OK guys.....man my luck is horrible. Car STILL wont start

[DaveHutch]

Ok, so without writing a novel, i have been trying to get my car done for ( from start to now) 13 months. The last two months has just been finishing fuel stuff and odds and ends. Im super excited for the new motor, and E85 with my KB.

i have had a slu of problems, most of which i have worked through with little trouble. I didnt want to even post this, because its hard to diagnose over the web, but i searched and found very little that helped.

Last week, i had fuel leaks galore, fixed those. Then the car would not start. I checked EVERYTHING fuse, relay and ground related. The car has fuel pressure from the eliminator, and 39 pounds strong. As soon as i turn the key, everything goes blank. NO clicking, nothing. I thought it may be the starter ( i broke the freaking terminal anyways, those things are fragile).

So, i went and got a new starter, that was a PITA with longtubes and MMR oil pan. Finally got the old one off, new one in.....and same thing.

I also used my SCT, tried to see if any codes came up and nothing seems to register.

I did a TON of searching, I think i will try to start the car with the gas pedal down, to shut off the injectors, but this is the last thing i can think it may be.

its not Pats, i have been down that road before. Nothing is flashing anti theft.
Nuetral switch in the trunk is good, FRPS is new and i included it in the return system.

I just cant figure this out. Im spending hours and hours under the car going over things, trying things and just cant figure this out.

thanks for any input guys.

 

[03Steve]

I had a similar problem for a bit. I had forgotten to plug in a wiring harness by the passenger side headlight.

That and all general checks aside...it's time to break out the multimeter and the schematics.

 

[05satinGT]

Maybe a fuse? I remember a couple of years ago my buddy had the same problem with his 97 Cobra. We spend hours and hours trying to figure out why it wouldn't start and ended up being something so simple.

 

[earico]

Check around with a light for unconnected connectors.

Is the crank position sensor plugged in? It's on the block near the ac compressor. Pull the connector on it and put an ohm meter on the sensor prongs. If it pegs full on continuity then it's bad.

 

[hotcobra03]

tell more on what happens when you turn key..

ive had issues with battery cables,,both positive and negitive..both causing issue of having power till key is turned to start..

mine would click and everything go dead...even fob wonldnt work and alarm was sounding....

i had found on positive cable..i have changed the terminals to cheap o`s...red/black..i found the paint and buildup under clamp causing issues...however you could push start

this last time was the negitive..the small ground going from battery to front support..it was loose..

this would allow me to crank but no fire...but theft was flashing rapid while cranking

 

[DaveHutch]

I had a similar problem for a bit. I had forgotten to plug in a wiring harness by the passenger side headlight.

That and all general checks aside...it's time to break out the multimeter and the schematics.

hmm....what did said plug go to? and yes...its about time for that i think. Wolfe is coming and i think sunday its electrical mission day

 

[DaveHutch]

tell more on what happens when you turn key..

ive had issues with battery cables,,both positive and negitive..both causing issue of having power till key is turned to start..

mine would click and everything go dead...even fob wonldnt work and alarm was sounding....

i had found on positive cable..i have changed the terminals to cheap o`s...red/black..i found the paint and buildup under clamp causing issues...however you could push start

this last time was the negitive..the small ground going from battery to front support..it was loose..

this would allow me to crank but no fire...but theft was flashing rapid while cranking

well i dont have a theft light. i will check all battery terminals, but i cleaned those all up and re electrical taped most of them.

I am not getting even a click from the starter, its almost liek the battery does not have enough juice. yet that is a week old as of today, and i charged it.

last thing, may be the crank sensor. i will crawl under there and double check with ohm meter.

all grounds are pretty obvious where they go, so im really not thinking i missed that.

i will keep you guys posted. im not too pissed, its raining here all week. i get angry on 70 degree sunny days when every nice car is out and clean, and mine is on jackstands being a ***.

:bash::lol:

 

[03Steve]

Crank position sensor failure will not inhibit the starting circuit.

 

[DaveHutch]

^ good to know. thanks.

I was reading that there can still be a "anti theft" code thrown. without the theft lifght blinking. its like P10120 or something. im going to check that later too. makes sense, if i had all the wiring undone im betting thats possible.

also, i just had a light bulb go off. i honestly dont know if i ever plugged my ECU back in from almost a year ago.

HAHAAHAH i hope thats it, but my luck sucks so its probably not that easy.

we will see in a few hours here

 

[Ironhand]

Its probably a ground. I had the same problem with my car that wouldn't do anything and I thought everything was fine. After alittle digging I found 7 bad or incomplete grounds that I had overlooked or didnt tighten all the way.

 

[DaveHutch]

^ SEVEN? holy crap......im thinking i need to go double check work then. I didnt even know there was that many. i have the main ground to the block, two on the harness going to the starter, and then the battery ones of course. am i missing any some other place?

 

[Ironhand]

I can think of 10 off of the top of my head.

Some looked tight but were not. Its easy to overlook something as small as a ground.

 

[DaveHutch]

this may be a completley retarded question...but i have yet to hook up my clutch cable under the car...i know that wouldnt have anything to do with it, but i was thinking is there some sensor or switch that if the clutch cable isnt taut where the linkage meets the firewall would that prevent start up?( like a safety deal)?

sorry if thats dumb but i want to make sure i expend all possibilities.

 

[Ironhand]

The clutch sensor is on the pedal itself.

 

[DaveHutch]

^ hmm if the pedal isnt hooked up and tight will this have anything to do with it?

 

[03Steve]

LOL

That's the neutral safety switch. The clutch pedal being depressed is part of the starting circuit conditions.

 

[DaveHutch]

^ crap so thats what it is??? i was under the impression you could start it without that.

 

[DaveHutch]

im calling it a day early to go hook up this clutch pedal. if thats it i will feel like an idiot haha

 

[hotcobra03]

you need to see if car starts without starter/turning key,,,this will send you in the direction needed,,,

you can push start it or hook a remote start button to starter...


if you have 12v power at coils and injectors with key in the on/run position ,,than you turn key to start,and it clicks and guages go nuts,,,says loose connection/bad battery..

the blue/red wire on starter,,that should see 12 v with key in start position...

when i did my compression test i just ran a jumper/hot wire to that post on starter..than touched to battery to spin starter

 

[DaveHutch]

^ sounds good. im going to try the nuetral switch on the clutch first. i have a hunch thats it.