Well, I had the embarassing ordeal today with my car dying when I came to a stop and blocking traffic for 20 minutes until they could tow me home. I'd appreciate any advice on how to solve my problem. Here's what happened...

I had been driving for 20 minutes, and had just exited the highway. I came to a stop and I noticed the car had died. I tried starting it, and it turns over but never fires up. I tried for a good 20-30 seconds and it feels like it wants to start, but I hear a pop and from there it just cranks but doesn't come close to starting.

I popped the hood at my house and I notice 2 of the wires had come off the distro cap, so hoping this was my problem I plugged them back in. Still won't start.

I had just taken my car out of storage for 4 months and it had a very hard time starting when I took it out of storage. Ever since, the idle has been a erratic... sometimes it idles at 750rpm, other times at 1.5k rpms and sometimes as high as 2k rpms. This happen even when the engine is warm.

So any ideas? Vaccum leak perhaps? Or something with the ignition or fuel system?

 

Are you getting spark? Try jumping it, maybe your battery or alternator are toast.

 

I don't know if I'm getting spark, nor am I sure how to test for it. Hopefully I can find something on the internet that will tell me.

I'm pretty sure it's not my battery, because the car cranks over pretty strong. And if I recall correctly, the car will run with a bad alternator. It's just that one day the battery will be dead from not being charged...

 

ok, first, are you sure your car have gas?
check your fuses, what car is this?

 

Yup I have gas. Checked that. Haven't checked fuses yet, I'm going to have to look at that one too.

 

check fuses, reset ECU, take the spark plugs out and take a look at them.
Also, you mentioned 2 cables lose on the dist. which cables? spark plug cables? if so, are you sure you connected them the right way?
Vacuum leaks could be the cause of the erratic idle, but i don't think it won't let the engine turn on.
Also, to be safe, do you have enough coolant?

 

ecu was reset a two weeks ago, so I don't think it's that. And the plugs were changed a week ago too. I'm pretty sure the spark plug cables are on correctly, they're the magnacors and it seems to to people with these wires.

Checked coolant, there's plenty. I agree, it's probably not a vacuum leak. I'm guessing coil, ignitor or spark plug wires.

Would a bad IAC valve or Fast idle valve cause starting problems?

Thanks for the help so far guys!


[Modified by Rain_man, 11:34 PM 2/9/2003]

 

Nope, it would let the car turn on but it wouldn't let itidle right.

Are you sure you are not getting spark?? try taking a plug out and connect it to the spark plug cable while out of their hole, and make sure it touches ground and tell someone to try to crank the engine, and see if you have spark.
Does the injectors sound like they are pumping gas?

 

Pull your sparkplug wire off the plug 1 at a time- start with 1, 2, 3, then 4. Hold it just off the top of the plug and have someone crank the car- you should see the spark arc across the wire to the plug. Check each 1, if their all firing, the FUEL is the next step...

 

Going to have to check for spark tonight... hopefully there is no spark...

This sucks too, cause street sweeping is tomorrow on my side of the street! Must find way to move car!

 

it sounds like an igniter to me.