Won't start, any ideas? (video inside)

[error404]

A yellowtop went in about a month ago, but even before that (and everytime since) I've never had any problems starting. The cams (BBR stage2) sometimes idle kinda crazy and just barely hold on for the first few seconds, but I've never actually had it refuse to start.

This evening I tried again (and shot this video) and noticed that the battery light is on. I can't remember if the light was on this morning or not. It sounds like it's got plenty of juice, the starter sounds real strong. I can smell fuel out the tail pipes, so I'm pretty sure it's getting fuel (I don't have a fuel pressure gauge though). It's got 1/2 a tank of gas (just filled up a day or two ago), even though in the video the gauge doesn't have a chance to actually read as such, if I let it alone for a few seconds with the keys in, it'll eventually show 1/2 tank. You can hear it start for like 1/2 of a second or so the first time I try, several cylinders fire but it just doesn't catch.

Any ideas? Possibly the alternator? I'm going to have the battery checked sometime as soon as I can, unfortunately though I work all day (and late into the night) and am not sure I'll be able to do it for a few days (I have a ride to work though, thankfully!) Maybe I'll just have to get up early one morning and call AAA and have them check the battery.

I do have a battery charger, but there are no outlets in my apartment's carport!! (and my extension cord isn't long enough to reach from my apartment's door) I was pretty bummed when I noticed that there were no outlets! :angry2:

So, without instruments, is there any "tell tale" way to tell if it's the battery, or the alternator, or possibly something else? I jiggled as many of the sensor/wire connections under the hood as I could get my hands on.

http://www.youtube.com/user/drb271#p/a/u/0/PyLefgTAK4o

[t76mach]

Sounds like it wants to start.

Need to check fuel pressure, if that's ok then on to the spark. IMO though sounds like gas problems.

[error404]

unfortunatly, I don't have a fuel pressure gauge (guess that should be on my "to do" list now, eh?) I can smell fuel out the back though.

[reivaxtorres]

a few things i would do to rule some stuff out.....

first of all, if you have a volt meter, you can test the battery yourself. check the voltage from terminal to terminal, it should read 12.5 or higher. if it does, have someone try to turn on the car while you check the reading again, and it shouldnt dip farther than 10.5 or so (10.2 would be on the low side).

if the initial reading is lower than 12.5, the batter needs to be charged. onces charged, test the start up voltage. if its lower than 10.2, the battery is prob bad.

doesnt sound like its a bad battery tho.

have you tried scanning it for current AND pending codes?


try this: find a small vacuum port you can unplug, and get a can of Carb cleaner or brake cleaner. spray some in the vacuum port, and try turning on the car. if the car turns on for a few seconds, then you have a fuel issue. start by checking the the inertia switch (fuel cut off switch in case of emergencies), fueses, and relays.

if it doesnt turn on at all, check to see if you have spark. im not recomending you do this, but the way i did it was that i would unplug all the injectors, and test the coils one at a time.
--take them all off, and only plug one in to the #1 cylinder. insert a plug at the end of the coil, and then make sure the plug is grounded (touching something metalic). DO NOT install the plug or the coil, just let it hang. have some one try to turn on the car. since the injectors and coils are unplugged, it wont turn on but you will be able to see if the spark plug is putting out a spark.

if the battery is good, fuel is good, and spark is good, i have no idea what it could be. im honestly thinking its a fuel issue.

[error404]

Thanks, I'll try as many of those as I can! I don't have a volt meter though, probably something I should just pick up and have anyway.

The codes, I'll see if there's a way to capture them in my X-cal. I know I do have a perminant engine code, for a computer mis-match, that's why it's always on. But it could be throwing another code that I don't know about, I'll see if I can read them somehow.

[reivaxtorres]

yup, the xcal should work. after doing the codes, i would try the brake cleaner method. im almost certain its a fuel issue. my friends explorer was doing the same thing, turned out her fuel pump went out. i was really hoping it was just a fuse

[error404]

I do have a can of brake cleaner, I'll give it a shot. Any vaccum tube in particular that would be best?

[reivaxtorres]

I do have a can of brake cleaner, I'll give it a shot. Any vaccum tube in particular that would be best?

just so long as its one that if the engine were running and you were to unplug it, it wouldnt turn the car off. i think the PCV tube should be good, but might be kinda hard to get to. i know on the 2v cars there is a vacuum port on the plennum, but i dont know about the 3v.

just do this: take the air filter off, and aim the brake cleaner into the tube. spray for about 5 seconds, and try not to hit the Mass Air Flow sensor. if you can, use the straw that comes with the brake cleaner. dont worry about putting the filter back on as the car wont be on for that long anyways, and try turning on the car. the fumes should travel far enough to get the car to start for a second or two. if you can get someone to help you and turn on the car as soon as you are done spraying its better, but if not you can do it yourself.

[3K-Terminator]

I do have a can of brake cleaner, I'll give it a shot. Any vaccum tube in particular that would be best?

Sounds like a fuel issue to me too. Starter is turning over just fine.
And as for the brake cleaner method, just unhook the air cleaner inlet pipe from the throttle body, open the throttle by pushing it with your finger, spray it in there, re-connect the inlet pipe and try to turn it on.

[reivaxtorres]

Sounds like a fuel issue to me too. Starter is turning over just fine.
And as for the brake cleaner method, just unhook the air cleaner inlet pipe from the throttle body, open the throttle by pushing it with your finger, spray it in there, re-connect the inlet pipe and try to turn it on.


i was thinking about that too, but wasnt sure how tempermental the 3v's were with the throttle by wire and whatnot.

[error404]

Well, after hearing the simplest advice that I could find and trying that first, (cause I'm damn lazy!) I held the throttle wide open while starting it (then letting go imediatly as soon as it caught) and it started right up. So.... I guess the motor was flooded then? Not sure how that happened, lol! But I guess that puts and end to the fuel and spark question, seems to have both now :D

Very strange, but I'm glad it's running now. Last time I've had to crack the throttle open to get a car to start, was in my carbureted camaro. Can't believe I didn't try it before asking anyone, haha! Guess I wasn't expecting the electronic throttle to actually open all the way while trying to start.

[Greg@RET]

I didnt listen to the video but it was starting to sound like your FRPS blew. Glad it started. I will get you that file adjustment tomorrow.

[error404]

Here's the codes that I picked up with the SCT, if that's any clue to ya :-)

P0172 Sys too Rich
P0172 Sys too Rich
P0443 Evap ctrl cir error

[Greg@RET]

Those codes ever come up before this?

[error404]

not really sure, I've never checked. I assumed that the engine light was just the miss-matched computer?

[Frisky]

Looks like you should have boughten a euro :look:

[BISKIT]

Here's the codes that I picked up with the SCT, if that's any clue to ya :-)

P0172 Sys too Rich
P0172 Sys too Rich
P0443 Evap ctrl cir error

Sounds like we are on to something buddy.

[error404]

Looks like you should have boughten a euro :look:

german shit? </gin>

Sounds like we are on to something buddy.

hope so :-)

I can't say though, right now, I've had to much to drink. / this message took to loong to right :-D