Ran like a top previous day. Next day seemed like the battery was drained and car wouldn't start(dome light), just turned over slower then usual. Battery was checked to be ok, charged battery, retryed start but engine still doesn't start, once in a while acts as if it trys to. Good spark, good gas, no cel. Because engine isn't starting, plugs are getting loaded with gas. Let the car sit, changed plugs, same symptom. I may be way off, but could exhaust issue play a role, recently was getting unusual smell, almost as if cat convert might of been generating, could this get plugged to a point of causing this. Anyway puzzled, please help!

likely your starter, make sure it has solid voltage when cranking and if it turns real slow its probably just your starter being lame

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96 Black ESi
91 Red TSI AWD (RIP)
02 WRX


"turnin wrenches for nine hours in the pouring rain, just to get the beast up and running again"

Aerospace Certified TIG welder for Precision Castparts in Portland, OR.

JoshSpair.com

After charging the battery the starter is cranking just fine, but still no luck with the engine firing up.

you have spark you said? pull out the plugs and check, check 12v to the middle wire on the coilpack when cranking, hear the fuel pump prime? possibly cam or crank sensor problem, what year is your car?

edit: check your fuses just for shits and giggles

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96 Black ESi
91 Red TSI AWD (RIP)
02 WRX


"turnin wrenches for nine hours in the pouring rain, just to get the beast up and running again"

Aerospace Certified TIG welder for Precision Castparts in Portland, OR.

JoshSpair.com

I pulled the plug and cranked while grounding the plug and get good spark. Fuel is not an issue, definately getting plowed with it as the plugs are getting drenched. Which fuse(s) should I check and Im assuming you mean the ones in the car / drivers side. Its a 95 eclipse non turbo. Also regarding the sensors where are they located and would thet failure of these totally eliminate the car for starting. Thanks

failure of either the cam or crank sensors will prevent you from starting yes

but you said you have spark, and fuel...so everything is checking out

i dont know man, anyone else care to chime in?

edit: reset your ECU by disconnecting the neg terminal for 10 mins and then try it again

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96 Black ESi
91 Red TSI AWD (RIP)
02 WRX


"turnin wrenches for nine hours in the pouring rain, just to get the beast up and running again"

Aerospace Certified TIG welder for Precision Castparts in Portland, OR.

JoshSpair.com

Thanks for the reply. Regarding your point about checking the fuses, what and where are the fuses I should check. Also if the alternator is not working could that contribute, although I see that im getting spark. Anyone please if you have ideas please help. I've been checking throught the posts existing, haven't come across exactly what im experiencing. Got spark, got gas, turns over, no cel codes, sometimes acts like it may want to start, but generally the thing is not firing up. Having the spark and gas, does that eliminate any concern of sensor or fuse issues?

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96 Black ESi
91 Red TSI AWD (RIP)
02 WRX


"turnin wrenches for nine hours in the pouring rain, just to get the beast up and running again"

Aerospace Certified TIG welder for Precision Castparts in Portland, OR.

JoshSpair.com

There is compression, however one cylinder is reporting fairly poor, would that fact the engine is flooded sku the result of compression testing. That being said I would think the engine should still start but run like crap. At one point in the past my coil dropped two hot wires, the car was running only two cylinders and pretty good actually. Also the car ran fine without any abnoral occurances the day previous, so the compression thing doesn't add up. Could timing / timing belt be a factor, so that in a posting, and how off timing would it have to be to experience what im seeing, again very odd that the thing was running like a top though.

did you test for spark on ALL the plugs? or just one...? your car should start regardless of slightly low compression in one cylinder, and yea it would run real rough. test the resistance across poles of the coilpack, it may just be getting a weak spark.

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96 Black ESi
91 Red TSI AWD (RIP)
02 WRX


"turnin wrenches for nine hours in the pouring rain, just to get the beast up and running again"

Aerospace Certified TIG welder for Precision Castparts in Portland, OR.

JoshSpair.com

I checked all plug wires, all have spark. Is there something that would show and provide the values that should be for resistance levels and how to check, but being that I do have spark for each plug is there still a concern low spark? Also I replaced the coil pack about two weeks ago as the original went bad, other then the coil is there any other power source feeding the coil that I should check? Is it possible the new coil I received is flaking out, worked got when I put in, but now generates low output?

well if you replaced it and its sparking on all 4, then its not the coilpack. the chiltons or tech manual does show how to test the coilpack though but by the sound of things its not your coil.

you try resetting the ecu?

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96 Black ESi
91 Red TSI AWD (RIP)
02 WRX


"turnin wrenches for nine hours in the pouring rain, just to get the beast up and running again"

Aerospace Certified TIG welder for Precision Castparts in Portland, OR.

JoshSpair.com

Regarding the ecu reset, yes. Essentially because I took the battery out to autozone to have it checked it by default accomplished the reset being away for that period. Can a blocked cat converter cause this type of symptom? Also, when my coil went bad I had a cel message also indicating EGR failure code, however after the coil replacment and the ecu reset, I no longer have any pending codes, except a 12 which I believe says power was disconnected. Any EGR issues that could cause this drastic result?

no ive never heard of a clogged cat or egr causing a no start condition...i did a search on neons.org and quite frankly, im confused just as much as you are

dino? michael? someone chime in and enlighten us

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96 Black ESi
91 Red TSI AWD (RIP)
02 WRX


"turnin wrenches for nine hours in the pouring rain, just to get the beast up and running again"

Aerospace Certified TIG welder for Precision Castparts in Portland, OR.

JoshSpair.com

Looking at some posts, there were a few instances where they reference that the negative terminal was not grounded ok for the battery and seemed to ref the type of symptom that I have. However, my view is that if im getting spark its turning over, that it wouldn't be in my case the issue. Anyway I ensured the battery was all secure, and hooked up as normal. Sorry im stretching but you never know. Thanks for your advise, hopefully your friends may have some ideas also.

if it was the battery connection you'd have some more tell tale signs like the lights in your car would be dim and the starter would turn slow or not at all, so it doesnt sound like the battery connection.

if its getting fuel, and spark, and has compression...there is no other reason i can think of why it wont start

new plugs you said? whats the gap? possibly bad gas?

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

96 Black ESi
91 Red TSI AWD (RIP)
02 WRX


"turnin wrenches for nine hours in the pouring rain, just to get the beast up and running again"

Aerospace Certified TIG welder for Precision Castparts in Portland, OR.

JoshSpair.com

Has new plugs, tryed two other sets. .50. Gas, ran on the same full tank up until now where its at now about 1/4, so lil odd that a portion of the gas would be bad, however maybe that water removing additive is necessary. I noticed a good drenching of gas on the plugs, could excess deposit of gas in the cylinders retain and cause a constant flooding. I mean I threw new plugs in, aired out the cylinder with the plugs out you would think thats enough and it also sat. Just weird how drenched the plugs were with gas.

you dont have a spare ecu you can try do you? it might be the problem

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

96 Black ESi
91 Red TSI AWD (RIP)
02 WRX


"turnin wrenches for nine hours in the pouring rain, just to get the beast up and running again"

Aerospace Certified TIG welder for Precision Castparts in Portland, OR.

JoshSpair.com

No unfortunately not, whats your thoughts why it might be this or is there a way I can check if its ok. And actually Im not familiar where or what the ecu looks like and where it is. Im assuming its the black computer looking box located closer to where the air cleaner box sits, correct? Some post mentioned that during startup if the cel light doesnt show up the unit is bad, but the cel does show up.

bump

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96 Black ESi
91 Red TSI AWD (RIP)
02 WRX


"turnin wrenches for nine hours in the pouring rain, just to get the beast up and running again"

Aerospace Certified TIG welder for Precision Castparts in Portland, OR.

JoshSpair.com

Anyone any other ideas? Also, had a mechanic look at it last night, evidentally (I don't see how it could just happen overnight or if he's accurate)he indicated the timing is off a tooth. Would this cause enough harm to prevent an engine from starting, also would that sku compression readings. I would think the car should start but run bad.

Well, this is just my .02.

It doesn't seem to me that fuel and spark are an issue. Obviously, there's fuel, and you say that there is spark. I suppose on the off chance that it's a weak spark, it's getting snuffed out as opposed to igniting the mixture, but I doubt it.

I was going to post about a timing belt, but you say that it's attached and turning, right? If it's off a tooth (BTW, on what, cams, crank, one cam), it should still run, although poor. I believe it will also effect compression results, since the valves won't close/open at the right time, but it should effect more than just one cylinder. Again though, weak compression in one cylinder wouldn't cause the thing not to start.

My guess is that the computer isn't seeing something it wants before it can run the motor. I think it's a sensor issue. I would check the MAP, coolant, and TPS sensors. It's possible that if it doesn't see a sensor, it'll flood the motor with gas-although now that I think about it, it would probably throw a CEL too.

Check those, then see if you can get/borrow a computer. I don't think it's a matter of fuel or fire, it's a computer/sensor issue.

Good luck and let us know what you find!
Brian

Thanks for your feedback, if im not getting any cel messages would that rule out the computer(do you mean ecu)and sensor problems. In anyway your information was very good. Seems things are pointing to the ecu, will a diagnostic check at a shop show this fault or more, and more then cel messages?

check the crank position sensor. if its broken replace it.

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96 Black ESi
91 Red TSI AWD (RIP)
02 WRX


"turnin wrenches for nine hours in the pouring rain, just to get the beast up and running again"

Aerospace Certified TIG welder for Precision Castparts in Portland, OR.

JoshSpair.com

Guess nulls the previous, thanks

Do you know how to check this sensor and where it is located? thanks

The Crank position sensor is located on the back of the block. If you crawl under the car, and look for the sensor to your right (passenger side) there's one there. It's the farthest one over towards the passenger side. It reads a notched disk that's rotating with the crank (in the oil pan area)

However, turbo8u is right. If it didn't see this sensor, it probably wouldn't send spark. Maybe you could disconnect it and see if it still sends spark? See if the computer (yes, ECU) is reading it. I dunno, just throwing out ideas.

Good luck!
Brian