Car won't star could you please help
 

Hi guys,

I own an `89 SE which has been with me for the last 5 years, running great, no probs. This morning the car just wouldn't start. I read through some of the similar threads posted here and I tried quite a few troubleshooting tips.

Let me give you some background:

Before the Xmas break I drove home no problem, parked the car, a week later is this morning. The engine cranks OK, quite enough battery power, only it will not start.

I checked:
- ECU code is giving me code 55 - i.e. no engine management problem,
- Checked ignition, I have sparks
- Checked fuel line - I have fuel all the way to the injector bar
- Checked injectors (two of them) with the screwdriver method (stetoscope) seem to be working.
- Checked grounding, removed the ground wire from underneat the batery and cleaned it.
- The fuel pump seems to work and I can hear the buz when the key is turned on.
- dash lights seem to react properly to stating, check engine and oil lamps go off while cranking.

At this point I'm clueless as to what could be wrong. Is it possible the timing belt is gone? Any ideas?

I've seen some nice advice here before, I hope I can also get some.

Thanks a lot.

auto or manual?

It's automatic, thanks for the attention

What type of "no start"? Does it crank? Does it hum? How did you test the battery? Ran perfect before you parked it?

The engine turns fine, battery should be fine, was charged before this, also tried with jump starts, same result.

Good point about the past. Yes, the car ran fine before I parked it although it was giving me some oddities lately. The speedometer was malfunctioning to the point where it would just fall back to 0 regardless of the driving speed.
Other than that, the water pump was getting a bit louder but never had serious problems with it yet. Actually I was proud of how easy this engine was starting before this, we were even joking about just showing it the key:)

So to answer your question:
- The engine turns at normal rpm while cranking (i.e. same sound as I heard other times before start)
- The engine never fires, not once, not even a misfire,
- I recharged the battery and tried it again, same result.

you got spark at the plug, or you only checked at the coil?

I used a spare spark-plug and removed the plugs one by one. Tried four out of the six (the rear ones are really hard to reach) and each had sparks.

I was reading in Haynes that the krank angle sensor could be faulty. Should this not have been shown by the ECU? I mean is there any value in taking it apart and testing it?

what color spark did you get?

Have you done a compression check on any of the cylinders yet?

I think it was blueish spark, I'd say strong enough but than again it wasn't under presure...

I haven't tested the presure in any of the cylinders yet since I don't have a gauge, and the plug holes are really deep for a finger check.

you were fingering your cars hole ? :rofl:

im just playing around

on a more serious note : it seems like trying to diagnose this on the net is kinda difficult but id be glad to list a few things to check

1) fuel pump (you check already)
that takes care of fuel.....

2) spark (check this also)
that takes care of the fire

3) air (ha ! got you here)
MAF sensor, TPS sensor,

4) grounds ! dont just check the one ground there are multiple ground points, do sone investigating

Hey I have the same problem as you I have a 91 max and it is doing all the same things yours is I'm takin it to nissan on friday to have them look at it and I will tell you what they say unless you fix yours first

If you have gas, air and spark it seems to me maybe timing is off?

Hey "TheGreat", sorry to hear that, however I'm currios what Nissan is going to say. I am leaning towards the timing belt failure right now. When the belt goes, there is no real sound and the symptoms are very similar to ours. I've had a Prelude lose it's timing once while driving and it never started up again - 'till a new belt was installed, that is.

So, if nobody has better ideas, I'll probably take it apart Sunday.

pull of the distributor cap and check the rotor I just got mine fixed and the screw holding the rotor in place was out so it messed up the cap and rotor which threw off the fireing timeing

Is There Any Gap Between The Piston And The Valves?
 

I mean if for some reason the timing belt breaks is there enough clerance for the piston to not bend or break the valves? Had a sentra that if not timed correctly messed up the valves, had to buy new head. :mecry:

nope, Interference motor here too