Starting problems, still. - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Rittmeister · 08-25-2003, 02:50 PM

OK guys, I've got trouble. This is all on a 90 KA24E SOHC motor.

1. It's getting spark
2. Fuel pressure is good.
3. Injectors are getting power (noid lights)
4. Battery is good.
5. Alternator is new.
6. ECU is throwing code 55, normal operation
7. Fuses are good.
8. Relays are good, I think (I don't know how to test them)
9. Compression is good.

Car cranks but won't start, even with starting fluid. I'm out of ideas, and the car is at my mechanic's but he's not got a lot of time for it.

Any help GREATLY appreciated. There are a couple more things I did, but I can't remember everything right this second.

TIA

Bill Roberts · 08-25-2003, 09:34 PM

Ok...another Bill Roberts story.

So I get up to go to work and the car trys to start (this was over a year ago) and I keep trying until (like a dumbazz) I practically bake the starter, run the battery down...hell, late for work..call in..all is cool. I told them it would be a while..

So...next. I did everything you did..

I said phuckiT and called for a wrecker to tow to NISSAN (ouch) BTW, this is before I got on Ziliva or turned a wrench on my car. I had had it a few months and can take most non electronic cars apart blind..and do it to it...but this problem was costing me time off from work. Time to get funky with it.

So 125 bux later (I think) the car is at the dealer and the shop mechanic comes out (I insisted to meet the mechanic..not just the service writer) and he said..sounds like the electric eye on your distributor is faulty right before starting..so you may need a new distributor..about 900 dollars..I said NO...Spark is fine dude, I tested it myself. He said, well it could be a lot of things..maybe the computer..I said NO..computer is fine..it drove right to where I turned it off.

Alert.... dealer

So I left it with them.

Cab to work $$$
Cab to dealer hauling azz because they were about to close at 530, I get off at 5 Cab got me there..80MPH in traffic $$$

$$$

$$$$$$

This is what was replaced.

Dist. Cap.
Plug Wires.
Plugs.
Clutch switch
Cruise switch.
Brake light switch.

I am not even about to tell you what all that cost with labor...for I am ashamed.

Guess what...I get in, it starts..I drive away...about 2 miles later (on a 70MPH interstate) , brakes dragging bad...(dumbazz did not adjust brake light switch properly resulting in dragging brakes galore) and come to find out..they put a dent in my fender above the tire at the lip (urrrgghh)

I miss work like 5 hrs..

I get the car home..(burnt the brakes and rotors up..not going to stop on the interstate)

I adjust the Brake light switch, I drive to autozone and get new rotors and new pads and new fluid

$$$$$$$$$$

So..An hour later, car won't start.

The problem was the ground on the MAFS, and the grounding of all the wires to the airbox..plus an oily relay in the fuse block..and the main ground to the injectors.

Bad battery ground cable too!

So. Look at your grounds and any other thing that they did. Wiggle the wires right around the thermostat housing..(well I took all of them and degreased and checked all grounds against the frame reading and found some intermiddant grounds.

THE WHOLE PROBLEM

Dealer ripped me off. I had some choice words for them..needless to say..wasted money in the trash. At least I got some damn good sparkplugs out of the deal..

Cost...Naw, not going there..

mjjstang · 08-26-2003, 12:15 AM

just a guess but maybe the injectors are clogged. But then starting fluid should still work so I guess im wrong sorry.

08-25-2003, 02:50 PM	#1
Rittmeister Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cincinnati OH Age: 48 Posts: 1,033 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	Starting problems, still. OK guys, I've got trouble. This is all on a 90 KA24E SOHC motor. 1. It's getting spark 2. Fuel pressure is good. 3. Injectors are getting power (noid lights) 4. Battery is good. 5. Alternator is new. 6. ECU is throwing code 55, normal operation 7. Fuses are good. 8. Relays are good, I think (I don't know how to test them) 9. Compression is good. Car cranks but won't start, even with starting fluid. I'm out of ideas, and the car is at my mechanic's but he's not got a lot of time for it. Any help GREATLY appreciated. There are a couple more things I did, but I can't remember everything right this second. TIA

08-25-2003, 09:34 PM	#2
Bill Roberts Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: May 2003 Location: S FL. Posts: 1,538 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	MINE DID THIS ONCE........(all caps on purpose) Ok...another Bill Roberts story. So I get up to go to work and the car trys to start (this was over a year ago) and I keep trying until (like a dumbazz) I practically bake the starter, run the battery down...hell, late for work..call in..all is cool. I told them it would be a while.. So...next. I did everything you did.. I said phuckiT and called for a wrecker to tow to NISSAN (ouch) BTW, this is before I got on Ziliva or turned a wrench on my car. I had had it a few months and can take most non electronic cars apart blind..and do it to it...but this problem was costing me time off from work. Time to get funky with it. So 125 bux later (I think) the car is at the dealer and the shop mechanic comes out (I insisted to meet the mechanic..not just the service writer) and he said..sounds like the electric eye on your distributor is faulty right before starting..so you may need a new distributor..about 900 dollars..I said NO...Spark is fine dude, I tested it myself. He said, well it could be a lot of things..maybe the computer..I said NO..computer is fine..it drove right to where I turned it off. Alert.... dealer So I left it with them. Cab to work $$$ Cab to dealer hauling azz because they were about to close at 530, I get off at 5 Cab got me there..80MPH in traffic $$$ $$$ $$$$$$ This is what was replaced. Dist. Cap. Plug Wires. Plugs. Clutch switch Cruise switch. Brake light switch. I am not even about to tell you what all that cost with labor...for I am ashamed. Guess what...I get in, it starts..I drive away...about 2 miles later (on a 70MPH interstate) , brakes dragging bad...(dumbazz did not adjust brake light switch properly resulting in dragging brakes galore) and come to find out..they put a dent in my fender above the tire at the lip (urrrgghh) I miss work like 5 hrs.. I get the car home..(burnt the brakes and rotors up..not going to stop on the interstate) I adjust the Brake light switch, I drive to autozone and get new rotors and new pads and new fluid $$$$$$$$$$ So..An hour later, car won't start. The problem was the ground on the MAFS, and the grounding of all the wires to the airbox..plus an oily relay in the fuse block..and the main ground to the injectors. Bad battery ground cable too! So. Look at your grounds and any other thing that they did. Wiggle the wires right around the thermostat housing..(well I took all of them and degreased and checked all grounds against the frame reading and found some intermiddant grounds. THE WHOLE PROBLEM Dealer ripped me off. I had some choice words for them..needless to say..wasted money in the trash. At least I got some damn good sparkplugs out of the deal.. Cost...Naw, not going there..

08-26-2003, 12:15 AM	#3
mjjstang Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,654 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	just a guess but maybe the injectors are clogged. But then starting fluid should still work so I guess im wrong sorry.