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Wont Start-13 Car Engine Will Not Start
Questions This
category contains featured questions as
examples. They relate to most vehicles.

Question:
1985 Plymouth Reliant mileage: 46,000.
I'm not quite sure about the size of the
engine but it is a 4 cylinder. The choke
seems to be open all the time and since it
is not fuel-injected, it is really hard to
start. Once it is running there is no
problem. What I want to know is, do I
have to get a new choke for it, or a new
carburetor. The reason for the low
mileage is it was a one-owner car and he
only drove it to work occasionally.
Answer: We do not think you need a new
choke or a new carburetor; however, it is possible the
choke linkage is stuck and needs to cleaned and
adjusted.
Question:
1997 Pontiac Firebird V6 mileage: 40,000. Hey guys
this is my sisters car. She just got it and it was
hit in the rear. Now it’s all fixed and the body
man cant get it cranked. Seems like no fuel
getting to engine. Is there a fuel cut off valve
somewhere and where is it. No one can find it.
Please help and thank you very much.
Answer:
There is no fuel cutoff valve on you vehicle.
Check for 12 volts to the fuel pump. If 12 volts
is present and the pump is not running, replace the
pump. If 12 volts is not present, check the
fuel pump relay.
Question:
1995 Pontiac Grand Am 3.1L V6 mileage: 53,127.
Okay here’s the deal.... recently the car was acting up
and then it just died. The lights and gauges work
but the car will not start. I have charged the
battery, jumped the car, and replaced the alternator.
Now that I have replaced the alternator, the engine
won’t turn over. I don’t know whether it is the
starter or ignition switch. How can I find out?
The engine doesn’t click or make any noise when trying
to start it. Please HELP!
Answer:
Here are some things to check. Load test the
battery. Check that the battery cable connections
are clean. Check for 12 volts to starter solenoid
with the key in the start position. These
things should be checked first then the ignition switch,
neutral safety switch, starter and starter solenoid.
One of these may be faulty.
Question:
1985 Buick century 3.0 mileage: 61,596. On my
century I completely rebuilt the motor ring cam lifter
valves, valve seat block checked heads done, now the
problem is it won’t fire up. I get good spark to
all the plugs and double-checked timing chain and cam
gear to make sure it was in line and had a mechanic
trainee check it and we're at a loss as to why it won't
start. Compression on the cylinders ranges from 36
to 40 psi. I take it the new rings haven't seated,
but if it won't start how can they? Do you have
any idea as to why it won't start? Could it be
something in distributor?
Answer:
Most likely your car will not start because of the low
compression; 36 to 40 psi is way to low. We doubt
seriously that the rings are the problem. Check
the valve timing and also valve clearance; the valve may
be too tight.
Question:
1990 Jaguar 6 cylinders 6 cylinders mileage: 45,000.
Our Jag had been in storage for about 1.5 years with the
battery disconnected. It has fuel injection.
We try starting it. The engine cranks but does not
turn over. No gas at the sparkplugs. Fuel
O.K. What could be the problem? How can I
get it started?
Answer:
Check for fuel pump pressure at the injectors. If
no pressure is present, check for 12-volts at the fuel
pump. If 12-volts are present and the pump does
not run, it is obviously the pump. Replacing it
should fix your problem.
Question:
1992 Chevy Lumina 3.1 mileage: 100,000. I have
recently had problems starting my 1992 Lumina.
After finding that there was no spark, I replaced the ECM and checked the coils - still no start. I then
talked to someone who said it was probably the crank
position sensor, so I bought a new one. The
problem came when I tried to remove the old one.
It seems like there is only one bolt holding it in
place, but after I removed it, I still could not remove
the sensor- it seems locked in place. After
a little prying, I moved it out about 1/2 and inch, but
cannot get it out any further. It appears the only
thing left to do is drop the oil pan so I can get the
sensor the remaining way out. Any suggestions or
advice would be greatly appreciated.
Answer: If
you cannot get the sensor our by prying and turning it,
then they only solution left is to remove the oil pan
and punch it our from the bottom.
Question:
1990 Olds Delta 88 Royale V6 3800l mileage: 214,000.
She won't start. Battery is 2 or 3 weeks
old. She gave no indication of a problem.
Drove her all day-short trips-but after letting her sit
for a few hours, when I tried to start her, she wouldn't
turn over. All digital dash lights up, but no
cranking of any kind. Replaced starter, and still
nothing. Please help.
Answer:
From what you tell us, it sounds like “she” may be
having trouble with “her” charging system. Have
“her” battery load tested and check the alternator
output for voltage and amperage.
Question:
1988 Buick Skylark 3.0 V6 mileage: 100,000. My car
isn’t starting. I know its getting flooded.
The spark plugs had gas on them. The car does have
a new fuel pump, but there's something that has me
stumped. When you try to start the car (key is in
start position) it doesn't start of course, but when you
release the ignition key from the start position back to
the on position you hear the fuel pump kicking on again
after I just tried to start it. Right there
tells me when it's getting flooded. I've checked
the fuel pump relay it works fine. What else can I
check? Thank you for your help guys.
Answer:
Several things can be causing your problem. The
fuel injectors could be leaking. The fuel pressure
regulator may be malfunctioning causing too high a
pressure. The PCM (computer) or the prom may be
failing.
Question:
1990 GMC s15 2.8l 6 cyl mileage: 187,000. I'm
having a starting problem with my pickup. It is an
intermittent problem. The engine cranks with
plenty of power all the time. When the truck acts
up...a tiny squirt of starting fluid into the intake
(with air cleaner cover removed and then tightened back
to normal before cranking) the engine fires right up
every time without hesitation. When the truck is
running it responds directly to the throttle and
exhibits no signs of sputtering or stalling. The
problem most often occurs after a short drive allowing
the engine to get warm...after the truck sits about half
an hour it won't start. It seems not to be
receiving fuel...Last spring I replaced the fuel filter
and fuel pump. I live in the Northeast and I am
wondering if the thermal changes point to the problem.
Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Answer:
Your car is equipped with a computer controlled engine
management system. An independent auto service
center can scan your computer for fault or error codes.
The information should pinpoint the malfunctioning
components. If a major tune-up has not been
done recently, this could be the cause of your problem.
Replace the spark plugs, plug wires, fuel and air
filters, etc. Also, replace the oxygen sensor.
In addition, service the fuel injection system.
Clean the carbon deposits from the throttle bore and
idle passages.
Question:
1994 Dodge/Spirit V-6 mileage: 60,000. We bought
this car used about 8 months ago and have had no
problems until recently. The car already had an
alarm system added and we thought this was a good
feature, but now we are having problems starting the
car. Our mechanic thinks it may be somehow
connected to the alarm system and disconnected the wire
to the starter. The car will start sometimes but
lately it is so unreliable we don't know what else to
check. The engine won't even turn over and all we
hear are the click of the door locks and maybe 1 click
and then nothing. Help! What should be
checked next? (We have already replaced the
battery and the starter!)
Answer:
Here are some things to check. Load test the
battery. Check that the battery cable connections
are clean. Check for 12 volts to starter solenoid
with the key in the start position. These things
should be checked first then the ignition switch,
neutral safety switch, starter and starter solenoid.
One of these may be faulty.
Question:
1996 Chrysler Concorde LX 3.3L V6 mileage: 70,000.
For the past year and a half car has intermittently
failed to start for a dozen or more tries.
These incidents occur about three to six months apart.
When ignition key is turned lights, horn, radio and
warning bells operate but when key is turned further to
start position, nothing happens including no clicking
sound. On one occasion, changing to the valet car
resulted in car starting with no more trouble for
several months. On other occasion, changing keys
did not help. The car has an after-market alarm
system but it has been deactivated during the last two
no-start incidents.Answer:
Here are some things to check. Load test the
battery. Check that the battery cable connections
are clean. Check for 12 volts to starter solenoid
with the key in the start position. These things
should be checked first then the ignition switch,
neutral safety switch, starter and starter solenoid.
One of these may be faulty.
Question:
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Lar. Straight 6 4.0 mileage:
55,000. Hey guys, I've been having a starting
problem with my jeep for the past 6 months and no one
can seem to pinpoint the problem, including two Jeep
dealerships I’ve taken it too. The specific
problem is that it takes about a 4 to 5 seconds of
cranking time on cold and warm starts (hot starts right
up) to get the engine started. So far I've changed
the fuel pump (Carter fuel pump - pressure check shows
50 while running drops to around 40 after turned off and
been sitting for awhile but jumps right back up to fifty
as soon as the key is cranked - so not the pump), also
replaced the air and fuel filter, had the valves
de-carboned, changed the spark-plugs and wires, had the
fuel injectors cleaned and lastly had the PCU flashed
and updated. I have no idea what else to check
now. The self-diagnostic is showing a 12 and 11
error that are electrical errors but I would think that
if it were an electrical problem hot engine starts would
be a problem also? Any thoughts?
Answer:
Try replacing the crank angle sensor, which is located
in the back of the motor over the flywheel. This
should help your starting problem.
Question:
1994 Chevy C1500 5.7L mileage: 150,000. Hi Guys,
My truck has recently developed a hard start problem.
The engine turns over and tries to start, but unless I
pump on the gas, it stalls out. This only happens
when the engine is cold, and once the engine runs for
5-10 seconds, it will idle normally and run just fine.
I've replaced plugs, wires, rotor, cap, fuel filter and PCV valve. Could this problem be in the fuel pump?
How can I tell?
Answer:
Your car is equipped with a computer controlled engine
management system. An independent auto service
center can scan your computer for fault or error codes.
The information should pinpoint the malfunctioning
components. Also, check the fuel pump
pressure.

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