I having problems with my car starting. it has been having a hard time starting for several months. The other day the car wouldnt start at all. I had it towed to my buddys shop but we are still having a hard time figuring it out. so far we determined the cylinder 2 isnt getting a spark consistently. coil pack is ok and we checked the continuity from the harness to the plug on coil pack which was also ok. What else should cause it? Please don't tell me I need a new ecu. I dont get any codes for a cylinder misfire so we are stumped.

 

Ever try checking the starter?

 

The car cranks all day! def not a starter, but thanks for the effort

 

starter was only 6 months old and just for the hell of it i replaced in under warranty yesterday just to make sure.

 

CPS. Try checking the codes anyway ... Sounds like 0407 ... CPS code.

How did you determine #2 is not getting spark?

It might be a half dead coil, but it should still start up.

 

Fuel, Spark... have you checked for fuel pressure?

I vote for a bad CPS (one of the two) or a bad camshaft position sensor.

 

we took coil out of #2 and put a plug in it and held again engine and looked for spark then did same thing from another cylinder and it sparked more consistently. then swapped coils between the two cylinders and #2 still had poor spark.

 

Did you try swapping out the plug in #2? i.e you swapped the coil, but it might be a bad plug.

Btw, a bad CPS/CmPS will affect timing.. don't ignore that advice...

 

Yes, we've swap plugs and used new ones. The grn/rd wire going from the ECU to coil #2 is spiratically working we checked resistance in harness and is fine. (doing the jiggle test and everything) I hope its not a bad ECU! (97' SE)

 

the check engine light is on and it was on before i started having this starting problem. i am throwing codes for egrc solenoid and evap vent control valve but i dont think either one of those codes could cause my car not to start.

 

Maybe your EGR valve, this valve needs to freely move up and down. Could cause very rough running as an early symptom.

 

we are looking at the egr now so see if it is causing problem. oh and fuel p[ressure is good. already checked it.

 

If your plugs come out smelling like fuel then your missing a good, correctly timed spark.
If your plugs come out clean and dry you have no fuel.

Fuel delivery timing is controlled by the camshaft angle sensor.
Ignition & timing is controlled by crank position sensors POS and REF.
POS is under the car on the tranny bell housing and it looks at the flywheel.
REF is on the main crank pully, you can get to it by turning the steering wheel full right and removing the inner splash shield in the right wheel well.

My guess is CPS POS, if it goes bad you will definately get a crank with no start, your spark plugs will be soaked with fuel after several attempts to start the car if that's the case.

 

just because you have continuity doesnt mean the wire isnt grounding someplace. Trace the #2 coil harness wire as far back as you can and make sure it's intact. I had starting problems for months. The car would crank and crank and just take a long time to start. It turned out to be the Start Signal being inactive due to a bad ignition switch.

Ever since then I always check for Start Signal when diagnosing intermittent hard starting