Sputters, stutters and will not start

UKNOSO

MEMBER
2003 ISUZU AXIOM
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
152,000 MILES

Bought the vehicle from an auto insurance pool the other day. It started but quickly overheated within just a few miles, so I parked it and left it alone overnight. The next day I found out it was radiator was clogged and so I unclogged it. The overheating went away and so I decided to drive it to get something to eat. Spent maybe at most thirty minutes eating and then started it again and was headed out, we didn't even get three miles down the road when all of a sudden the check engine light and oil light come on and it shuts off. Pull off the road and tried to start it back up again, but this time when you crank it, it doesn't sound the same and it won't start, just keeps cranking over. After so many tries it will backfire. Is there any help for this lemon of a car?

Friday, April 26th, 2019 AT 6:11 PM

3 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Hi,

It could be as simple as a fuel pump but the check engine light and oil light are not a good sign. There are a few things that you said that concern me. The first is that when it cranks now it sounds different. From my experience when people say this, what they are hearing is the loss of compression so the engine has a different sound all together when it is cranking. The next is the fact that it will back fire. This is because there is fuel going into the cylinders and when the piston comes back up to compress it for it to be ignited the intake valve is open when it should be closed, and the fuel get pushed back into the intake and ignites in the intake.

Here are some guides that should help with this information. However, first thing I would do is perform a compression check on the engine as I suspect the overheating has cause serious engine damage. Next is to get the codes pulled from the computer so we can see what the reason for the check engine light is.

At the end of this, if you don't have good compression then most likely the head or block is warped due to overheating. Start with the compression check because if that is not good then the rest doesn't really matter because you will most likely need to rebuild or replace the engine.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-backfires-while-running

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/the-reasons-for-low-compression

Let me know what you find and we can go from there. Thanks

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Saturday, April 27th, 2019 AT 12:13 PM

UKNOSO

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Now for my second question I also own a 2002 P.T. Cruiser that was purchased by my neighbor who drove it like he had a lead foot While continously running it out of gas or on very little gas, let's just say it was never filled pass the quarter ta. Nk mark, and he drove it hot or until it overheated. Finally the car died and wouldn't start again. So we repossessed the car to find out that it needed a new waterpump. We replaced the waterpump, thermostat, and the Sparkplugs. Again it was up and running without any issues. About 2 weeks later it was again overheating and was having a hard time starting. Continued to drive it Keeping it within a 10 mile radius of where we lived, figured it was too risky for long distance traveling. Each time we started it We noticed that it was taking longer and harder to start. Near the end of this adventure When the motor wasn't even hot and you would start it, it would automatically start shooting water outthe top of the radiator as if it was hot, but it wasn't. We got a few more days of driving it but having to keep short distance along with refilling it every time we stopped. Then it just wouldn't start, it'll crank over but won't start. I've checked the coil pack and compression, as well as the fuel pressure. Which all came back just fine with no problems. And there's no different sound either, it sounds normal but won't start. Also before I forget when we fixed it the second time it had straight white smoke coming out the tail pipe and we had bought this stuff from Auto zone called Blue Devil. But now it won't start, so if I could get some help on this I would greatly appreciate it, and when I figure out the Izuzu Axiom issue I will be glad to update you on that as well Thanx.

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Friday, May 3rd, 2019 AT 8:12 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

So we need to start with the basics. An engine needs compression, fuel, and spark to start. If you did a compression check and verified fuel pressure, then I would have to assume you are not getting spark. Pull one of the plug wires off and hold it against a bolt or nut on the engine and see if it arcs.

Even though you have fuel pressure, try spraying some starter fluid in the intake and see if it tries to fire then. You may have a fuel rail issue.

Based on what you were saying, I would go to a compression issue because that explains why the coolant was coming out, it was due to combustion pressure going into the coolant most likely from a blown head gasket. A blown head would also explain the white smoke. Lastly, that blue devil stuff you put in the engine was to repair a blown head gasket. It is okay but is not a permanent fix.

When did you do your compression test? It may be worth while to do it again and also do a cylinder leakage test. Just redo the tests real quick and send me the numbers.

Here are some guides that will help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

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Saturday, May 4th, 2019 AT 4:34 PM