Car wont start.

[TurboDomestics]

I just went out and checked the ground straps, all 3 are in place.

I double checked the spark, and now it was sparking, slightly. Not vey intense sparks but it does spark a bit.

I tried to crank it over, and now it will sputter a bit, every once in awhile, but it wont start up yet.

I tried to pour some gas into the cylinders, and I think its sparking that fuel. So it will sputter but, I dont think the injectors are opening.

[tim]

How are you checking for spark? A spark tester or just grounding a plug? If the spark is weak just by grounding a plug it definitely won't fire when it is under pressure in the cylinder. Get yourself a spark tester and set it to like a half inch to make sure your coil pack is providing the power that is needed.

[TurboDomestics]

How are you checking for spark? A spark tester or just grounding a plug? If the spark is weak just by grounding a plug it definitely won't fire when it is under pressure in the cylinder. Get yourself a spark tester and set it to like a half inch to make sure your coil pack is providing the power that is needed.


thanks for the help. :D

But she fired up!!!


YAY!!

There was a wire going to my engine coolant sensor that was broken, I soldered that up, and she started up. :D :D :D

Now time to go figure out what that CEL was.

[TheBlizzard]

The CEL was the coolant temp sensor most likely.

[Wizard]

Odd, a bad coolant temp sender (even to the ECU, since 1g's have 4 of them) shouldn't have prevented it from starting.

Wiz

[Kracka]

Odd, a bad coolant temp sender (even to the ECU, since 1g's have 4 of them) shouldn't have prevented it from starting.

Wiz

Actually yes, an unplugged coolant temp sensor can cause the car to not start. the ECU adjusts fuel/spark depending on the engine temp. A cold engine requires a lot more fuel to start than a warm engine does.

[Halon]

Glad to see you got it fixed. I hope my starting problem has a happy ending like yours did. I am thinking I have an ECU issue. I already sent it off to get looked at. But glad yours works man!

[TheBlizzard]

Odd, a bad coolant temp sender (even to the ECU, since 1g's have 4 of them) shouldn't have prevented it from starting.

Wiz
Depends on how warm/cold it is outside. If it is below 30 degrees F the car will most likely not start. If the coolant temp sensor is bad the ECU thinks the temp is 600 degree F or some high number like that. This will prevent the ECU from seeing that it is cold outside thus not enrichening the car enough to start.

If it is warmer outside, the car will usually start with a faulty coolant temp sensor. But once you get it running it will require you to feather the throttle for a little bit. Then you should see a CEL and it will start running decent. Once you see the CEL the ECU will switch to a fail safe fuel map to get the car to idle and run without dieing. I wouldn't trust it though.

[TurboDomestics]

Glad to see you got it fixed. I hope my starting problem has a happy ending like yours did. I am thinking I have an ECU issue. I already sent it off to get looked at. But glad yours works man!


Yeah, its not a very happy ending. It still has choppy acceleration, cant go into reverse, and a bunch of other stuff that Im going to figure out tonight. ;)

[Matt D.]

Glad to hear, Charlie. Make good use of that car now. :)