96 Eclipse Randomly Stopped Running PLZ HELP

[aSyLuM32]

1996 Eclipse GSX - 40,000 miles.

Okay... Heres what I know, I've owned this car for about 2 months and I have taken it to multiple mechanics to make sure nothing is wrong with this car... It is in SHOWCAR condition and has never had any problems until all of the sudden. I woke up this morning to go to work, start my car, back out of the driveway, put it in 1st and start to go and I can already feel that something is wrong, It didnt seem to be getting any power, like as if I wasn't even stepping on the gas, and it seems to be making a very light knocking sound near the engine. It isnt knocking though, its more of a high pitched flapping sound like ive never heard before

Anyways, i pull it over after driving about 15 feet. Turn it off, look under the hood to see nothing visibly wrong with it. I start it up and it stays on for about 4 seconds (still running like its out of gas, and making that wierd clicking/knocking sound) then it dies again. I cannot get the car to stay on without dying for more than 20 seconds now...

ANY IDEAS at ALL?

[MazdaX]

possibly a vacuum or boost leak. just because it has low miles doesn't mean time wont have any effect on it.

[aSyLuM32]

Originally Posted by MazdaX

possibly a vacuum or boost leak. just because it has low miles doesn't mean time wont have any effect on it.

But would a vacuum or boost leak cause a strange knocking sound? :S

And If that was the problem, what would be causing it? what would I need to start looking at to replace

[aSyLuM32]

Okay I have come to a very vague conclusion... If I unplug the battery for a while and then plug it back in and try again (resetting the computer) the car will stay running for about 3 to 4 minutes, but still feels like there is NO power and still makes the wierd knocking sound. So the computer is obviously shutting down the car because of whatever problem it is recognizing...

[defiancy]

Originally Posted by aSyLuM32

Okay I have come to a very vague conclusion... If I unplug the battery for a while and then plug it back in and try again (resetting the computer) the car will stay running for about 3 to 4 minutes, but still feels like there is NO power and still makes the wierd knocking sound. So the computer is obviously shutting down the car because of whatever problem it is recognizing...

Either that or the ECU is the problem.

Wen it runs for 3 to 4 minutes, does it throw any codes? I would also double check all the intercooler piping and the intake system to make sure nothing came apart.

[aSyLuM32]

Originally Posted by defiancy

Either that or the ECU is the problem.

Wen it runs for 3 to 4 minutes, does it throw any codes? I would also double check all the intercooler piping and the intake system to make sure nothing came apart.

yea the knocking sound stopped, i think that was actually a coincidence that was somthing else... it just runs really slow, timing is retarded... the timing belt was recently changed and everything seems to be working fine... i think it is the ECU or something... someone said it might be the MAFS, whatcha think?

oh and if it were the ECU, what do I have to do to fix that? because I heard from a couple people that the DSMs ECU's are really annoying to deal with

[defiancy]

Originally Posted by aSyLuM32

yea the knocking sound stopped, i think that was actually a coincidence that was somthing else... it just runs really slow, timing is retarded... the timing belt was recently changed and everything seems to be working fine... i think it is the ECU or something... someone said it might be the MAFS, whatcha think?

oh and if it were the ECU, what do I have to do to fix that? because I heard from a couple people that the DSMs ECU's are really annoying to deal with

I would see if I can find someone who has a good working ecu and throw it in my car and see what happens. Then go from there.

[crunchymilk55]

I have an ECU from my 96 gst sitting around if you want it. (if you figure out that's what the problem is)

50 bucks

[aSyLuM32]

Originally Posted by crunchymilk55

I have an ECU from my 96 gst sitting around if you want it. (if you figure out that's what the problem is)

50 bucks

wow that would be bad ass man... im gonna run the computer on it today and see how many billions of codes it throws at me (which i expect)

If it is the ECU, and it probably is, ill letcha knoW!

[aSyLuM32]

GRRRr okay... i am having a harder time with the car now... It wont start at all..
I just got it towed to the mechanic here in town... I asked him to write down the codes it throws so I could see them for myself... he told me that if the ECU is bad it wont throw any codes at all... which kind of confuses me considering I hear that if an ECU is bad it SHOULD throw a LOT of different codes correct?

[MazdaX]

Originally Posted by aSyLuM32

GRRRr okay... i am having a harder time with the car now... It wont start at all..
I just got it towed to the mechanic here in town... I asked him to write down the codes it throws so I could see them for myself... he told me that if the ECU is bad it wont throw any codes at all... which kind of confuses me considering I hear that if an ECU is bad it SHOULD throw a LOT of different codes correct?

the OBD system really doesn't need to work properly if the ECU is fried..my stealth had some issuses with a trans' popping and leaking all over the ECU and frying it but it still threw every code.

[aSyLuM32]

Okay... this is getting rediculous... I dont know much about these eclipses and I don't know anyone near me who does... I have now paid over 200 dollars getting the car towed to different mechanics, im getting it towed to the dealership now... Apparently our mechanic in town couldnt get it to throw any codes and said he noticed a lot of noise from the valves that leads him to believe something has caused damage to the heads.... He said the timing belt was put on really shitty by whoever put it on and it is missing bolts.

The stereo in the car was recently taken out because the CD Player stopped working, I just unplugged it, I did NOT mess with the wiring and stuff, but he said that the electrical stuff in the dash could easily cause this car not to start... is that BS?

This is breaking me and I am getting so so frustrated... if anyone has any idea what It could be or has any questions, feel free to call my cellphone ANY TIME at (660)-909-5453

Thanks for all the help you guys have given me so far, I really appreciate it. Hopefully this will be resolved soon... but I dont trust dealers...

[spyderturbo007]

I'm not sure what you mean about "a lot" of noise from the valves, but 2g's are notorious for lifter tick. Did he do a compression test?

Also, does the CEL come on when you turn the key to the "On" position? If it does come on, what does it do next....Stay on, flash or turn off?

[aSyLuM32]

Originally Posted by spyderturbo007

I'm not sure what you mean about "a lot" of noise from the valves, but 2g's are notorious for lifter tick. Did he do a compression test?

Also, does the CEL come on when you turn the key to the "On" position? If it does come on, what does it do next....Stay on, flash or turn off?

Well hopefully he mistook the lifter tick which I am familiar with, for the valves... that would make me happy... but as far as the engine light being on, the car is at the dealership now so I cant check. But if I remember correctly, when the key is in the ON position, the light would be on (with all the other lights), but when I would START the car the light would go off.