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Car cranks but wont start

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Old 12-21-2018, 02:55 PM
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Default Car cranks but wont start

So im new here, and i need some help, my car recently went into some type of limp mode, i have a 98 sedan with a z6 full swap on it including a p28, i was driving the car regularly, abd for the first time I noticed the car went into limp mode, couldn’t pass 60 mph, so i drove home and parked the car, the next day comes up and I decided to go for a drive, and didnt get far enough cause I noticed the car wouldn’t pass 40 mph, so i turned around and parked it, so in the morning I started checking for fuses and anything possible, didnt find anything, when i went to move the car and pressed the gas the car immediately died, wouldn’t let me move it, now im just in a big hole since idk whats wrong, I changed dizzy, spark plugs, and its getting gas, it cranks but just doesn’t wanna start over, checked all the harness and didn’t find anything , timing belt is also good. Any ideas on whats goin on?
Old 12-21-2018, 03:01 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Originally Posted by Ruined.Ej6Sedan
So im new here, and i need some help, my car recently went into some type of limp mode, i have a 98 sedan with a z6 full swap on it including a p28, i was driving the car regularly, abd for the first time I noticed the car went into limp mode, couldn’t pass 60 mph, so i drove home and parked the car, the next day comes up and I decided to go for a drive, and didnt get far enough cause I noticed the car wouldn’t pass 40 mph, so i turned around and parked it, so in the morning I started checking for fuses and anything possible, didnt find anything, when i went to move the car and pressed the gas the car immediately died, wouldn’t let me move it, now im just in a big hole since idk whats wrong, I changed dizzy, spark plugs, and its getting gas, it cranks but just doesn’t wanna start over, checked all the harness and didn’t find anything , timing belt is also good. Any ideas on whats goin on?
Old 12-21-2018, 05:42 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

By definition, if the engine is in true limp mode, one or more CEL codes are thrown. What are they?
Old 12-21-2018, 06:01 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

color of spark. verify mechanical timing.
Old 12-21-2018, 06:06 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Originally Posted by muellersfan
By definition, if the engine is in true limp mode, one or more CEL codes are thrown. What are they?
Right now it only has one CEL and its code 22 which is for th VTEC pressure, other than that it has no more
Old 12-21-2018, 06:08 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Originally Posted by eghatch9295
color of spark. verify mechanical timing.

What do you mean by mechanical timing?
and the color spark is weak which i am aware due to battery been weak of trying to troubleshoot it
Old 12-21-2018, 06:18 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Originally Posted by Ruined.Ej6Sedan
Right now it only has one CEL and its code 22 which is for th VTEC pressure, other than that it has no more

Your ECU is not in "limp" mode.

Code 22 can be caused by low oil pressure, which could indicate a worn out engine.
Old 12-21-2018, 06:43 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Start with the basics
Check for spark
Check for fuel
Check for compression
Check for timing
Check for air flow
Check for clogged exhaust
If you have an EGR valve then check it to see if it is functional
Old 12-21-2018, 07:31 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Originally Posted by avisitor
Start with the basics
Check for spark
Check for fuel
Check for compression
Check for timing
Check for air flow
Check for clogged exhaust
If you have an EGR valve then check it to see if it is functional

Since you just mentioned clogged exhaust, i might need to just order a new one, cause it all started when i took it to the muffler shop to get my headers fixed
Old 12-21-2018, 07:43 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

I was going to suggest a clogged cat or restrictive exhaust system.
Old 12-22-2018, 12:39 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Originally Posted by Ruined.Ej6Sedan
Since you just mentioned clogged exhaust, i might need to just order a new one, cause it all started when i took it to the muffler shop to get my headers fixed
I hope you found the fix
Good luck
Old 12-23-2018, 12:51 AM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

My sons '99 Si had a similar problem...after a clutch re-do, it was running great and then, suddenly stopped hard on the interstate. After a thorough "once again, back to basic" looking at grounds, air, fuel, spark and compression as well as valve lash and timing...I could find no faults. When I went to crank it, it fired right up and accelerated but after fixing a small leak on the O-Ring gasket from the header pipe to the CAT, it went back to "Evil Emma" when I restarted it. It ran great with the pipe off (I just wanted to hear how loud and responsive it would be) and so it was clear that an exhaust restriction was present. I disconnected the pipe and it cranked right up and ran like an olympian with the CAT removed. I bought a new CAT an thr problem is solved. The CAT had a broken honeycomb which created an intermittent restriction (but it was most of the time) and the car to run super rich and not accellerate and bog down. See attached pics of the CAT which was some 10-19 y/o.
Bottom Line: IF the car was running great and then rapidly or sudeenly went bad and all else looks good, a vacume test can isolate the exhaust or you can remove two bolts and fully isolate from the Header Pipe back and "Bad CATS" are a #1 casue of exhaust restrictions. Good luck. "Boog"

A profile showing just how clogged the CAT "Honeycomb" can be on an old 10-19 y/o CAT. This chunk was "floating loose in the CAT

Just another photo of the "Floater"

Probably a 95% restriction less what was able to be flowed / passed through the CAT

Looking into a brand new Walker Brand CAT
Old 12-25-2018, 12:36 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Originally Posted by BoogPowell
My sons '99 Si had a similar problem...after a clutch re-do, it was running great and then, suddenly stopped hard on the interstate. After a thorough "once again, back to basic" looking at grounds, air, fuel, spark and compression as well as valve lash and timing...I could find no faults. When I went to crank it, it fired right up and accelerated but after fixing a small leak on the O-Ring gasket from the header pipe to the CAT, it went back to "Evil Emma" when I restarted it. It ran great with the pipe off (I just wanted to hear how loud and responsive it would be) and so it was clear that an exhaust restriction was present. I disconnected the pipe and it cranked right up and ran like an olympian with the CAT removed. I bought a new CAT an thr problem is solved. The CAT had a broken honeycomb which created an intermittent restriction (but it was most of the time) and the car to run super rich and not accellerate and bog down. See attached pics of the CAT which was some 10-19 y/o.
Bottom Line: IF the car was running great and then rapidly or sudeenly went bad and all else looks good, a vacume test can isolate the exhaust or you can remove two bolts and fully isolate from the Header Pipe back and "Bad CATS" are a #1 casue of exhaust restrictions. Good luck. "Boog"

A profile showing just how clogged the CAT "Honeycomb" can be on an old 10-19 y/o CAT. This chunk was "floating loose in the CAT

Just another photo of the "Floater"

Probably a 95% restriction less what was able to be flowed / passed through the CAT

Looking into a brand new Walker Brand CAT
Yea the exhaust is disconnected, did the timing, it has fuel, spark and compression, still dont know whats the problem, it still cranks but doesn’t wanna start, i just dont get it, the car ran fine and now it doesnt even wanna start up
Old 12-25-2018, 12:41 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Originally Posted by Ruined.Ej6Sedan
did the timing
Post pics of cam and crank at TDC1.

Does engine start when starting fluid is sprayed into the throttle body?

If the mechanical timing is perfect, bright spark is seen at all 4 spark plugs, and fuel gets to the cylinders, then compression test the cylinders (post psi readings).
Old 12-25-2018, 03:03 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

bright as in white. not yellow or orange.
Old 01-02-2019, 05:23 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Originally Posted by muellersfan
Post pics of cam and crank at TDC1.

Does engine start when starting fluid is sprayed into the throttle body?

If the mechanical timing is perfect, bright spark is seen at all 4 spark plugs, and fuel gets to the cylinders, then compression test the cylinders (post psi readings).



i need to take pics of it, but also ik it has compression but idk how much, and i also got told the head might of have bent valves but idk see how thats the issue cause thats not how the car died, i have a vid of the car running one last time before it just stayed cranking, and the car wont crank with starting fluid, its driving me crazy cause i wanna have it up and running again
Old 01-02-2019, 05:33 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Originally Posted by Ruined.Ej6Sedan
i need to take pics of it, but also ik it has compression but idk how much, and i also got told the head might of have bent valves but idk see how thats the issue cause thats not how the car died, i have a vid of the car running one last time before it just stayed cranking, and the car wont crank with starting fluid, its driving me crazy cause i wanna have it up and running again
Bright white spark?
Pics verifying mechanical timing?
Compression PSI numbers for all 4 cylinders?
Old 01-11-2019, 03:07 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Originally Posted by muellersfan
Bright white spark?
Pics verifying mechanical timing?
Compression PSI numbers for all 4 cylinders?

Compression PSI 1-120, 2-105, 3-110, 4-150

also spark is weak kinda like yellow orange, also due to my battery been low

and timing is done i just dont have pics
Old 01-11-2019, 03:47 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Originally Posted by Ruined.Ej6Sedan
Compression PSI 1-120, 2-105, 3-110, 4-150
Three cylinders have bad compression.

Detail how you did the compression test.
Old 01-11-2019, 04:27 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Originally Posted by muellersfan
Three cylinders have bad compression.

Detail how you did the compression test.


with a compression test, wide open throttle and cranked it for 10 sec every cylinder since i was doin it by my self
Old 01-11-2019, 04:28 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

My suggestion is to perform a leak down test. Bad compression between the 2 middle cylinders sounds like headgasket.

I know its a swap but these engines are older than dirt these days and with those numbers something is up
Old 01-11-2019, 05:35 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

compression test done cold or warm? spark is an issue here so far
Old 01-11-2019, 06:15 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Originally Posted by Ruined.Ej6Sedan
with a compression test, wide open throttle and cranked it for 10 sec every cylinder since i was doin it by my self
Did you disable the fuel injectors?
Old 01-12-2019, 04:57 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Originally Posted by eghatch9295
compression test done cold or warm? spark is an issue here so far

car doesnt start at all, spark plugs have spark, not strong but enough to have the car running fine
Old 01-12-2019, 05:00 PM
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Default Re: Car cranks but wont start

Originally Posted by muellersfan
Did you disable the fuel injectors?

yes fuel injectors were disabled


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