Car will not start

Tiny
TJMAK101
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 ACURA RL
Six cylinder two wheel drive automatic 115,010 miles

The car will not start just now, I drove home from school and it started perfectly fine when I got out of school, I let it warmed up.
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Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 AT 7:37 PM

17 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
You need to determine if it is fuel or spark issue or have someone else check it.

Get a starting fluid or ether and spray into the carburetor or the throttle body on an EFI. Did it start and shut off? If not disconnect a spark plug wire or two and ground it to the engine. Disconnect a spark plug wire or two and ground it to the engine have helper crank engine over, do you have a snapping blue spark? If so, you have a fuel related problem. Check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors.
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Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 AT 7:44 PM
Tiny
ACURARLMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 ACURA RL
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 18,000 MILES
V8 four wheel drive automatic 180,000 miles

had car for over four years. Never had a problem with car until now, the car is turning over but not starting. Got the battery checked and the alternator and it was not either of two. The gas is on a half tank. Whats wrong with the car?
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Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Need to check for spark and fuel pressure. Does the engine sound normal when cranking or does it sound like it is spinning fast? Check for those two things then get back to me.
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-1
Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMESWISE09
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1997 ACURA RL
  • 270,000 MILES
Okay, so about a week ago I had my alternator replaced. Last night, I was driving and went over a small bump and my brake and battery light came on at the same time. Within a few seconds my tachometer flipped out and stopped working, but the car kept driving me home (less than one mile). After turning the car off, it refused to start. Sometimes it just would not start with no sound other than like it was dying (two seconds trying to start then car would shut off, then lights and everything came back on) and other times I would hear one click, two clicks, or four to five clicks. Any help on what this could be? Thank you!
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Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Something is loose somewhere and it is related to the alternator. Check if the alternator wiring connector is secure and have the charging tested, the alternator would have failed again.
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Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMESWISE09
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Well the last time the alternator failed, my dash lights would dim and other electrical components would slow like electrical seat, etc. After a day or two of the repaid all the electrical components were back to normal almost as if the alternator charged it back up. This time, I never got a dim light or any strange activity, just out of nowhere the dash lights and tachometer went crazy.
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Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Alternator failure comes in different ways and without testing, you would not know if it is working correctly.
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Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMESWISE09
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I had the Alternator tested after I replaced it and Advance told me it was working properly.
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Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
That was then and now is now.
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Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMESWISE09
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Voltage Regulator?
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Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZORRO77
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 ACURA RL
  • 119 MILES
I raised the vehicle and removed the left front wheel to check the brakes, after inspection was okay. I replaced the wheel and let the vehicle down and hooked the negative battery cable back up and turned the key on and reset the security code. I then started the vehicle and put it in drive to move it forward to remove the block from the back wheel, put it in park and removed the chock, got back in and put it in drive to go forward and moved forward a few feet and went to put it in park and it stayed in D4, but the shift lever moved into park and the indicator started flashing in D4. The manual said to put key in the slot next to the shifter and move shifter, but after moving the shifter to park the light stays flashing in D4 and the engine turns over but it would not start because in D4 and neutral switch would not let it start. How can this be fixed?
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Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
When the D4 Light flashes, it means an error has been detected in the transmission control system. You need to retrieve the trouble code to find out what is causing it.
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Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Have the charging system tested for a start.
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Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MSJOHNSON
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 ACURA RL
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 138,000 MILES
Six cylinder front wheel drive automatic 138,000 miles

Recently my car stalled on a city street. I thought I had run out of gas but that was not the problem because I had at least a quarter tank. I waited a few minutes and tried again, still no response it cranks but will not turn over. Finally it started after about five attempts. I was able to drive about ten miles home and as soon as I pulled in my parking lot it stalled again and repeated the same cycle. I do not know what the exact problem is but I am pretty sure it has something to due with the fuel system. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARLIFE65
  • MECHANIC
  • 200 POSTS
It shound like you have a bad mass air flow sensor.
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Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
  • MEMBER
  • 0 POST
  • 1997 ACURA RL
  • 150,000 MILES
My car will not start when in park, but when I place the gear selector in neutral it will start. What is the problem?
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Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
The Neutral is faulty or out of adjustment. Is the P indicator light showing when in P?
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Thursday, March 9th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM (Merged)

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