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

 

[Anubis_4_99]

If you can push start it, and pop the clutch, and it runs.. and drives, and Idles.. that would make me think the starter is having trouble turning over the engine.

I would find a hammer, or something u can hit the starter with, and smack the starter a few times before you try and start it. This is an easy way to find out if the starter is going bad. Sometimes after smacking the starter, it will crank right up...

Im no pro, just offering help. Good luck!

That is a sign the solenoid is going bad. The starter could still be fine.


If the starter isn't working with the key, check the signal wire, mine wiggles loose every few days because the clip is broken.

If the starter is working, and your having a hard time starting, check the coolant temp sensor. A bad one will cause a hard start issue.

If neither of those are your issue, give a little more info and we can work with you from there.

 

[sins]

So today I was connecting the positive terminal to the battery when one end of the ratchet hit the ecu causing a little spark, now the car won't start. All the dash lights turn on and fuel pump kicks on but doesn't crank, also I checked all fuses n they checked out ok...Any info that could get me going I would apreciate it, thanks in advance.

 

[Anubis_4_99]

So today I was connecting the positive terminal to the battery when one end of the ratchet hit the ecu causing a little spark, now the car won't start. All the dash lights turn on and fuel pump kicks on but doesn't crank, also I checked all fuses n they checked out ok...Any info that could get me going I would apreciate it, thanks in advance.

Pull your ecu out, open it up and see if there is any damage. First place i would start considering you arced the battery on it.

 

[pandaswag]

-_-!!! i have spark and fuel..

Ok guys, my plan tomorrow is to push start it and take it to a local shop and keep it in your prayers that it will be something small like the starter or such. I am a part time worker and i also am starting college so im in dept on cash and only making 100$ a week..

Anyways, i appreciate all the advice and i believe just like all you that it is the starter. Hitting it with a hammer.. probably not going to happen but i appreciate the help.

when the car is parked in neutral and i turn the key nothing happens. my stereo turns on and lights turn on like im going to start the car but no starter activity. when i have the car in gear and i release the clutch while the key is held into the ignition spot i hear a click. this happens where the clutch grabs.

im not sure how else to explain it, but im sure its just the starter. I will keep you guys updated and again i appreciate it.

 

[Anubis_4_99]

-_-!!! i have spark and fuel..

Ok guys, my plan tomorrow is to push start it and take it to a local shop and keep it in your prayers that it will be something small like the starter or such. I am a part time worker and i also am starting college so im in dept on cash and only making 100$ a week..

Anyways, i appreciate all the advice and i believe just like all you that it is the starter. Hitting it with a hammer.. probably not going to happen but i appreciate the help.

when the car is parked in neutral and i turn the key nothing happens. my stereo turns on and lights turn on like im going to start the car but no starter activity. when i have the car in gear and i release the clutch while the key is held into the ignition spot i hear a click. this happens where the clutch grabs.

im not sure how else to explain it, but im sure its just the starter. I will keep you guys updated and again i appreciate it.

Sounds like it's either your clutch switch or your signal wire, but since it sounds like your not willing to wrench on it, let us know what the shop says.

 

[95gst96gsx]

I had the same problem with my gst! Took it to a local mitsubishi guru he said the starter wasn't getting the initial 12v its needed to engage the bendix. So it was more than likely a faulty wire in the fire wall or something of the such. So he showed me a way to bypass it and touch the positive terminal to the little clip that plugs into the starter and it worked. Me and my brother then wired up a push to start button to solve the problem. Hope that helps

 

[pandaswag]

Sounds like it's either your clutch switch or your signal wire, but since it sounds like your not willing to wrench on it, let us know what the shop says.

hopefully something unstressful like that, yes. and yeah im not the "wrench-it" kind of person. (Yet) im 18 this is my second car and my schooling is actually at a community college for AutoTech training. I've always been a guy for cars but i have no true experiences besides oil changes, changing brake lights. shit like that i did in highschool shop. hell, biggest thing i ever did was a radiator swap. but im trying to make a spot for my self amongst the automotive industry.

 

[bryanwheat]

Check for voltage at the battery, you can have enough to run the accessories but not enough to crank the engine over. IF you have a constant 12 volts than next i would try to jump the solenoid at the starter. IF that does nothing and you have voltage present at the starter than you will likely need a starter. By the way, if you can change a radiator than you can easily change a starter.

 

[sins]

Pull your ecu out, open it up and see if there is any damage. First place i would start considering you arced the battery on it.

What do I check for when I open the ecu

I opened the ecu up n there is some kind of protective gel all over so couldn't really see anything in there, do I have to remove it

 

[Merrifast]

check for leaking capacitors. by leaking i mean capacitors that look "bulging". also inspect the board for small burn marks.

 

[Anubis_4_99]

What do I check for when I open the ecu

I opened the ecu up n there is some kind of protective gel all over so couldn't really see anything in there, do I have to remove it

The gel is supposed to be there, like the last guy said look for obvious damage inside.

Burns, bubbles in the gel, etc. If there is nothing there then start testing the starter system.

 

[DarkOne57]

Are you getting air, fuel, and spark? Air is usually a given. Sometimes it is best to start with the basics.

 

[Anubis_4_99]

hopefully something unstressful like that, yes. and yeah im not the "wrench-it" kind of person. (Yet) im 18 this is my second car and my schooling is actually at a community college for AutoTech training. I've always been a guy for cars but i have no true experiences besides oil changes, changing brake lights. shit like that i did in highschool shop. hell, biggest thing i ever did was a radiator swap. but im trying to make a spot for my self amongst the automotive industry.

First work i ever did on one of my own cars was change out a busted rear differential. Gotta get dirty for the first time somewhere.

Like others said you can use a screw driver to arc the terminals of the starter, if that engages it then you have an issue with getting the 12V to the starter. If it doesn't then something is obviously wrong with the starter, or as mentioned the battery could be bad.

 

[92AWDHX40]

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

 

[sins]

Found the problem it was my battery that was no good problem solved!

 

[92AWDHX40]

good glad to hear it was something simple.

 

[sins]

Thanks to everyone that was helping me out.

 

[jd21]

My 91 gsx is really hard to start, im running 550s and a 2g maf. The car will start after a couple mins but idles around 2000 rpms. I have the safc set to zero and currently just have a downpipe on the car i need to finish welding the exhaust. Could the exhaust not being on make it hard to start and run really rough thanks for any help.

 

[DSMlover2011]

No, the exhaust isn't causing the problem. Please be as specific as possible with the symptoms of the problem. What work have you done on the car lately? Did the car start having an issue after it had previously been running fine? Is check engine light on? The more information you provide the better.

 

[pandaswag]

Clutch switch disabled. Car starts right up now.

 

[dalesocks]

He obviously has spark and fuel if he let it idle for half an hour. Read the post before offering advice

maybe I didn't read the whole thing, but you could be running on 3 cyl under no load(idle) and not run too bad.

 

[jd21]

When I purchased the car it haddent been running for 7 years. I put everything back together changed all the fluids drained the gas tank and put in a new fuel lifter along with a 255. The ecu was junk so I replaced it with an eprom and finally got it to start its been doing this the whole time even if I try another ecu it does the same thing. When you crank it for the first time it just cranks, the second time it will backfire. After that I try again and it still just backfires. Then it will fire up for about 5 sec and die out. Try it again and it will run but very rough and wants to stall someone please help sorry for any miss spelling and grammar I cannot type on my phone.

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

It would be a good idea to check the resistance of the coolant temperature sensor. It can send a false temperature reading to the ecu causing it to run too rich. That's what it sounds like with the hard start and backfiring. If the sensor tests out okay you may want to check the wires as they like to get brittle and break off where they attach to the connector on the sensor.

Take a look at these threads. Good luck!

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/mai...unning-really-rich-start.html?highlight=start

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/new...perature-sensor.html?highlight=coolant+sensor

 

[CrawlinZX14]

He had a bad neutral safety switch. Next time something like that happens, PM me. I live maybe an hour away from you. and there is a few dozen DSM guys around too.

When you say it wont start unless you push start it, its either the starter or the neutral safety switch. Most people will start with the neutral safety switch since its easy, cheap and quick. If not go to starter. With cars nearly 20+ years old, the wiring starts to degrade and the signal wire from the IGN will become to weak to engage the starter sol. There is a "hack" rewire you can do to that with a relay that generally solves that problem. Then if thats not the case, the ever popular "tap" on the starter will tell you if the gear is stuck. As a jolt to the body of the starter will normally free it up temporarily.

 

[kennyp]

I have a 95 gst that wont start. Its got a new fuel pump, new cam and cranks sensors. Its got spark and the fuel injectors are working. When you crank it, it tries to start but dies immediately. I think its either the timing or the pcm is bad. Im not sure what else to check before i move on.