bought the car 3 days ago and it stopped working last night

speedometer slowly fell and stopped working, no more than a mile later as i reached the top of a hill the car just shut up and rolled to a stop. won't start. rpm's were acting a little funny the day it broke down (idle would jump from 1000 to 1500 randomly while waiting at a light)

details: getting spark, battery is new, changed plug wires (were in bad shape), turns over fine but won't start

tried replacing the coil pack then the ecu, no start

the fuel pump seems to be working (it can be heard usually when i turn key to on position, if not then it's heard after cranking)

buddies think it's not getting fuel, but we spent a good 15 minutes trying to start it by spraying starter fluid into the intake with no success. sounded like it was close 1 out of the 10 or so tries.

just got my hands on a new fuel filter (old one is pretty rusty) and i'm on my way to trying it right now

if that's a no go, next will be replacing the crank sensor, also i havn't replaced the spark plugs, the person i bought the car from put a new timing belt on it, i'm new is there any chance they put it on wrong? but then why would it run fine for a few weeks?

i'm trying to keep a clear head, but i'm very frustrated lol ~ if any of you have any advice to ideas/thoughts throw em up, it ran great before it died and i'm not going to stop until it runs great again

if this fuel filter doesn't do it i'm going to call the seller tomorrow morning and prod at him for more information, i'll post an update with everything i try each night

check the cam sensor, crank sensor and the fuse named "Engine/Moteur" on fuse box in engine bay!!

Originally posted by rettez
check the cam sensor, crank sensor and the fuse named "Engine/Moteur" on fuse box in engine bay!!

i'll add those to my list. i'll check the fuse tomorrow morning, and hopefully the crank sensor by tomorrow night (if it doesn't rain i don't have a garage). i'll have to find the cam sensor i'm not sure where it is.

could it be the alternator that's keeping it from starting?

and thx for the quick reply

Turn your key to the "on" position and make sure your Check Engine light comes on. If it doesn't come on, your ECU could be bad. 95's are prone to ECU failure. I went thru 3 in 4 years. They're simple to swap out...just a little hard to find one for sale.

Make sure to check your ground wires going to and from the computer, I had a bad one on my 95 and the computer wasn't getting a signal from any of the sensors, hence no start.

update:

-fuses are good
-reset ecu by disconnecting battery for a while
-also ecu could still be bad, never reset it when trying a friends the other night. today we switched our ecu's again. my ecu didn't work in his car, and when we put his back into his car and it wouldn't either lol, just like mine. we unplugged his battery and waited then plugged it back in and it started up like a champ (no such luck for me)

now he's afraid to take his ECU out again, so just to clarify i have not reset my ECU into another working talon, nor have a reset an ECU from another working talon into my car

-check engine light codes are working now (after ECU reset), codes are 12 54 55, i looked them all up and the only question is what to do about the "54" (54 meaning no cam sensor at the PCM) but i've also read that the engine could start without the cam sensor?

regardless, i'm heading to the junkyard tomorrow to look for both a crank sensor and cam sensor

dealership wants $100 for the crank sensor and $50 for the cam sensor. also $25 a piece for the new wiring harness connectors or whatev

is the PCM located inside the ECU?

and i have another question, please only answer if you're sure ~ if i were to put either the cam sensor or the crank sensor from his car (same make and model) into my car, could it ruin his sensors?

i'm eager to swap them out before i waste money, ya feel me?

The PCM is the ECU...

Originally posted by KING SIZE
update: -fuses are good -reset ecu by disconnecting battery for a while -also ecu could still be bad, never reset it when trying a friends the other night. today we switched our ecu's again. my ecu didn't work in his car, and when we put his back into his car and it wouldn't either lol, just like mine. we unplugged his battery and waited then plugged it back in and it started up like a champ (no such luck for me) now he's afraid to take his ECU out again, so just to clarify i have not reset my ECU into another working talon, nor have a reset an ECU from another working talon into my car -check engine light codes are working now (after ECU reset), codes are 12 54 55, i looked them all up and the only question is what to do about the "54" (54 meaning no cam sensor at the PCM) but i've also read that the engine could start without the cam sensor? regardless, i'm heading to the junkyard tomorrow to look for both a crank sensor and cam sensor dealership wants $100 for the crank sensor and $50 for the cam sensor. also $25 a piece for the new wiring harness connectors or whatev is the PCM located inside the ECU? and i have another question, please only answer if you're sure ~ if i were to put either the cam sensor or the crank sensor from his car (same make and model) into my car, could it ruin his sensors? i'm eager to swap them out before i waste money, ya feel me?

No cam signal at PCM
camshaft position sensor connector and sensor

i'm shure that if you change the cam sensor your car start without problems. but, too check the connector and wiring to the pcm.
I have direct wiring from PCM to CAM sensor due to i had that trouble months ago. good luck!

or try with a cam sensor from a dsm friend...

worst day ever

got both sensors from a yankyard and neither worked, tried a working ecu and reset it by disconnecting neutral for a while on battery, tried starting fluid after new ecu is in

new ecu gave me new error codes

12 35 42 55

then later tried again

12 42 42 55 (yes 42 comes up twice)

i'm losin my mind lol, it's too cold for this

diagnostic test here i come ~ i'll update with the results

make sure all your wires in the harness along the head (driver's side) is okay - sometimes it lays down on the EGR tube and melts. Happened to me, though it shorted my ignition wire and blew the fuse. Went to start moving from a stoplight and it died in the middle of the intersection. your VSS wiring goes through that area, long with basically all engine sensors/controls.

Originally posted by justins71
make sure all your wires in the harness along the head (driver's side) is okay - sometimes it lays down on the EGR tube and melts. Happened to me, though it shorted my ignition wire and blew the fuse. Went to start moving from a stoplight and it died in the middle of the intersection. your VSS wiring goes through that area, long with basically all engine sensors/controls.

diagnostic test is set for monday, i'll try and check the wiring before then

crossin my fingers lets hope i get lucky

Originally posted by KING SIZE
worst day ever got both sensors from a yankyard and neither worked,

don't want to sound like a dick, but go spend some money on NEW sensors. were the cars in the yard non wreck cars? the cam sensor is sadly the most likely answer for why they're there

Originally posted by RoninEclipse2G

Originally posted by KING SIZE worst day ever got both sensors from a yankyard and neither worked,

don't want to sound like a dick, but go spend some money on NEW sensors. were the cars in the yard non wreck cars? the cam sensor is sadly the most likely answer for why they're there

money's tight

a close friend of mine is paying for the diagnostic test, and don't worry about sounding like a dick lay it on me bro lol

i'm new and i'm ready to get this car running for the spring

had the test ran, results show timing problem

that might explain the empty timing belt box and brand new tensioner found on the floor in the back of the car

we're hoping some dumb kid decided to just use the old one and attempt to return the new one for some money, knowing he'd be selling the car soon

anywho, i've got some work ahead of me and a lot to learn

some buds and i all threw in on a rusted out 96 talon the other night, got it for 500 bones. doesn't run too bad, but burns oil like a champ

anyway i guess we're gonna try and take the head off of the junk talon and put it on mine (crossin my fingers here) and if that doesn't work i'm going to lose my mind

i was told to replace something on the head before i put it into my car (don't know what i'm talking about) to make sure i won't be burning through oil after we put this pos back together. anyone have any input on that?

just a matter of time now this car will run

buddies helped me replace the head, car runs like a champ!

the timing belt was done for, shredded ~ and one of the bearings broke making the belt jump teeth

thx for all the help

unhhh!

Great work. Glad you got it running now that its time for meets and track events.