UNABLE TO START

[ninja_7502001]

HELLO, IAM UNABLE TO START 1995 MX-3 1.8 5 SPEED
ENGINE TURNS BUT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS NO GAS. SOMETIMES IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WOULD START BUT DIES RIGHT AWAY. I CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND FUEL FILTER - STILL NO LUCK. BEFORE THIS PROBLEM OCURED CAR WOULD CHOKE ONCE I ACCELORATE.PLEASE HELP!! THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION

[Joe Carlson]

It sounds like a fuel pump problem, or fuel filter, because it sounds like its getting fuel but not enough to keep it going. If you turn the key on and off a couple of times and it starts, its for sure your fuel pump. when you first turn your key on your fuel pump will build up pressure, and if its going bad but has some life left in it, by cycling the key, it will build enough to start it for a bit.
Joe

[ninja_7502001]

Joe thx for a fast response, i will try that tonight and let u know. If its a fuel pump, how hard it is to change it and where is it located?
thx

[dj inferno]

f/p is about $180USD... and i think its in the tank... im not sure tho... i bet its not easy tho. gd luck

[ninja_7502001]

thx, ill need it

[What]

fuel pump is underneath the rear seat.

My 1.6sohc started exhibiting some weird 'unable to start' symptoms lately. Today I went to start it and it wouldn't start like there was no fuel (tried several times, several minutes). I picked up and swapped my Escort ECU in and it ran. Put it back on the 1.6 ECU and it ran on that. Sounded a bit off, but cleared up.

I guess I'll figure out the real problem when it leaves me stranded somewhere, but you may want to try unplugging your ecu and plugging it back in and see if that helps anything or not.

[ninja_7502001]

Could you tell me where ECU is located, thx

[Grants]

Right in the middle of the dash near the floor behind the centre console. Just remove the inside kick panel, (one push in thing) and its right there.

[ninja_7502001]

GOT IT, THX A LOT!!

[Typhoonk]

This is a messy test and should not be tried around smokers.

1. Start car.
2. Unplug connector at fuel pump(underneath rear seat)
3. The engine will stall and shut off
4. Take key out of ignition
5. Find fuel rail and unplug the fuel line that goes to the injectors.
6. this is the fun part. Cause if there was good fuel pressure, fuel should burst out all over the place. Be careful!!!
7. If little fuel comes out like there is no fuel pressure at all - then change the fuel filter and try again. Also test fuel pump for power and ground.

8. If that didn't work. I'd check the other end of the scale. Air.
9. Look for air leaks in the intake.
10. Test your maf or vaf ( a faulty or dirty one with cause a rough idle and other erradic situations to occur)

It's how I found out my fuel pump was good. And also found out my MAF was fine, but I had a couple of small leaks in my manifold that was causeing my crazy idle, and stalling. That's when the BP fell in.....................

[Darcy]

This has happened to me a few times when it has been marginally cold out side and I took off without warming up the engine, and it stalled out and refused to start right back up.
How cold was it when this happened?

When this occured to me (twice i think) I had to crank it for about a full minute (5-10s bursts, waiting about 15s inbetween for the starter to cool down, and it eventually started back up.

Air in fuel line? I don't know. Process of elimination

[ninja_7502001]

Thx, Darcy
Typhoonk I cant start the car to test that

[ninja_7502001]

REGARDING ON GIVEN SUGGESTIONS:
CHANGED FUEL FILTER, DISCONNECTED ECU PLUG AND CONNECTED BACK IN.TURNED THE KEY COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE STARTING THE CAR, I HEAR FUEL PUMP WORKING PRETTY WELL. WHAT ELSE CAN IT BE, ENGINE TURNS BUT SOUNDS LIKE NO GAS AND WOULDNT START??

<small>[ November 14, 2004, 11:59 AM: Message edited by: ninja_7502001 ]</small>

[perhapsadingo8yerbaby]

This will cost you nothing but 10 minutes of your time to ck. Remove the large rubber ribbed air intake hose and flex it while inspecting carefully for cracks, especially between the ribs. May not be the cause but it's worth cking as a common cause of the prob you described. Any cracks in the hose will allow unmetered air into your engine and it will act as if your not getting gas when in fact, you're getting a too much air. If ya find a crack in this hose, duct tape can temporarily seal it til you can replace.

[ninja_7502001]

I am going to go check right now, Thx