Car was running....now wont start?! Car has good fuel, spark, & ECU

[MrBoost]

Ok, here's the deal:

My car ('97 GSX) has been down for over a year now (long story)....Last weekend I actually got it to start & idle ROCK SOLID after switching back to my DSMLink equipped ECU...well, one time after shutting the car off, it wouldnt start again...(no changes to car whatsoever!!)....the thing is I knew that the DSMLink ECU was already bad (it would idle, but wouldnt rev over 3k, all the while showing 100% throttle on the AFC), so I sent it to be repaired by Dave Mertz (awesome customer service from DSMLink folks…..a ground on the board was fried). Well, I received it back yesterday and tried to get the thing to start today....same thing as before…..car wont even start.

I have tried 3 (YES 3!) ECU's. (one is still known to be bad)
I have spark to all 4 cylinders.
I have fuel to all 4 cylinders. (i can turn the fuel pump on/off via DSMLink)
All fuses appear to be fine.

I was having issues with the car just trying to idle before.....now the car doesnt even sound like it wants to try and start at all....it just sits there and will crank and turn over for as long as I try to start it....WTF?!

I dont know what to try next.....cam angle sensor? Power transistor?? What are the odds these parts would go bad all of a sudden?!

I'm at my wit's end on what to do guys....can someone PLEASE give me some ideas? I really thought I was close after getting it to idle solid last weekend….now I’m lost all over again!! Also, if anyone is in the Springs and can take a look, possibly throw around some ideas, please let me know!

[DlandryTSI]

Better pull your timing belt cover off and make sure it didn't jump.

Do a compression test on it as well.

--Dave

[MrBoost]

UPDATE........thanks for the quick reply Dave!


I checked the cam gears (removed upper cover) for timing marks....everthing looks perfect (no skipped teeth)

Also did a compression test ("dry test" only):

150 145 145 150

everything within limits.......

I really think the problem is a sensor / electrical problem....NOW WHAT?!

:mad:

[ph3r3d]

maybee take it to get an electical diagnostic on it? i cant think of what would be causing it to do that. Starter? bad relay, fusable link?

[MrBoost]

STINKING CARBON COVERED PLUGS! :mad:

When I tested for spark initially I used an inline tester (goes between the plug wire & the plug to test for spark). Well, when I checked for fuel I noticed the plugs were very black and carbon covered from running so rich (previously), so I figured I'd try and replace them.....put in (4) new BPR7ES' and THE FRIKIN CAR FIRED UP ON THE SECOND CRANK. :rolleyes:

I'm stoked, right? Well sorta.

Now it's on to new problems ....the car is idle surging like no other (between 1000 - 1500 RPM), and the o2's arent cycling when idling, even after the car is warmed up....DSMLink shows o2 sensor voltage at 0.04V when the car is OFF. When the car is RUNNING the o2's start at 0.04V until idle surge kicks in (about 15sec or so), and then the o2 sensor voltage drops and holds steady at 0.02V unless throttle is applied.

Anyone got any ideas on this one??

[v413nc3]

sounds like the reason you're running rich is because your O2 sensor is kaput.

[ph3r3d]

that sounds right, change it out and see what happens.

cant wait to see it out man!