Car not starting, I'm stumped!

xXOrionXx070 · 06-05-2008, 10:37 PM

Hello, I'm Kyle. I've been surfing these boards for a couple months now, first time posting. Just thought I'd say hey before posting.

Anyway, so I bought my first MR2 in August of 2007, wow I really like this car. It just screams cool in every way. (Even though the 5sfe lacks any real power, its still fun to drive.) It's been driving fine for the last 5 months or so until February of this year it starts to act up. First what happens is my car wouldn't start/ would stall while idling. I take it in, they fix it. It works for a while. Then the car begins to not start again. I take it in, they fix it. It works for a while. Happens again, mechanic finally finds whats wrong: a rat chewed through the wiring harness leading to the ignition components. They replace the distributor because it was fried and the car runs happily smooth for about 1.5-2.0 months. Then it starts again. They can't find whats wrong with it at all!! These guys have been my family's trusted mechanic for years they've been honest and have given us great work for 15+ years. So I know they're not the problem. So heres the breakdown: (I'm not very mechanically-inclined mind you)

It is NOT the Coil
It is NOT the igniter
It is NOT the ignition wires
It is NOT the wiring harness
It is NOT the ECU
Burnt up 3 Distributors, keep failing they can't find why.
Everything has good continuity; no loose grounds or shorts.
I said to them it might be the fuel pump as a couple of AAA guys have suggested (3 different tows w/ 3 different guys suggested all the same thing)
They said it wasn't that. I'm at a loss, so far this car has cost me 1,200+ just to get it to start.

BTW: It happens sporadically; after running for a while, after a nite of sitting. Also, the car will crank and turn over fine, just won't start.

Alright guys, time for some detective work, got any guesses?

Russell the Love Muscle · 06-05-2008, 11:31 PM

does it have spark? is it getting fuel? have you done a compression/leak down test?

Ben · 06-07-2008, 06:52 PM

When you try and start it, does it crank but not turn over? Or does absolutely nothing happen?

lude1888 · 06-07-2008, 08:25 PM

I bet you its corrosion on your wires! I've seen this happen in this exact scenario so many times. Check your wiring loom running from your engine fuse box going into the car cause for some reason directly under where you fill your radiator fluid it gets very corroded even if the wires are sealed shut tight!

TomsMR2 · 06-08-2008, 02:20 AM

^ i think thats a pretty solid guess. ive had two harnesses fully corrode in half. the way its routed, if you get the extremely common oil leak, it leaks onto a cooling hose which leaks into harness conduit. theres multiple points on the car where similar leaks into the harness can happen..

xXOrionXx070 · 06-09-2008, 06:12 PM

Yes, the car cranks and turns over, it just won't start. It sounds like my engine is trying to start but just can't. My mechanic said that when this happens a "no spark condition" occurs where they trace it back to the distributor. But like I said before, only happens on occasions, all the other times it will have spark fine.

And about the wiring harness thing, they had apparently found a rat had chewed through the wiring harness leading to the ignition components. They cut and spliced it back together though and it worked fine for 2 months. But I'll have a look myself and have them check the rest of the wiring harness. Thanks for the suggestion lude1888.

Thx for the replies guys!

lude1888 · 06-09-2008, 08:46 PM

Is your check engine light on always when you try and start it?

06-05-2008, 10:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
xXOrionXx070 No Skills Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Car not starting, I'm stumped! Hello, I'm Kyle. I've been surfing these boards for a couple months now, first time posting. Just thought I'd say hey before posting. Anyway, so I bought my first MR2 in August of 2007, wow I really like this car. It just screams cool in every way. (Even though the 5sfe lacks any real power, its still fun to drive.) It's been driving fine for the last 5 months or so until February of this year it starts to act up. First what happens is my car wouldn't start/ would stall while idling. I take it in, they fix it. It works for a while. Then the car begins to not start again. I take it in, they fix it. It works for a while. Happens again, mechanic finally finds whats wrong: a rat chewed through the wiring harness leading to the ignition components. They replace the distributor because it was fried and the car runs happily smooth for about 1.5-2.0 months. Then it starts again. They can't find whats wrong with it at all!! These guys have been my family's trusted mechanic for years they've been honest and have given us great work for 15+ years. So I know they're not the problem. So heres the breakdown: (I'm not very mechanically-inclined mind you) It is NOT the Coil It is NOT the igniter It is NOT the ignition wires It is NOT the wiring harness It is NOT the ECU Burnt up 3 Distributors, keep failing they can't find why. Everything has good continuity; no loose grounds or shorts. I said to them it might be the fuel pump as a couple of AAA guys have suggested (3 different tows w/ 3 different guys suggested all the same thing) They said it wasn't that. I'm at a loss, so far this car has cost me 1,200+ just to get it to start. BTW: It happens sporadically; after running for a while, after a nite of sitting. Also, the car will crank and turn over fine, just won't start. Alright guys, time for some detective work, got any guesses?

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06-05-2008, 11:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
Russell the Love Muscle Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 577 Thanks: 1 Thanked 14 Times in 14 Posts iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	does it have spark? is it getting fuel? have you done a compression/leak down test?

06-07-2008, 06:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ben Propulsion Restored Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oceanside, CA / Reno, NV Posts: 3,278 Thanks: 18 Thanked 234 Times in 221 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (10/100% )	When you try and start it, does it crank but not turn over? Or does absolutely nothing happen?

06-07-2008, 08:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
lude1888 some skills Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: so cal Posts: 65 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I bet you its corrosion on your wires! I've seen this happen in this exact scenario so many times. Check your wiring loom running from your engine fuse box going into the car cause for some reason directly under where you fill your radiator fluid it gets very corroded even if the wires are sealed shut tight!

06-08-2008, 02:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
TomsMR2 Formerly Tom Brokaw Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bay Area Posts: 2,040 Thanks: 8 Thanked 152 Times in 129 Posts Blog Entries: 1 iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	^ i think thats a pretty solid guess. ive had two harnesses fully corrode in half. the way its routed, if you get the extremely common oil leak, it leaks onto a cooling hose which leaks into harness conduit. theres multiple points on the car where similar leaks into the harness can happen..

06-09-2008, 06:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
xXOrionXx070 No Skills Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Yes, the car cranks and turns over, it just won't start. It sounds like my engine is trying to start but just can't. My mechanic said that when this happens a "no spark condition" occurs where they trace it back to the distributor. But like I said before, only happens on occasions, all the other times it will have spark fine. And about the wiring harness thing, they had apparently found a rat had chewed through the wiring harness leading to the ignition components. They cut and spliced it back together though and it worked fine for 2 months. But I'll have a look myself and have them check the rest of the wiring harness. Thanks for the suggestion lude1888. Thx for the replies guys!

06-09-2008, 08:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
lude1888 some skills Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: so cal Posts: 65 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Is your check engine light on always when you try and start it?