ckp sensor.

It could be any sensor on the 5 volt reference circuit. Like the TPS, Cam position sensor (cmp), Map sensor,Vehicle speed sensor (VSS), Or crank sensor (ckp)

If you do not have a 5 volt reference at any of the listed sensors, Unplug each sensor, One at a time, And see if the 5 volt comes back. Do it to each sensor, Leaving each one unplugged until you find the shorted sensor.

There is also the possibility of the ECU being at fault,

Test the ECU power and ground supplies. Power feeds are on pins 11 (Red/Black) and pin 54 (Black/White). The grounds are on pins 2 (Black), 22 (Black), 52 (Black).

 

[RussianEclipse]

I have another thread about this but i replaced almost everything and i still have no fuel or spark. i already chnaged my crank sensor and cam sensor. repalced almost everyhing else and still no star. Go to check codes and the p0335 code pops up so i go to check the senaor using the hanes manual and i get this - I tested the voltage from the signal wire to the ground by back probing the crank position sensor. It read .16v. Spec was .4-3.0v while cranking. Do I have a bad crank sensor? The 12v power supply tested good.

 

[luv2rallye]

I assumed you measured from the blue-white to ground with the CPS connected and the engine cranking. Well since you already changed it, presumably with a good one, I would first unplug the connector to see if any pins are corroded, dirty, not locked in place.

Then with the connector still unplugged, measure at the harness side (not CPS side) for the following:
A. Continuity to ground of the black wire.
B. Turn ignition switch ON and check if +12v is on the red wire.
C. With ignition switch still ON check if blue-white measures in the 4.8-5.2v range. If not suspect ECU or broken wire to ECU.

If that all ok replug the connector and redo A, B, C from the CPS side of the connector (to test the connector's connection). C may not be in range 4.8-5.2 now but it should be way more than .16v.

If you really don't have fuel you may have a bad ECU since the CAS enables fp and injectors and it's unlikely the CAS would also be bad (plus you didn't get P0340). Open up the ECU and check for leaking capacitors (rotten egg smell) and visual problems (broken traces, burnt components, leaking components).

 

[RussianEclipse]

With the ecu I did the check. Started the car ad stock boost gauge turned on and off when car was turned off. So I assume it can't be that. And where exactly is the ecu?

 

[luv2rallye]

You have to open up the ECU to check for this. It's behind the radio.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/new...ed-need-diagram-remove-ecu.html#post151128558

 

[Timechg]

I replaced both CPS and CAS and turned out that the brand new CAS from autozone was faulty. Test these sensors.

 

[Dsmkauai]

That's why you don't buy important parts for your car At cheap crappy auto parts stores, like autozone or orileys!

 

[keston95GS-T]

Could be your harness. Check it for breakage. Good luck

 

[91AwdEagleTalonTSI]

Sup guys , long time lurker but first post.
Well cutting to the chase , recently bought this 91 Eagle Talon TSI AWD and am really impressed coming from the Honda side . But since I've had it it's been problem after problem and I'm beginning to think I bought a LEMON. First a bad alternator and battery then dieing at stops and now this...

So from what I've heard this problem can be caused by a couple things.
- Factory Alarm System
- Bad Starter
- Nasty Ground
- Ignition Switch

Here's what happens/happened ; After a golf tournament I went to hop back into the car and I go to turn the key and the lights come on and radio but no crank or any sign of life. So I was contemplating all these things that could have went wrong/are wrong. Then I thought to bump/push start it. Boom turned right over and got that sucker home as fast as possible.

Got it home and turned it off and began to check all possible problems, couldn't figure it out. I did switch a relay and it did crank over then I turned it off and tried again and it came to life again. Well I thought the problem was solved ! Little did I know when I needed to start it later to head to the store the same shit happened. Now I am lost at words I have no clue what it could be.. Please help guys

 

[hypergenesis]

Sup guys , long time lurker but first post.
Well cutting to the chase , recently bought this 91 Eagle Talon TSI AWD and am really impressed coming from the Honda side . But since I've had it it's been problem after problem and I'm beginning to think I bought a LEMON. First a bad alternator and battery then dieing at stops and now this...

So from what I've heard this problem can be caused by a couple things.
- Factory Alarm System
- Bad Starter
- Nasty Ground
- Ignition Switch

Here's what happens/happened ; After a golf tournament I went to hop back into the car and I go to turn the key and the lights come on and radio but no crank or any sign of life. So I was contemplating all these things that could have went wrong/are wrong. Then I thought to bump/push start it. Boom turned right over and got that sucker home as fast as possible.

Got it home and turned it off and began to check all possible problems, couldn't figure it out. I did switch a relay and it did crank over then I turned it off and tried again and it came to life again. Well I thought the problem was solved ! Little did I know when I needed to start it later to head to the store the same shit happened. Now I am lost at words I have no clue what it could be.. Please help guys

No offense but you sure the ground for your battery is still good? sometimes the clamps feel like they tighten but after being used for so long they just form a gap around the terminal and will not make the best contact.

Also hows your starter looking and the connections on that?
Also Sometimes the solenoid in the starter can get bound up and then it wont kick over and you may just hear the relay try giving it a couple taps with a hammer to see if it frees up anything inside of your starter as well.

Armin

 

[TSicktalon]

Which relay did you switch?

 

[91AwdEagleTalonTSI]

No offense but you sure the ground for your battery is still good? sometimes the clamps feel like they tighten but after being used for so long they just form a gap around the terminal and will not make the best contact.

Also hows your starter looking and the connections on that?
Also Sometimes the solenoid in the starter can get bound up and then it wont kick over and you may just hear the relay try giving it a couple taps with a hammer to see if it frees up anything inside of your starter as well.

Armin

I'll be sure to check the grounds on the battery tomorrow after class & Yea I banged it with a wrench while my buddy was trying it , nothing happened :/

Which relay did you switch?

It was a relay up under the dash by the little fuse box ; I'm not sure which one was switched my buddy was the actual one who swapped the relay but after we found it didn't want to start after that second time I had him put it back in the original spot.

Also the lights/radio and other accessories still light up the starter just doesn't want to turn over ; If this means anything I changed the plugs yesterday with a .028 gap I made sure that was right.

 

[DSM1G90]

Got bad and dirty battery connections?

Take them off, clean the lead to bright along with the battery posts, put them back on and tighten them down super good and go from there.

Also, have a good cable connection from battery to starter?

 

[91AwdEagleTalonTSI]

Got bad and dirty battery connections?

Take them off, clean the lead to bright along with the battery posts, put them back on and tighten them down super good and go from there.

Also, have a good cable connection from battery to starter?

I did crack the positive terminal when tightening it but I have another to replace it , although it didn't crank before it was cracked but I'll clean both terminals and posts. Also I'll check the connection today after class and I'll tell you guys what happens.

 

[VR4 Kev]

Have you checked voltages at starter terminals? Tried jumping starter terminals?

 

[jdezmit]

How old is the battery?

 

[91AwdEagleTalonTSI]

How old is the battery?

Brand new battery ; how do I check cranking amps? Also update ; people were saying battery terminals , just replace both of them today , did the same thing . NO CRANK AT ALL ... Getting real frustrated as it's problem after problem . And to be completely honest I cannot even see the starter to even check the terminals on that or to jump that to see if it's the problem..

 

[ileagle95]

You can try tapping the starter to see if its going back (sticky contacts). Or take it to advance/autozone to test.

 

[91AwdEagleTalonTSI]

You can try tapping the starter to see if its going back (sticky contacts). Or take it to advance/autozone to test.

Are you sure they can test it? I went there for them to run a cell and they said they couldn't because its earlier than a 96

You can try tapping the starter to see if its going back (sticky contacts). Or take it to advance/autozone to test.

Are you sure they can test it? I went there for them to run a cell and they said they couldn't because its earlier than a 96

 

[RussianEclipse]

hi guys, i have a 95 eclipse gst, and i have no power to the fuel pump from the blue power wire. Can i run a wire straight from my battery to a switch, and then turn on the switch before i start the car? would this work if i wire in a relay with it? also, with direct power to the fuel pump, and adequate spark, the car still wont fire. The only code i have is a p0443 evap. I am completely lost. the car just wont fire. It also seems to backfire thru the intake. Any help would be great, thanks in advance.

 

[92AWDHX40]

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

check the ecu do you have compression.

 

[jdoherty420]

I am having a starting issue. It is very random, I added grounds, changed my starter wire out, and starter relay. What happens is once and a while I will turn the key and the starter will just click like a dead battery, either that or it will crank slowly like a weak battery. Otherwise it will start perfectly fine. when the issue occurs I can attach a jumper wire with a switch from the positive terminal to the starter trigger wire and it will start perfectly every time. I've replaced the starter twice since I had the car on the road. When this issue first started I would be able tho bump the starter with a hammer and it would start fine. So I swapped out the starter and the issue went away for a couple weeks then came back with vengeance. I'm about to just hard wire a starter switch in, I'm at my wits end with this issue. Thank You for your time.