per0781 Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 Alright, so I got my engine back together today from when my head gaskets went like a month ago. At first I thought the battery needed charging, so I charged it for 5 hours. The first time I turn the key, it'll turn over but won't start. As each turn of the key goes it'll get worse to the point where nothing will happen. I know I'm getting fuel to the fuel rails because gas came out of the shrader valve pintle when I depressed it . I pulled the spark plugs and had carbon buildup on the tips, so I replaced them and that did nothing. All the spark plug wires are wired correctly. I checked the ecm, fuel pump, ignition, injectors, and dis fuses and relays and are all good. Any advice as to why my car isn't starting? Any input would be greatly apreciated. Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baddflash Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 Did you forget to hook any of the wiring up, to say injectors or something?? Pour some gas in the intake and try starting it, atleast then you'll know if it's a fuel or spark problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per0781 Posted July 4, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 Nope all the wiring to the injectors is all connected. I had to disconnect the 2 connections on the left side of the DIS to reach access to some of the engine mount bracket, but both of them are connected. I looked at the service manual and signs are pointing towards a faulty starter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baddflash Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 You said it's turning over just not starting. How fast does it turn over? Enough that it should start or barely turning? What does the rest of your electrical do? ie lights etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 If it's turning over it's not the starter. Put the battery on the charger and let it completely charge. Then try again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robby1870 Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 I say, starter solenoid.....but replace both the starter and solenoid at the same time. He told me it turns over slow and by the 4 time of turning the key it wont turn over at all, hence why I say solenoid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 Cheaper to give the battery a full charge before replacing parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 Did you make sure to mash the pedal to the ground and hold it there while trying to start it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
god910 Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 Robby he could be turning it over for like 5 min. each time. Which would mean the start is fine. Why would he want to hold the pedal down? I am a proponent of "never touch the pedal on a FI car" Or I was anyway, until I washed my engine compartment once, and the car wouldn't start. So I blew it off w/ air, let it sit for like 4 hours, tried a bunch of shit, so I thought, hey, I'll just tap the gas. Viola, it started. Just as I was typing this I remembered. My cutty's battery died over Christmas shutdown (2 weeks) and when I charged it, it wouldn't start, I was pissed. Then my bro got in while I was looking around under the hood, and it cranked and started. I asked him what he did, and he said he hit the gas. So, dunno if that's your problem, but that's the only thing I could come up w/ back then. So, HTH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutlsp Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 the cars with the throtle linkage on the throtle body you can tap the pedal to get the gas flowing if it doesn't work your fuel pump is bad. i would use that little connector to run the fuel pump for a bit. to prep the fuel line then try starting it again plus you will hear the fuel pump if its running thus finding out if the fuel pump is good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gp crazy Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 well i going to guess that the fuel pump relay is bad or the fuse next to it has blown :shock: "IS THE SES LIGHT ON " with the key on but engine off . if the ORANGE light is not on the car will not start but will turn over 8) the car ran before right so go over all the wiring to make sure all the plugs & ground's tight clean & in the right spot's & hooked up i found that just because they look tight they may not be some stuff to look in to jeff b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canada Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 So the starter IS cranking.......right? Everyone's replies made me a bit unclear on that.....just wanted to cover that base. I assume this is a 3.1 MPFI you are working on....correct (Not a 3.4 DOHC...easier to get out of time)? With it only roll over? Or is it firing a few times here and there? If the motor is cranking okay.....why are you suspecting a bad starter? You shouldn't of even had to of touched the starter for a head gasket job. Are you getting spark? (Pull a plug out, put it back into the wire and hold it to the block, crank the motor and see if you can see it arc.) This would prove the crank sensor and the rest of the ignition system is okay. Get a gauge on that fuel rail.......even if there is enough pressure to squirt out the rail, the pump maybe weak. Not sure what the spec is....anything over 35 psi should be okay though. Do a compression check.....again, I don't know the spec off the top of my head.....you made mention that you have a service manual, if it is a GM manual it'll list the spec. If everything checks out....about the only thing that could be wrong is that the injectors aren't opening. All you need is compression, spark, and fuel to make a motor work......whatever you don't have, it will show up in one of those three tests. I should also ask.........what kind of shape is the fuel in? Water? Simply bad? You said it sat for a few months....Briggs and Straton makes a nice flask for testing the amount of water in fuel....only like $5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 Why would he want to hold the pedal down? I am a proponent of "never touch the pedal on a FI car" Pressing the pedal all the way to the floor shuts the fuel pump off. :shock: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per0781 Posted July 12, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Well the car is back and RUNNING. What happened is I ended up running the spark plug wires backwards because I used the numbers on the lower IM to tell me which number each cyliner is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robby1870 Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Well the car is back and RUNNING. What happened is I ended up running the spark plug wires backwards because I used the numbers on the lower IM to tell me which number each cyliner is. Sorry, Paul, but LOLOLOLOLOLOL. So many people do that!!! Glad to hear its up and running again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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