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

 

[somdturbo]

With the car in neutral, key in on position, and starter reinstalled -run a small wire from the battery to the starter spade terminal, tap the terminal briefly. The starter should turn if its grounded properly and connected properly.

 

[Hardcore1]

Test your power transistor I just had this happen to a talon I was working on. If the power transistor which is right next to the coil pack primary harness is fried you will not get spark.

It also could be a MPI sensor.

 

[luv2rallye]

Crank sensor did no change either.
Still no spark.
No power to CAS, CPS, Coil.
Battery has a drain, and CEL doesnt come on when you turn the key at all.

Sounds like bad MFI relay (possibly intermittent if it works sometimes). Also check "Engine" 20A fuse (under hood) now which may have blown. Could also be an intermittent ignition key ON switch that turns power onto nearly all engine stuff.

 

[slickers111]

Sounds like bad MFI relay (possibly intermittent if it works sometimes). Also check "Engine" 20A fuse (under hood) now which may have blown. Could also be an intermittent ignition key ON switch that turns power onto nearly all engine stuff.

Could you tell me where to find the intermittent IGN switch?
Im going to be getting a new ECU, MPI/MFI relay, as well as the 20A fuse just in case. Fuse looked good to me, but might as well try swapping it.

 

[luv2rallye]

I'm refering to the ignition key (one you turn the car on with) when it's in the ON position. Perhaps it's intermittent. Measure the ON voltage and jiggle the key when in ON position to see effect.

 

[Afizzle]

So this girl needed help gettin her car running so I offered. It's a 97 GST automatic. Her problem was the battery draining over night. Pretty sure I fixed that because it held a charge all night, but now the starter won't spin when I turn the key.

I ran a hard line straight from the starter solenoid and touched it to the pos terminal on the battery and it fires right up like a champ.. Would this be possible if the ground from the battery to te chassis were bad? I ask because her battery ground was shady so I went in with a new terminal and ground cable. Other than that I have not touched anything involved with the starter or electronics, and apparently she had to start it up to get it to my house. If the wiring on the starter was bad, it would not be turnin over when I ran the hard line from it, correct? Just trying to rule things out here..

Am I over looking something? When I turn the key I have my foot on the break and I hear a clicking from under the dash but nothin in the engine bay at all..

I'm thinking the alarm system on the car is locking the ignition. With the hard line the car starts and runs really strong but there is absolutely no give with the key in the ignition.

Not sure what's going on since she did start the car with the key to drive it to my house, now it's not workin at all. Car is in park and all that jazz.. Idk what I'm over looking.. A fuse?

Help! I need to get this car out from in front of my house! <3

 

[92AWDHX40]

It could be a bad starter might be easier to have it towed some where then trouble shoot.

 

[crash89]

Dont see how It could be the starter. He said that if he runs jumper wire it cranks. How about instead of asking us if its a bad ground or fuse, just go out and check. Would take about 10 minutes. Then you'd know. Or, the battery is just low, have you tried charging it?

 

[Afizzle]

It could be a bad starter might be easier to have it towed some where then trouble shoot.

Think it could be a bad started even though it fires over when I run the hard line? I've had a bad starter before and it whined and complained even with a hard line all the way up until it shit the bed. This one is firing really strong and starts the car up with a hard line.

Dont see how It could be the starter. He said that if he runs jumper wire it cranks. How about instead of asking us if its a bad ground or fuse, just go out and check. Would take about 10 minutes. Then you'd know. Or, the battery is just low, have you tried charging it?

Yeah I took it up to te parts store last night and it showed 0% charge. They charged it up for 45 min and I took it home, put it on, and everything is getting power now but still only a small click under the dash when I try to start it. I even drove it around for about 30 min to let the alt charge it a little bit. Came back this morning and same sad story, only a small clicking but the hard line starts it right up.. Hmmm..

If it was a bad ground, which would it be? The battery ground is solid and brand new, and the starter ground is bolted down on the trans like it should be.

I just don't know what could have changed since she brought the car over. She had to jump it with jumper cables but that still involves tuning the key to start the car... Grrr.

Could it be that the battery still isn't charged enough?

 

[crash89]

Is the single wire connector on the solenoid in place *seen here http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-electrical-wiring/298047-2g-engine-bay-electrical-connections-2.html#post151542296

Also make sure this guy is connected securely http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-electrical-wiring/298047-2g-engine-bay-electrical-connections-2.html#post151542290

If it works with a jumper wire but not with the stock wiring, theres your issue. The problem lies somewhere between the starter and battery.

 

[slickers111]

Oh derp. Id imagine that is okay, but will look into it.
I do get lights, (i.e. Batt, e-brake, Coolant) when the key is turned. No CEL though.

 

[Afizzle]

Okay going to check, brb.

Thanks for your help man, always good stuff.

heres a vid I made to see what exactly was going on in there.

It looks like the power cable to thestarter doesnt have the little boot on there, is that an issue?

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtkOgx2mOgw]97 GST Auto - YouTube[/ame]


Check out these pictures. That plug you mentioned is really dirty and gummed up on the inside which could be causing a bad connection. Would you guys usecarb cleaner on htat or an electronic parts cleaner?

Bump

 

[crash89]

Im not sure that carb cleaner would really clean that. I would either go to a junk yard and grab a whole new connector or just cut that out all together and get some male/female connectors and plug the wires to eachother. But, my guess is that connector is your issue.

 

[Afizzle]

Okay, I'll go with the male/female adapters and if it works probably find one in a junkyard as a permanent fix.

It looks like there's only 1 wire going into the back off that nasty clip, how would I go about having two - male/female.. Are there two wires within that wire or should I snip both sides of the clip and do a male/female that way?

Sorry for bad spelling/grammar currently on my phone.

Also I there anyway to test that clip to see if it's for sure bad?

Wait I get you now, just eliminate the clip from the harness and the solenoid itself and wire them directly together?

K got the male/female tips on their still the same problem. This time when I hooked the battery back up, I heard te starter do it's little spinny noise when you hook the battery up. That's the first time I've heard that so maybe I'm getting somewhere.

If the battery were the problem, it wouldn't be able to jump the starter with a hard line right? Or is it easier since all of the other components aren't involved.

Idk I'm at a loss. About to re tip the solenoid on the starter too just so I know it's making good connection and can rule it out.

 

[Afizzle]

After completely rewiring the effin engine bay.. .. I decided to test the wire that plugs into the starter itself to see if its getting power.

Sure enough it reads .06v when trying to start, and 0v otherwise -_-

Should have tested that first. I know the battery/alt/starter are all good, and all wiring is good. The problem is the starter isnt getting enough power when turning the key on.

It is an automatic 2g GST. When turning the key I hear two clicks. One when I turn the key, its coming from the relay by the fuse box under the steering column. The second click is when I turn the key back from trying to start it. It sounded like it was in the engine bay, but I got under the car and now it sounds like its coming from the inside of the car.

I checked the relay behind the radio, its not clicking. The owner or PO of this car has 2 of the wires on the relay spliced into for what I think is either the alarm or the aftermarket stereo. When I touch it and turn the key on it isnt clicking.

Weird thing is I swear I heard it click ONCE but then never again..

Besides the relay, what else could it be preventing the car from starting?

 

[92AWDHX40]

Compression, spark, and check for fuel, fuel pump relay coolant temp sensor, and check the ecu. http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-miscellaneous/217951-how-diagnose-no-start.html

 

[mitsubishikid]

Assuming you had the starter, and solenoid tested at auto parts store and it is known to be good it could be...
1.shorted out wires.
2.bad connections or loose ones,inspect them all.
3.blown fuses or relays check them all.
4.bad ignition switch test it.
give all these a once over.
just remembered check out the clutch start switch, make sure it is not busted or anything.

 

[Afizzle]

Everything works. If I run a jumper cable from the battery to starter I starts and runs fine. The problem is the starter isn't getting power so I'm thinking ignition switch or starter relay.

Do auto 2gs have a starter relay in the same place as 5 speeds? If so it's not clicking when I turn the key and it also has an alarm or stereo system wired into it

 

[crash89]

Okay, I'll go with the male/female adapters and if it works probably find one in a junkyard as a permanent fix.

It looks like there's only 1 wire going into the back off that nasty clip, how would I go about having two - male/female.. Are there two wires within that wire or should I snip both sides of the clip and do a male/female that way?

Sorry for bad spelling/grammar currently on my phone.

Also I there anyway to test that clip to see if it's for sure bad?

Wait I get you now, just eliminate the clip from the harness and the solenoid itself and wire them directly together?

K got the male/female tips on their still the same problem. This time when I hooked the battery back up, I heard te starter do it's little spinny noise when you hook the battery up. That's the first time I've heard that so maybe I'm getting somewhere.

If the battery were the problem, it wouldn't be able to jump the starter with a hard line right? Or is it easier since all of the other components aren't involved.

Idk I'm at a loss. About to re tip the solenoid on the starter too just so I know it's making good connection and can rule it out.

So now the starter just spins? Does not engage the ring gear?

But yes your fourth line, I was saying to just delete the plug and connect the two wires. But with that and the positive wire connected the car should turn over with the key. If not, I really am not sure without being able to be there to help troubleshoot.

 

[stheodore10]

1992 eagle talon tsi awd


have spark, have fuel pressure but when removing fuel rail and cranking, injectors will not fire unless the metal nipple on the tip is depressed... very confused. replaced resistor box, replaced mpi (which is only immediately making one contact on crank), and replaced fuel pump. need serious help

 

[doubleclutch]

My car will not start after it gets sufficiently warm. It cranks normally just will not fire. After it cools it will start and run normally.

One thing I noticed when it is warm but actually will start is that the revs jump higher than they normally do or they do when it is cold.

I have checked and I have spark. I waited till it wouldn't start and disconnected the FPS from the FPR and no change. The idle seems to be high until the car comes to a complete stop then it goes down to normal spots. I do have a CEL but as soon as I turn the key off it resets which makes it really difficult to determine what it is.

Any ideas?

 

[mantega4g63]

check for boost leaks and get that CEL checked, if it comes back FPS i would replace it because mine was doing the exact same thing. the solenoid isn't too expensive from mitsubishi

 

[doubleclutch]

doesn't removing the house from the fpr and having no change rule out the fps?

 

[92AWDHX40]

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

 

[DSM1G90]

Temp sensor is the usual cause for hard hot starts. I was experiencing the same, yet was getting an occasional CEL pointing towards the TS.

Still, replaced the TS and goodbye hard hot starts.

-DSM