help! car cranks but wont start!

[talontedEcLiPsE]

last night i tried to start my 91 gst up to go out, and the thing wouldnt start! it worked fine all day long, but not this time. At first, it almost started up and then died down, almost like I took my hand off the key too soon. Then when I try to start it, it just keeps cranking, sounds like normal cranking just wont turn over. I checked the timing belt (which was just replaced) and that was fine, then I checked the far left spark plug for spark, and it sparks fine. Then, after I had pushed it into my garage, I noticed a rapid quiet ticking coming from the dash, pretty much behind the radio. Now last night it was raining pretty hard and my airbox is modified(chopped up). I was thinking maybe water got into the intake or something got wet, but its been sitting in the garage all night so I think it should be dry. In a minute, I'm going to check the fuel regulator and then the injectors to make sure they are working ok, then I'll probably hit it with a hair dryer. Does anybody know what could be going on? Thanks for the help!

[ashah000]

have you tried to kick start the car

[talontedEcLiPsE]

no....my friend is coming over later and we could try that, although for some reason i doubt that it would start.

[goyal99]

I also posted a while back about my '91 Eclipse GS 2.0L 16V not starting but cranking fine.....I have no spark at the plugs (you seem to have spark at least)....I did not get any replies to my problem but I think my ECU is probably toast...I took it of the car and opened it just to check it out...I saw a black area inside the ECU which looks like something was leaking....I have ordered another used ECU box and I will give it a try as soon as I get it.

I'm not sure what your particular problem is but you might want to check the cranckshaft position sensor. This sensor tells the ECU if the cranckshaft is at the correct position. If it's off for some reason then the car will not start....

Also check the MPI fuse (20Amps) by the positive battery terminal.

Check to see if you're getting fuel (maybe your fuel pump is toast).

My original post is at:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=154025

Let us know if you find out what the problem is....A lot of people have problems with their cars not starting because of electrical issues or ECU problems.... Best of luck.....

VK

[talontedEcLiPsE]

well i just had the car running, and cant get it started again. The ecu(i think) is not ticking anymore, when I got home from work i pulled all the spark plugs out and sprayed starter fluid into the cylinders and then into the throttle body. put everything back together and it started and ran fine. Drove about 10 miles with no problems. When I came back home I shut it off and then tried to start it again, crank but no start. I figure that the cold weather could be affecting the spark plugs, so i then went out and got 4 bpr6es...still no start, although its trying to. I think maybe its just some bad gas...sunday night I had about 1/4 of a tank, and I filled it up with 91octane super unleaded...maybe it just mixed with the old tank of gas and thatsa how it ran fine for the 2 days until it hit the new gas. If i can get it to start tomorrow, I'll empty the tank and put fresh gas in...$#%@% $1.67 a gallon.....I hope its just bad gas, but then I kinda hope its the fuel pump so I can hit up the walboro website and get a 255. If anyone knows anything about this update on the "problem" just let me kno thanks

[djextreme68]

hey, i have the same problem but i have a 97 eclpise gs with alot of engine mods, but i was driveing down the road and the alternator belt snapped and i went and replaced and reset the time b/c it was nocked off and i have spark and all the fuses are good and i can't figure out whats wrong soo if any body knows please plesase replay.
thanks
matt

[hodunwun]

Originally Posted by djextreme68

hey, i have the same problem but i have a 97 eclpise gs with alot of engine mods, but i was driveing down the road and the alternator belt snapped and i went and replaced and reset the time b/c it was nocked off and i have spark and all the fuses are good and i can't figure out whats wrong soo if any body knows please plesase replay.
thanks
matt

Assuming you guys are getting spark, check fuel flow at the inlet from the fuel filter to the fuel rail. Also check at fitting before the fuel filter on the firewall. There is also a fuel pump lead connection the will by pass other controls to the pump to test it. Check the manual. I forget exactly where it is. It's near the firewall in back of the battery if memory serves me right. Also run the codes with an analog voltmeter at the ecu connector near the underdash fuse holder. You will need the book for the right pins. There is a code for a bad ecu also. I just don't remember. There is a place in Fla that will test your ecu for nothing {you pay shipping} They will repair it for a standard price of $150 with a year warrantee. However, they cannot repair the logic chip itself inside the box. http://carcomputers.netfirms.com/ They specialize in Eclipse set ups. And they are friendly. And let us know what you find.

[djextreme68]

Originally Posted by hodunwun

Assuming you guys are getting spark, check fuel flow at the inlet from the fuel filter to the fuel rail. Also check at fitting before the fuel filter on the firewall. There is also a fuel pump lead connection the will by pass other controls to the pump to test it. Check the manual. I forget exactly where it is. It's near the firewall in back of the battery if memory serves me right. Also run the codes with an analog voltmeter at the ecu connector near the underdash fuse holder. You will need the book for the right pins. There is a code for a bad ecu also. I just don't remember. There is a place in Fla that will test your ecu for nothing {you pay shipping} They will repair it for a standard price of $150 with a year warrantee. However, they cannot repair the logic chip itself inside the box. http://carcomputers.netfirms.com/ They specialize in Eclipse set ups. And they are friendly. And let us know what you find.

i am getting fuel but i am going to check it to be sure if u have any other ideas please tell me.
thanks
matt

[hodunwun]

Originally Posted by djextreme68

i am getting fuel but i am going to check it to be sure if u have any other ideas please tell me.
thanks
matt

Just ideas: When it won't start, like after you have run it for awhile, have you actually tested for both spark and fuel? If no fuel, rule out the fuel filter, run the pump for a while with the bipass check line, [see below] pressure and flow from pump, [remember that the pressure regulator is going to demand a certain pressure and if that pressure is not there from the pump then no gas to rail. this means that you may see some fuel flow by removing a line before the regulator but still not have enough pressure.]

I have a wiring diagram for a 90 gs turbo and it shows an 'mpi' relay and in it is a relay for the fuel pump. This mpi relay is located right next to the ecu below the radio in the 90. Maybe it is what you heard ticking. It could be when it cools down or gets warm, it doesn't work properly. I am not sure this circuit pertains exactly to your car. The Haynes manual for 90 to 94 models has bench test procedures for this relay in Chapter 6 along with all the sensors. Fuel pressure check and the test terminal instructions for the fuel pump are at Chapter 4 section 3. It looks like this test terminal is behind the battery on the firewall side. Connect 12 volts from the plus side of the battery for this test and listen for the pump at the gas tank inlet. It may be that your problem is intermittant so it is important to do these tests soon after the engine won't start. Hope this helps.

[kjewer1]

Take out the ECU. Takes 4 minutes. Open it up, and see if the caps are leaking. This is a VERY common problem on 1gs, and even 2gs now that they are getting up htere in the years. There is a vfaq on it this is so common. May not be your problem, but worth every minute it takes to look into it. In fact, I recomend that every 1g owner that reads this take a few minutes to check out theinside of your ECU. If the caps are just starting to leak, its a 20 dolar fix at most. Over time, the crap that leaks out destroys the board, and then it becomes 10 times more expensive to fix

[djextreme68]

i am getting fuel and spark but i am going to check the pressure to make sure

[djextreme68]

will, i had one of my moms friends look at it. it happened to be the back cam the rocker arms were all broke so we are hoping that it is that

[djextreme68]

just an update it was the rocker arms, the valves were bent, the head was cracked and the last thing the water pump

[EclipseRST]

ouch!!

[djextreme68]

i hate to tell everyone but my tranny just went to.