fenixv8

So I'm stranded waiting on a tow truck. Car it cranking but not turning over. It was driving so well for the past few days.

Last year I replaced the spark plugs, wires, caps, rotors, coils, dme, fuel filter, idle valve controller. It's been running great but now this

Any ideas guys? Could the dme have failed in a couple months? Should I have replaced the fuel pump?

Porschenut_Lee

Did you try a different DME relay?

Feudal Serf

Check the idle microswitch to make sure there is contact when throttle not depressed.
Sometimes the throttle cable can get sticky within the tube under the car.

Got to be simple problem.

Listen for fuel pump
Replace DME with spare if you have

Check idle microswitch.

Try to start the car on one set of plugs by pulling harness off secondary coil controller
(in case of broken distributer belt, or loose plug wire ect)

good luck
FS

fenixv8

Thanks guys i'll give those a try and see what happens tomorrow =( so sad first day of good weather and she's acting up. I dont think i hear the fuel pump when the key does in and turns on. So maybe its not pressurizing.

newsboy

Try a new DME, or jumper it, if it starts, that is your problem. Next, You need to find out if you have spark and fuel.

fenixv8

Thanks News boys Im going to try you suggestion today =( Havn't had to get a car towed in over 10 years. Bringing me back to my Toyota MR2 days =/

klokwerk

I hope it's a simple fix for you!
So far it's been a wild goose chase from one suspect to another. But I think I'm getting closer.

Few things for you to check:
As others have said, see if you can try another DME Relay. You can jumper it.

Getting to the fuel pump to check it is slight pain. Jack up the car, remove the cover/plate... To check for voltage there, you might have to pull the fuel pump down to access the electric connections

If that checks out, you should check if you've got spark. This is where I am failing. I have no spark.
Traced it to a possible problem with my voltage regulator. I am getting less than 12v at either of my ignition coils when measured at the +/- terminals on top of them. Check this on yours to make sure you've got voltage.
Then pull a spark plug wire out and with a spare spark plug, check for spark....
If you don't have spark, and you likely don't, then it could other things...as it turns out, a lot of other things.

If you have fuel AND spark, then I don't know what you're dealing with. Should fire right up!

fenixv8

OK so once I got the car home it started up fine and I drove it around the block and seemed fine. Couple days later I drove it to work and at the end of the day it would turn over for a few seconds then die. Towed again.

I have now replaced the fuel pump , DME again and also replaced the Flywheel speed sensor. The Flywheel speed sensor definitely made a difference to how smoothly the car revs up now but the idle is still a bit rough. Also the old fuel pump looked pretty mint and it looked like someone was in there recently. Im scared to take her out too far from home. ugh. Anything else you guys can think of.

Replaced so far:

spark plugs
spark plugs wires
Distributor caps
rotors
coils
dme relay
fuel filter
idle valve controller
Head Temperature sensor
Fuel Pump
Flywheel Speed senor
New Battery

Microswitch is working correct and AFM is good as well

deadendd9009

When you say you replaced the DME, do you mean the DME relay?

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

My best suggestion is to see whether you have spark when it fails to start.

This test will go a LONG way toward resolution.

fenixv8

Yes sorry meant DME relay

fenixv8

It starts and idles for like a few seconds but then dies. I can keep it going by revving it but as soon as foot comes off it dies.

Evil Bunny

Of interest what is the easiest way to check that you have a spark?

wilson234

Pull easy to reach spark plug boot off plug, get another spare spark plug, insert into boot and ground the side of the plug to generally anywhere on engine, crank car to look for spark. Obviously this takes two people.

I had a no start issue, ended up being a bad coil, and weak spark plug wires. I reversed the wires coming from the coils to the distributors, and it fired right up. Ended up replacing both coils and spark plug wires.

sml

My car cranked but didnt start.

Tried taking my DME boards (ECU under the seat) to a TV repair guy to checked for cracked solder joints.

Fixed! Amazing.