93 Geo Metro - Won't start/stay running

I have a 93 Geo Metro. The problem started off a few months back and progressively got worse. It would run and die, or only start if jumped off and it had to charge the battery long time.

We replaced the Ignition Coil, the Alternator and the Battery. It now acts like it wants to turn over but wont. Its been sitting for two months now and we just ran a code on it. It came back a 12 - however I havent found out what that means yet.

If you have any suggestions, please help. I miss driving my car! Thank you!

Code 12 is Normal.......No malfunctions reported in the ECM (Computer) however, since you state that the battery has been drained, any other codes that the ECM Might of had in it were probably erased with the battery being dead. The car needs to be started and driven until it warms up in order for the ECM to diagnose any other faults in the system. Did you have a CEL (Check engine light) staying On while driving the car before? I would check and make sure both your Neg Battery cable where it grounds (Bolted on) at the block is clean (Remove the Nut, then clean the cable end with a wire brush), and also, Disconnect the Positive battery cable at the battery 1st, then disconnect the Positive battery cable at the Starter post and clean that well with a wire brush also....Then, with a fully charged battery, try and turn the car over. If it cranks over good, that was your problem....If not, I would suspect you have a bad starter motor. Do you have a 12V test light? If so, connect it and see if it lights up by sticking it to the Pos battery terminal where the Pos battery terminal bolts onto the Starter post....This will tell you that your getting 12V to the starter, but with a new (I Assume the parts you replaced were new?) battery and alternator, the battery should be staying charged if the car starts unless you have poor connections in the cables. Otherwise, if the car starts on a fully charged battery, then runs for awhile (20mins or so) then dies.....The battery is not being charged.....Bad alternator or worn/loose belt or poor wiring connections at the alternator.

Hopefully this may help you....

You may very well have totally different problems than I had with my '93 Metro
3 cylinder - but then again maybe the same!

If you have the patience to read thru my thread(s) on fixing my '93 Geo Metro
(which I eventually did fix!) , have a look at:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=611713

which is long and then goes to:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t613410.html

and then essentially ends with my car running well:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=645309

To make a Long Story Short - My '93 Metro exhibited the same problems and
had essentially two faults.

1. The valves of cylinder 1 and 2 were bad (burned) and gave very poor compression.
Apparently this is "normal" for Geo Metro 3 cylinder engines at about 150,000 miles.
The car won't run any longer with that problem.....

You can have the Cylinder Head fixed for around $250 - not counting the cost of Labor if
you have someone else do it.

2. The "MAP" sensor was also bad - when I eventually replaced mine with
exactly the same part number MAP, my Metro ran like a top!
Like NEW !!!
"MAP" = Manifold Absolute Pressure (sensor)

If you don't have one, go buy a Chilton or Haynes Manual at Shucks or NAPA for maybe $15.
Very useful to have and consult with....

So...It is up to you.

I would either do or have done a Cylinder Compression Test! That will tell you
if it is problem number 1.

If you Check Engine Light is not blinking 23 or 25, then the MAP Sensor is OK - Probably.

If you are mechanically inclined, the whole thing wasn't so bad at all in my case.

I hope this gives you some leads on your problem.

DoctorBill