Car cranks but wont start
#1
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?
#2
Re: 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?
#3
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?
#5
#6
#7
Trending Topics
#8
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
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
#9
Re: Car cranks but wont start
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
#11
#12
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
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
#13
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
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
#14
Re: Car cranks but wont start
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).
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).
#16
Re: Car cranks but wont start
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).
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
#17
Re: Car cranks but wont start
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
Pics verifying mechanical timing?
Compression PSI numbers for all 4 cylinders?
#18
Re: Car cranks but wont start
#19
#20
#21
Honda-Tech Member
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
I know its a swap but these engines are older than dirt these days and with those numbers something is up
#23
#24