washed engine. No spark.

[dodgevanamn]

So I have some oil leaks. So I decided to degrease under the hood. so I covered the mafs and got to work the leaks were on the front side so I tried to stay away from any electrical stuff gotter all cleaned up let her dry for about a half hour started right up ran for about 10 mins and died now its not getting spark. What should I check?

Its a 1991 Eclipse Gs T

Thanks

 

[skatershawn]

check you CAS, Coil Pack, and Your Power Transistor

 

[dodgevanamn]

How do I check them? Sorry im 17 and new to dsms

 

[Demon33]

check you CAS, Coil Pack, and Your Power Transistor

I agree^

Also, check to make sure there is no water in the spark plug wells. If there is, blow it out with compressed air. Water in the plug wells will interfere with the electrical current reaching the plugs.

If you're new to DSMs or cars in general, you NEED to have a repair manual and tools if you're going to work on them yourself. At the very leaset, I suggest getting a repair manual. You can also find PDF versions of the factory manuals online. I don't have a link for you, but if you do a google search you'll find them.

 

[dodgevanamn]

I have a repair manual....ok thanks

I dont understand how to check cas.... I dosnt have spark to the end of wires

 

[MOTOR-RX]

A general note when washing a engine leave it running.

Not to insult you but you said you were new to auto mechanics.

just curious how are you checking for spark.

car is turning over correct

 

[Doubleot]

A general note when washing a engine leave it running.

Not to insult you but you said you were new to auto mechanics.

just curious how are you checking for spark.

car is turning over correct

WRONG! If you leave a car running when washing it down with cold water your risking it cracking, or warping the head.
I've washed my engine before it wasn't bad at all.
I just sprayed engine degreaser all over, let it soak and grabbed my hose then with a very light shower spray washed it off.
Your supposed to cover the more important electronic things
Fuse box
Battery
intake
Cas
etc.

 

[92AWDHX40]

there is a great chance your coil pack got wet, been there i know.

 

[MOTOR-RX]

I have washed hundereds of motors mostly subaru motors and never turned off car. always ran at operating temperature.

What is going to crack from water.

do you have a undertray on your car. what about when it rains or if you hit a puddle?


I Did not say blast it with all the pressure you could either

and obiously stay away from major electrical components

 

[Doubleot]

I have washed hundereds of motors mostly subaru motors and never turned off car. always ran at operating temperature.

What is going to crack from water.

do you have a undertray on your car. what about when it rains or if you hit a puddle?


I Did not say blast it with all the pressure you could either

and obiously stay away from major electrical components

I seriously doubt rain or snow will reach the head.
IMO I still wouldn't wash it running.
To everyone their own.

 

[MOTOR-RX]

I learned it from a turtle wax locally when i lived in chicago. But you are right what ever works best for you.

All i know is ive never had a head crack or a car not run from washing it the way i do it.

 

[dodgevanamn]

I checked spark with the old screwdriver in wire trick. I ohmed the wires there fine. then i changed the cas and coil pack....and its been dead since saturday morning so it should have been dried out....still nothing

 

[falcon8r]

I washed my talon several years ago and blasted the cas and that was that. The pressure and the Sensor do not mix. Got a used one off evilbay and it started right up. Now I know. Tres...

 

[dodgevanamn]

ive already tried that

OK I check voltage on the plug in to the coil the top one of the 3 had power is this right?

 

[dodgevanamn]

Ok so I bought another power transistor becouse mine tested bad. hooked it up and I still have no spark. It has to be all dried out its been dead for a week and a half. any ideas?

 

[GooeyGus]

Do you have a check engine light on?

99% of failures after engine washing is cam sensor failure. You said you replaced it. Where did you get the replacement from? They are ridiculously expensive from auto parts stores. I just want to make sure you're talking about the right sensor.

Also, did you make sure the orientation of the sensor was correct if you did replace it? It adjusts timing if it is rotated, so it needs to be adjusted until it's correct.

Water in the engine bay turns to steam after you start the car again. This steam condenses in the optical pickup of the cam sensor and ruins or disables it. This is why the car started perfectly then died a few minutes later.

If you have a check engine light on, get the codes. Then you will have a definitive answer.

 

[dodgevanamn]

The cas on the left side of the head it was a used one the injectors tick when I turn it. I got on all data and did all the steps of testing the wiring to the coil and power transistor as well as the parts themselves. all tested good but still no spark.
The light is on but I dont know how to pull the codes....

 

[GooeyGus]

Pulling the codes is easy. Look under your dash, by where your left foot would be. There is a plug down there that isn't plugged into anything. It may have a black rubber cover on it or attached to it.

Using an analog multimeter (you need to be able to see the needle swing) connect the positive lead to the pin that is all alone, in one corner of the connector. Connect your ground to the exact opposite pin. So if you're looking at the connector such that the lonely pin is at the top right, your ground will be the bottom left.

You can also connect a buzzer or an LED to those pins instead of a multimeter.

Now you just count the swings of the needle (or flashes or beeps if you use an LED or buzzer)

You will get a series of long and short flashes. The long flashes are your first digit, the short is your second.

SO: long - long - long - short would equal 31 (which I think is knock sensor...)

Long - long - short - short - short would equal 23 (not sure if that is even an actual code or not, but you get the idea.)

A healthy ECU will just have one short pulse repeating. An ECU with an internal ECU fault will put out one steady voltage ( no pulses at all)

There is a list of all the codes and their meanings around here somewhere or in the VFAQ or maybe the "1000 already answered questions" FAQ.

 

[dodgevanamn]

I pulled up a 22 which is a crankshaft position sensor. I thought my car only had a cam position sensor!?

When I pull the cas and turn it by hand the fuel pump turns on and the injectors start firing. but im pulling a code 22 which is crank sensor. I used the chilton manual to check the harness and it was fine.....

 

[GooeyGus]

Weird... there must be some other issue with that sensor or the wiring going to it then... Something isn't right.

When you turn the sensor with the key in the on position, do you also hear the fuel pump click on?

If not, that part of the sensor could be bad, causing the no-start.