Car Won't Start!

[Manuel Kasko]

So this morning I went to drive to work and my car just gave up. I unplug the igniter and the air flow meter when ever I go away for a weekend.

So I plugged them back in and then started the car. It idled for a little bit and as soon as I put it in gear and went to take off it stalled.

Now it won't even turn over.

Any ideas?

I checked both the igniter and the airflow meter plugs. It's my daily so I'm pretty screwed without it

[RosieR34]

Left your lights on?

I had a bit of a scare this morning. My electric key wouldn't unlock the door so I had to do it the old fashion way which released the alarm. Had no idea how to turn it off without the key working but then it just worked Small scares.

[Manuel Kasko]

Nah it has power you can hear it trying to turn over but it just doesn't grab. Lights 100% weren't on.

[Trozzle]

Could still be a flat battery braaaaaaa. If it literally doesn't turn over at all, then either your starter motor is f**ked, the battery is dead, or a fuse/solenoid has shit itself somewhere. It's almost certainly nothing to do with the ignitor or AFM, unless it DOES turn over but just doesn't fire.

When you put the key in the ignition and turn it to start the car, describe EXACTLY EVERYTHING that happens - does it make a rattle/clicking sound? Does the engine turn over but not fire? Does it prime the fuel system?

[RosieR34]

No good man. Let's hope it's nothig major ! Summon Rob # He always seems to give great guidance / food for thought.

edit: I also had this similar issue couple of weeks ago. NRMA came out for 30 seconds to plug my alarm plug back on the battery hahaha I felt like an idiot.

Edited August 18, 2013 by RosieR34

[Frosty]

Nah it has power you can hear it trying to turn over but it just doesn't grab. Lights 100% weren't on.

are you saying you can hear the starter spinning but not turning over the motor?

if this is the case turn it off then flick it straigh back on. sometimes will cause the pinion to push out as and grab the flywheel

[Manuel Kasko]

Okay so when I turn the key I can hear it making the normal starting rev noise trying to start the engine.

But it just doesn't grab and start up. I have had a flat battery before and noticed it just makes a slight noise when that happens.

This is different. It's very similar to if you ran your car to empty and then tried to start it.

I do have a full tank of fuel though

[darksky34]

if you're getting a clicking noise, kinda hollow, then your starter is gone (happened to my mate) if all electronics work fine then your battery is also fine...next up would be spark plugs? no reason for them to randomly die but who knows, could happen? maybe put up a sound clip of you trying to start it? if you said it sounds like trying to start a car on empty tank then yeah, might be sparkies cos that's what mine sounded like when i needed to change them too.

though one more thing - check the loom connections to the battery, all terminals are secure and not wiggling - then grab the looms and give them a wiggle, a few times, try and start the car, and wiggle again. might be a loose connection somewhere.

[Anfanee]

Stop trying to start it and take it to a shop. You will risk detonation if it starts to flood the engine.

Okay so when I turn the key I can hear it making the normal starting rev noise trying to start the engine.

But it just doesn't grab and start up. I have had a flat battery before and noticed it just makes a slight noise when that happens.

This is different. It's very similar to if you ran your car to empty and then tried to start it.

I do have a full tank of fuel though

[D.I.Y. Mik]

He means it wont fire.

So, basics guys, its spark or fuel.

Stop trying to start it and take it to a shop. You will risk detonation if it starts to flood the engine.

you mean fluid lock? bust the head off?

[Manuel Kasko]

Okay so I could have stuffed the ignitior by unplugging it over the weekend?

Possibly moisture has gotten into the plug or something.

Hopefully I can get it sorted tonight because otherwise it's an expensive Taxi to work.

[Trozzle]

Okay so when I turn the key I can hear it making the normal starting rev noise trying to start the engine.

But it just doesn't grab and start up. I have had a flat battery before and noticed it just makes a slight noise when that happens.

This is different. It's very similar to if you ran your car to empty and then tried to start it.

I do have a full tank of fuel though

Still didn't make it very clear lol....

[Manuel Kasko]

Hahaha I was in a huge rush this morning so my mind was all over the place. It's kind of hard to describe a noise. Ill check the plugs again when I get home and also pull out the spark plugs and check them.

I can hear the fuel pump prime and then stop. But I'll pull a fuel line off and check that as well.

Anything else I should be checking as well?

[Trozzle]

i don't mean to sound like a dickhead (especially towards such a little sweetie as yourself, Dan), but you're still failing to answer the damned question lol

The engine "turning over" has nothing to do with it firing up - when you turn the key to the start position, does the starter motor turn the crankshaft successfully? I repeat - this has nothing to do with the engine firing, simply whether or not the starter is doing its job. If the battery is flat or if the starter motor has failed, the answer you'll be giving me here is "no".

When the key is turned to the final stage in the ignition (where it is supposed to start the engine), a few things should be happening - power is given to a small solenoid on the starter motor which causes the pinion gear on the starter motor's shaft to move out and engage with the flywheel. It then also gives power to the starter motor itself, causing it to turn the flywheel. If your battery has sufficient charge, these functions will still go ahead - the engine will "turn over".

Should the engine fail to fire as it should (and subsequently begin to run), the issue at hand will lie somewhere in the ignition system or fuel system (I'm not sure what will happen if the AFM is unplugged - will it not fire at all or run in some sort of limp mode?). Given you unplugged the AFM and ignitor, this is most likely where the fault lies - potential bad connection in the plugs (possibly from moisture as you suggested), or potential failure of one of these parts (possibly just bad luck when you plugged them back in).

While there are many many many things that can stop an engine from starting correctly, you should always start the investigation with things that have recently been fiddled with, especially if the car was running fine before you fiddled with them

[Pattey21]

He means it wont fire.

So, basics guys, its spark or fuel.

you mean fluid lock? bust the head off?

Haha no pre-det. You would burn out your starter motor/flat battery before nearing hydrolock.

Dan by some electrical cleaner clean ignitor/afm my as well clean tb and cas sensor at the same time will get rid of moisture Charge the battery up give her another crack.

If its still no go it has to be spark or timing since you can here the pump prime.

[Manuel Kasko]

Hey Troy,

So I don't know the difference in the noise between those two steps in the start up you are talking about. Ill have to wait until I get home this afternoon. Might try get a video of it and send it to you.

I'll post up here this afternoon around 6:30 when I get home and start getting my hands dirty. Hopefully I can sort it out before work tomorrow

[Trozzle]

Now you're really losing me. Sorry lol, I'm out of this one. Good luck brooooo.

[Manuel Kasko]

Now you're really losing me. Sorry lol, I'm out of this one. Good luck brooooo.

Haha how did that comment lose you?!

I said I'll check it this afternoon and try tell what it's doing.

[Manuel Kasko]

Okay so after messaging Troy and further explaining myself.

It cranks but does not start haha

[Trozzle]

As per our sexting just now, you finally answered my question

Check AFM and ignitor plugs first - Do what Pat suggested and get some electrical contact cleaner to spray on the plugs and clean them out. Hopefully it's just moisture.

If that doesn't fix anything, check fuses. If the fuses look fine, then consider that by some unlucky chance either your AFM or ignitor shat itself at some stage through this adventure lol