Engine cranks but does not start?

Tiny
LPORZIO
  • MEMBER
  • 2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
I went to the store and when I came out the car wouldn't start. It just cranked over, and I tried again but it only cranked no start. I remember when I got to the store it shook a little when I parked before I turned the key off but I didn't think much about it. My sister's boyfriend came and put his engine tester on the car, and he said it had a code relating to the VVT Timing solenoid he then cleared the codes to see if it came back up, but it didn't, but he also forgot what the code numbers were. But he said it was related to the VVT solenoid because he looked it up right then. I wish he hadn't cleared the codes. Anyway, I had a tow truck tow it to a friend's house and he had a friend of his check it out. The guy said he tested the spark plugs, and it had spark and he said he listened to the fuel pump, and it made noise, so he assumed it was working. Then he said he took off the valve cover to see if the timing chain looked ok. He didn't bother calling me with any of the information. But when I called to ask, he told me he took the valve cover off and that my car had skipped 4-5 teeth and that it was because of a loose tensioner and that he tightened it and set the chain back where it was supposed to be and it's all good now. I asked if it messed up anything inside and he said no. That kind of seems impossible from what I've researched Well, I question that because I know a little about cars and I don't think there is any way he could have done that. I think he is lying to try and make money off me. Wouldn't he have to take all that stuff apart to do that? Like the timing chain cover and so on. Also, I asked him if he check the VVT solenoid that the code had showed, and he told me that that would Not have anything to do with the timing chain and I told him from what I have researched it would have an effect on it, and he got upset because I was asking him questions. I even sent him a video showing how to check the VVT and all. Then he told me he ordered a Fuel pump because he doesn't think it has good fuel pressure. Wouldn't he have to check the pressure at the fuel rail up by the engine to know that? And he should have done that before he took the valve cover off. I think he should have talked to me before He did this and wouldn't he have to buy a new valve cover gasket so I'm wondering if he even put it back together correctly, I'm thinking he didn't even take it apart I think he is just telling me that so he can charge me. When I sent him the videos of what I found he said I'm making him frustrated and asked if I would do this if I had of took it into a shop. I told him Yes, I would it's my only car also I'm sure a shop would be keeping in contact with me and letting me know what was going on. I even asked if he took pics of the timing chain where it had jumped timing, and he said Well I could have but I didn't. I this point I don't know what I should do but from what I have read if he is telling the truth then I don't believe that he can just put the timing chain back on and tighten the tensioner and the car be ok It could fail again and be worse. I think that it should be taken apart and done correctly. Should I just take my car back? Is there a way I can tell if he did what he said? I'm thinking it might be the fuel pump or? And he's just telling me this. He probably didn't think I would know any of this or that I would question his work. I never told him to take my car apart, he was just supposed to check the spark, fuel, stuff like that. Sorry, this is so long. Can you give me some advice if what he said he did to the tensioner and timing chain is possible the way he said he did it? And anything else like the VVT ext. Thank you
Wednesday, March 19th, 2025 AT 1:10 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
LPORZIO
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I forgot to add. After he told me about the timing jumping and he said he fixed it I asked him, so it runs now, and he said Well No I ordered a fuel pump for it because I think it's not getting enough pressure because it's not starting still. Oh, I also forgot to add my car ran fine it had no problems starting or anything before this all happened.
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Wednesday, March 19th, 2025 AT 1:18 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 51,782 POSTS
Geez, I would get the car back from him because it sounds like he does not know what he is doing, you are correct, if the timing chain jumps that many teeth the engine will need major repairs. I can tell you for sure if you upload a short video of the engine cranking. Here is a video for you to go over in the meantime to help understand what is going on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXLJbuAZ4CE

Please upload a video in your response so I can see which way to go to fix the problem.
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Friday, March 21st, 2025 AT 9:53 AM
Tiny
LPORZIO
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Update. It's been a month now and he still has my car and the first fuel pump he ordered was the wrong one, so We had to wait almost 2 weeks for him to order another one and now he tells me it still won't start that he needs to buy a scanner or something. I asked him if he changed the fuel filter because he didn't say anything about buying one and he said the filter comes with the pump. Not from any of the places I've looked. So, he probably didn't check it. I'm thinking if it did jump teeth that's the reason it won't start, and I think I'm going to take my car back from him.
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Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 AT 10:27 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 51,782 POSTS
I would, the engine should run on starting fluid if the fuel pump is no good. So, he should have tried that to let you know the engine is okay. There is no fuel filter like on the older cars, there is a fuel strainer at the inlet of the fuel pump.
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Thursday, April 17th, 2025 AT 8:56 AM
Tiny
LPORZIO
  • MEMBER
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Update: Okay the guy working on my car put a new fuel pump and said it didn't fix the problem that was 2 days ago. He told me today that I need a new or rebuilt motor. He said my rings are bad he that there's low compression in one cylinder and no compression in the other 3 cylinder's. My question is if my rings are bad, can he tell that from a compression test or would he have to take the motor apart to know that. He says he found this out from just doing a compression test. He says he can just fix the rings, but it would be a temporary fix. He says I should just buy a rebuilt motor. What can anyone tell me about this? I really can't afford this and I'm curious if he is telling me right.
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Thursday, April 17th, 2025 AT 11:39 PM
Tiny
LPORZIO
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Also my car ran fine until the day I went to the store and came out, went to start the car and it would not start it just cranked over. If my rings were bad, wouldn't I be having some sign like smoke coming out of the exhaust or something?
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Thursday, April 17th, 2025 AT 11:43 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 51,782 POSTS
This mechanic does not know what he is doing, I wouldn't trust anything he says. If you can get a short video of the engine cranking over, I can tell if the engine is any good or not. Did you watch the video above?
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Saturday, April 19th, 2025 AT 9:14 AM

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