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

 

[SteGerHPI]

The black clip on connector to the starter always gets loose and corroded. cut it off and just put on a regular female spade connector. I've had to do that on atleast 3 DSMs before including mine.

 

[v8s_are_slow]

Okay, I found the problem. When the car wouldn't start, I wondered if maybe it was the neutral safety switch. So I crawled under the dash and disconnected the wire. Guessing it wasn't the right wire? Or it doesn't wire up the same as on 1g's? I dunno. Anyway, I just plugged it back in and it fired right up. I'm sure it was my starter that was bad to begin with but not sure why it didn't fire up when I had the wire at the clutch disconnected. I even put my old starter relay back in just to check and make sure and it worked with that one as well. So taking that back to get my money back. Anyway, thanks for the help though. I love Tuners

 

[AK-49GSX]

when i push in the clutch and turn the key to my ignition all of my dash board lights turn on and when i try starting it i hear a click but won't even turn over to attempt starting. however, starts up when you don't drive for a few hours.

I checked fuses and connections to battery and made sure everything was tight also tried jumping the battery when failing to start. I was thinking maybe the starter is toast or perhaps the alternator since i'm able to roll start it and drives fine. any advice would be great.

 

[JDog_27]

Sounds like alternator. Have it tested. Either that's the culprit or it'll rule it out. Same symptoms as me about a month ago.

 

[tweek814]

If it wont jumpstart, its not the alternator.

If its not an electrical issue its probably the starter.

 

[95'RS-T]

+1 to the starter

 

[davidreckless]

What I was told to do is have someone try to start the car while you spray starting fluid into the intake for 2-3 seconds. If it starts and then stops after you stop spraying then it is fuel. The fluid can be found at Advanced Auto Parts or any related store. I hope I was some help. I'm new to the whole posting thing on here, and I am also having my own problems with the starting situation. I just pulled the starter and I might be looking at buying a new starter and flywheel, and possibly even a new clutch. Good luck man and best of wishes.

 

[vinnio]

What I was told to do is have someone try to start the car while you spray starting fluid into the intake for 2-3 seconds. If it starts and then stops after you stop spraying then it is fuel. The fluid can be found at Advanced Auto Parts or any related store. I hope I was some help. I'm new to the whole posting thing on here, and I am also having my own problems with the starting situation. I just pulled the starter and I might be looking at buying a new starter and flywheel, and possibly even a new clutch. Good luck man and best of wishes.

The car wont even turn over so the starting fluid wont do anything.

Im having the same problem right now so I hope you find an answer and post up your solution. Check all the cables for any shorts or grounds and go from there. Make sure you have ~12 volts at the battery and at the starter.

Can anyone verify... the MPI relay (think its called that) could cause this issue right? Whats the easiest way to test that sucker?

 

[Widget]

Its possible the starter is going bad , try to bench bump it ( run a line down to it and have a friend connect it to the battery,,,,be sure its in neutral) if that works could be the relay/solinoid . just a thought GL

 

[ClassicalBor]

I would also first check the starter.

Most times a starter wont simply DIE, it will wear out over a small period of time then not work at all... in most cases.

Here is a simple test. Next time you get in your car like normal and try to start and nothing happens, go under the car to where the starter is tucked up behind your tranny, with a wrench and moderately tap on it for about 10 seconds. Go back in your car and try to start it, if it starts right up on the first or second try, its your starter going bad.

If your car isnt too lowered, you can usually get to the starter without jacking up the car anyways. Just have long enough reach.

 

[vinnio]

Well I fixed my problem... Turns out the smaller cable at the starter was bent too close to the positive battery cable. I think they were arcing out. Bent her back and haven't had any issues since (only been two days though)

OP, Good luck! BTW the wrench/hammer idea said above should work if the starter actually is the culprit.

 

[SnprSlick]

I just got done putting my head back on after a rebuild. Timing is good. Starter and relay are good. Battery is good. all the sensors are plugged in. I cant get this thing to crank at all. There is no click from the starter but I've checked it and its fine. Any other suggestions?

 

[gofer]

The battery voltage should be 11 to 12V and make 100% sure the starter is plugged in correctly, there are (3) wires going to it which are red, black, & black with a yellow stripe. If your 100% sure of the above then I'd unplug the clutch cut switch and see if that does the trick. Odds are your starter isn't connected correctly since you probably unplugged those connections doing the head install.

 

[SnprSlick]

The battery voltage should be 11 to 12V and make 100% sure the starter is plugged in correctly, there are (3) wires going to it which are red, black, & black with a yellow stripe. If your 100% sure of the above then I'd unplug the clutch cut switch and see if that does the trick. Odds are your starter isn't connected correctly since you probably unplugged those connections doing the head install.

I actually never had to disconnect the wires from the starter. So they were never mixed up. And my car is A/T so I dont have a clutch switch. The battery was reading 12.54 volts. But I actually got someone else to turn the key for me. When you let off the key theres a very very very weak click from the starter follwed by 3 more on the right side of the car.

 

[gofer]

Make sure the connector for your Neutral safety switch is plugged in. Its the big plug circled in the below picture...

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[SnprSlick]

Make sure the connector for your Neutral safety switch is plugged in. Its the big plug circled in the below picture...

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Is that the big switch that plugs into the transmission? If so, it's connected.

 

[gofer]

Thats the one. When you turn the key to the "ON" position all the dash lights come on, the CEL illuminates for 5 seconds and then goes out, then you turn the key to start it and nothing?

Try cycling your A/T shifter through the gears with the key in the "ON" position and the double tapping it UP into P then start it.

 

[SnprSlick]

All the lights on the dash except the CEL come on.

 

[gofer]

The CEL should illuminate when you turn the key to the "ON" position, not the ACC so make sure your clicking it twice not just once. If it really isn't coming on when you turn the key to "ON" you might actually have a bad ECU, capacitor's leaking can damage the CEL output.

Pull out your ECU and open it up, if your unsure what leaking caps look like take a picture of the ECU board if you can and I'll see if I can spot anything. If you have a DSM buddy with a 2g ask if you can borrow their ECU and see if the car starts up.

 

[SnprSlick]

Really stupid question incoming. Where's the 2g ecu?

 

[gofer]

2g ECU Removal

 

[SnprSlick]

Pulled it out and everything is good on the board. Are there any harnesses that go to the ecu in the engine bay I might have missed?

EDIT:
I had the engine fuse pulled so I could prime the oil and all that. I put it back in and the check engine light is on now. But the car doesnt start.

 

[gofer]

The ECU is good then, the car won't start with the same symptoms as before or it turns over now? The MOTOR fuse being removed should still allow the engine to turn over so nothing other than the fact that the CEL illuminates should have changed, I'm just making sure its still the same issue though.

 

[SnprSlick]

The ECU is good then, the car won't start with the same symptoms as before or it turns over now? The MOTOR fuse being removed should still allow the engine to turn over so nothing other than the fact that the CEL illuminates should have changed, I'm just making sure its still the same issue though.

The only thing thats changed is that the fuel pump makes it nice little whirring noise. other than that its still followed by the weak clicks after you stop pushing the key.


Heres a tasty image of what I found on my starter earlier. Looks good to eat.

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[pickaso]

Need some help… I have a 1990 Eagle Talon w/ Turbo that I purchased with a lot of work done to it and a lot of work needed to do to it in 2006. The car seemed fine. 3 days after purchase the car the transmission slipped and snapped the bell housing mount off and twisted in place. I replaced the clutch that was damaged and had the piece put back on as good as it could be. After this the vehicle worked fine until the vehicle seemed fine for months. Then suddenly I had issues. The vehicle seemed to jerk and stall a lot. After months of trying to figure this out I found that a connection was loose that cannot be mounted correctly due to damage. I fixed this issue. Then the car just started acting funny.
Sense 2008 I have moved three times. I moved from the state of WA (Washington) where I originally had the car to CA (California) now to NM (New Mexico). The car has not worked sense 2007-2008 with brief periods of operation in between. My brother visited in 2008 for a trip and the car started and ran before the trip. When I came home after a week the car would not re-start. I thought it was the computer but It ran every once and a while so I assumed the computer couldn’t be the problem. I was going to even replace ithe computer once but then the car just randomly started. I have replaced following parts with little to no effect:
new Battery
new Coil Pack
new Cam Position sensor
new spark plugs
new spark plug wires
new fuel filter (in line, in engine bay)
new oil filer
new air filter
Can anyone please give me ideas why my car will still not start? Is it the computer or is it something worse? The car turns over like a champ but I tested for spark and got nothing. Please feel free to include links to extra info or any thing else that may help me. Maybe I am missing something. Please message me. Also feel free to email me at [email protected]

Note: I believe this was a Gen 1 vehicle fitted with the Gen 2 and 2.0 twin cam turbo engine and front clip. Im not sure - never got the full history. When I picked up the vehicle alot of the cosmetics where all ready done. And the car obviously worked.