jmills62
12-18-2015, 05:34 PM
2001 Legacy wagon MT: motor in 5k ago, cranks but will not start - with cam sensor plugged in
Okay, I'm at about wits end with this girl about to give in and to take it to the dealer...
So, Thanksgiving night I was driving in the hills to my friend's house when all of a sudden my car dies and will not start(half a tank of gas, no overheating). Cranks and cranks, but nothing.. leave it and come back to check it another day after scouring the forums to see what to check.
Fuses, Cam, Crank, Knock sensor, timing? I went thru and actually get it to start with the cam sensor unplugged!?! idles like crap, sputters when trying to give it gas. Order a sensor, put it in..same thing, crank no start. Drive it down the hill as is to Autozone(3mi). Check the battery, is ok. would not start again with cam unplugged. . FB group mentioned TPS, I check that(my EJ253 doesn't have adjustable TPS) no dice.
Tow it to Pep boys to have it looked at, they tell me not enough power to the ECU and throwing codes for Cam, Crank, and Throttle Position Sensors(the 3 sensors I was messing with to try to get it to start and don't think I reset the memory then). I need a new ECU first they say, and they tell me they've already have had 5 bad ECUs this month, when I ask how often that happens(really? I'm doubting the ECU)
I mention to them if the guy reset the ECU and tried to duplicate the errors, said they could try that, call me a few days later asking when I'll pick up the car(so, they never tried it). I bring in a used ECU and change it out myself in the parking lot, same issue. Cranks but will not start with cam sensor plugged in. I unplug it, starts right up. (WTF!!??)
I switch old ECU back in.. check timing on driver's side cam( which someone from a shop 30mi from me had mentioned it sounds like), and looks to be on time - Checking Top dead center with piston 1 all the way up.. Drive it home where it's been parked..
So, I'm lost what else could it be?? I've driven this for ~5K miles since I put this other engine in... and it dies out of nowhere. I don't drive this hard at all. Trying to think I might have given it a little extra gas while driving up hill(in the hills that night) but timing looks to be fine..
***
I checked spark plugs
Battery good
Unplugged the alternator- no change
all fuses look good
fuel pump primes
coil is def getting spark (I shocked the **** out of myself)
not positive of spark when cam plugged in
*while resetting ecu I could get it to pop before a full crank trying to start, but dies immediately (with cam sensor plugged in)
there is pressure (haven't tested with guage- do not have that tool)
Replaced the cam sensor(cheap eBay sensor, junk yard OEM, autozone ac Delco version) and get the same result
Looked around at all wires look to be ok- nothing disconnected(besides cam sensor).
swapped ECU- no change (could this ECU be bad too?)
I've a Mini ELM327(off eBay) and tells me it cannot connect with ECU.(should I try the other ECU again?)
Is there anything else I'm missing?? Or do I just take it to the dealer, and give them my wallet?
Okay, I'm at about wits end with this girl about to give in and to take it to the dealer...
So, Thanksgiving night I was driving in the hills to my friend's house when all of a sudden my car dies and will not start(half a tank of gas, no overheating). Cranks and cranks, but nothing.. leave it and come back to check it another day after scouring the forums to see what to check.
Fuses, Cam, Crank, Knock sensor, timing? I went thru and actually get it to start with the cam sensor unplugged!?! idles like crap, sputters when trying to give it gas. Order a sensor, put it in..same thing, crank no start. Drive it down the hill as is to Autozone(3mi). Check the battery, is ok. would not start again with cam unplugged. . FB group mentioned TPS, I check that(my EJ253 doesn't have adjustable TPS) no dice.
Tow it to Pep boys to have it looked at, they tell me not enough power to the ECU and throwing codes for Cam, Crank, and Throttle Position Sensors(the 3 sensors I was messing with to try to get it to start and don't think I reset the memory then). I need a new ECU first they say, and they tell me they've already have had 5 bad ECUs this month, when I ask how often that happens(really? I'm doubting the ECU)
I mention to them if the guy reset the ECU and tried to duplicate the errors, said they could try that, call me a few days later asking when I'll pick up the car(so, they never tried it). I bring in a used ECU and change it out myself in the parking lot, same issue. Cranks but will not start with cam sensor plugged in. I unplug it, starts right up. (WTF!!??)
I switch old ECU back in.. check timing on driver's side cam( which someone from a shop 30mi from me had mentioned it sounds like), and looks to be on time - Checking Top dead center with piston 1 all the way up.. Drive it home where it's been parked..
So, I'm lost what else could it be?? I've driven this for ~5K miles since I put this other engine in... and it dies out of nowhere. I don't drive this hard at all. Trying to think I might have given it a little extra gas while driving up hill(in the hills that night) but timing looks to be fine..
***
I checked spark plugs
Battery good
Unplugged the alternator- no change
all fuses look good
fuel pump primes
coil is def getting spark (I shocked the **** out of myself)
not positive of spark when cam plugged in
*while resetting ecu I could get it to pop before a full crank trying to start, but dies immediately (with cam sensor plugged in)
there is pressure (haven't tested with guage- do not have that tool)
Replaced the cam sensor(cheap eBay sensor, junk yard OEM, autozone ac Delco version) and get the same result
Looked around at all wires look to be ok- nothing disconnected(besides cam sensor).
swapped ECU- no change (could this ECU be bad too?)
I've a Mini ELM327(off eBay) and tells me it cannot connect with ECU.(should I try the other ECU again?)
Is there anything else I'm missing?? Or do I just take it to the dealer, and give them my wallet?