car won't start. i need help

xenophon · Aug 10, 2005

I need help asap, because i'm stack at the office.

I was going to write this thread in the morning, but i didn't get time at work.
Now i'm desperade because my car won't start at all.

It's been a week since my car started to give me a hard time to start. It actually needed too much effort and several tries to start most of the time, which was usually after it sitted for somewhat of hours.

Same thing just happen right now where it sitted for 4-5 hours in the parking garage. Sounds just fine, ignition cranks fine as usual, battery looks just fine, but even if i keep trying now it won't start at all. Too many tries and effort is not enough this time.

Can anyone help me on this one. any ideas please.

As far i can understand it looks to me that it has to do with the fuel system. Maybe the spark plugs, i don't know. If it's true how can i check it?

Thanks in advance

blackEagle · Aug 10, 2005

When you turn the key to 'on', do you hear the fuel pump? Check the plugs for a spark.

It also could be the PIP inside the distributor on the fritz.

xenophon · Aug 10, 2005

I don't remember about the fuel pump but i know what you are talking about. The whistle coming from the back right? I'll go check that right now.

How can i check the plugs for a spark?
And also what is the PIP inside the distributer fritz? I didn't understand you there.

Thanks

blackEagle · Aug 10, 2005

xenophon said:
I don't remember about the fuel pump but i know what you are talking about. The whistle coming from the back right? I'll go check that right now.

How can i check the plugs for a spark?
And also what is the PIP inside the distributer fritz? I didn't understand you there.

Thanks

The fuel pump should have an audible hum or buzz when the key is on.

The PIP aka stator is the sensor inside the distributor that the EEC uses to tell when to fire the coil (works in principle like the old school points setup). These often go bad on our cars and cause a no start condition.

check the plug wires to see if they're in good condition, also the rotor and dist cap. The coil could be bad as well.

xenophon · Aug 10, 2005

I'm not sure if i can check all that, or even find them.
I'm not even at home with any tools.
All i can find here is a voltmeter if i can get some instructions.

Can you please help me out a little more?

blackEagle · Aug 10, 2005

First, when you turn the key on, do you hear the fuel pump? If not, that's one of your problems.

When was the fuel filter last changed? It may be clogged (no fuel to the engine). This may be a issue if the fuel pump is ok.

The others require tools to do the analysis. If your're stuck at work, time to call the tow truck

BTW: the fuel pump saftey switch may be tripped. Check in the trunk on the drivers side behind the panel (you must pull the carpeting away to see it) and reset it.

xenophon · Aug 10, 2005

i hear the fuel pump. Sounds like normal.
Fuel filter last changed a couple of years ago.
And there is half tank of gas in the there.

what do you mean by the safety switch tripped?
I'll go check this right now.

Hef5.0weisen · Aug 10, 2005

fuelpump wouldn't come on if the switch was open....but yours is so...
no tools huh....find something metal that will fit in a plug boot, pull one off, insert,hole it by the plug boot, put it close to something metal, have someone crank over. DON"T TOUCH said metal object. You should see a spark jumping the gap. Push on the schrader valve, fuel should spray out, watch the eyes with that one. Hope that helps a bit, office huh, one of those Cross pens may work for the spark thingy. should narrow it down between fuel/spark...good luck, be careful

HISSIN50 · Aug 10, 2005

an old spark plug works well for checking spark firing.

xenophon · Aug 11, 2005

well here's the story...

I got AAA in to tow me home because couldn't go anywhere and do much there.
We ended up pushing the car outside the garage and right before he was about to put the car on the tow truck i thought i try to start it and it worked. I figured out that pushing the car the fuel moved around and helped it start.

So i drive home and after 15 minutes i go try to start it again. It needed 2 tries but it started again. Thing is that it would do this to me again and times by times it would give me a hard time to start or not start at all.

Another thing i figured out is that the more i leave the key to on before i crank the more chances to start. So maybe it has to do with the pressure of the fuel pump, losing it every time the car is sitting.

I better start checking more of what you suggested.
By the way i press the red safety switch at some point but i don't know if it made any change. Looks like not.

Brake Max auto care center suggested to make a compete check of the car for $70.
Do you think that it worth it. What i'm afraid of is the cost they will chargte me to fix any problem they find. Should i just take it to them?

HISSIN50 · Aug 11, 2005

I would spend the money on a diagnostic fuel pressure gauge instead (20-40 bucks at the parts store).

If you have a gear-head friend, perhaps they can help you. You want the car to be safe, so I wont suggest one way or the other on what you should do (you will get 100 opinions saying to do it yourself, I bet).

You can do diagnostics yourself though and perhaps save yourself some cash with that and even R/R'ing parts.

Good luck.

Hef5.0weisen · Aug 11, 2005

think you mentioned this, but does the car crank all the time or sometimes just click? Food for thought, mine was giving me fits for a while, sometimes jsut clicked, like a low batt. Swapped batts with a fried to t-shoot, same thing, loose ground came to mind. sure enough the ground to the starter was loose, nut actaully fell off in the last 7 years. good luck

95blackstanggt · Aug 11, 2005

help

replace the batt termals

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