car wont start

Discussion in 'Technical' started by mhoff25, Sep 18, 2009.

  1. mhoff25

    mhoff25 Member

    i degreased my motor the other day, then moved it back to its spot... now ever since then it wont start. could i have shorted something out hosing the motor?

    when i turn the key it sounds like it wants to start... it just doesnt get there.

    any help would be great.

    cheers
     
  2. Cool300ZX

    Cool300ZX Tasmanian Zed

    Did same thing on my Honda

    I cleaned my Honda Integra engine and then NO go. I ended up getting a small amount of water/cleaner in the spark plug guides and the heat from the motor caused some condensation on the plugs = No start (but good "starting" sounds just NO start)

    RACT in Tas came out, once I told him what I did he went straight to the plug guides used compressed air to blow out the water and Bingo she started.
    He said if it happens again (which it will NOT) I could leave the bonnet open and let the sun evaporate the water out.

    I've since learnt my lesson - When cleaning engine I now use the Tech section "Engine cleaning" advice.

    Cheers
    Pete
     
    mhoff25 likes this.
  3. Chrispy

    Chrispy Pretentious Upstart

    Check your fuses in the engine bay. And clean the connectors as Pete noted above. Specially CAS and PTU.
     
  4. WazTTed

    WazTTed Grease Monkey

    did you just clean with degreaser. or degrease then hose the motor with a garden hose ??
     
  5. mhoff25

    mhoff25 Member

    degreased then hosed, thats how ive always done it and never had any dramas before.

    thanks for the advice guys.
     
  6. WazTTed

    WazTTed Grease Monkey


    you hosed a zed engine bay with a 20 year old wiring harness...
    there are no special water proof connectors on a z at all

    Good luck
     
  7. mhoff25

    mhoff25 Member

    ive hosed it in the past, it started after i degreased it.

    and its a 17yr old car :p
     
  8. mhoff25

    mhoff25 Member

    ive established that the coil relay is clicking, but the spark plugs arent firing. does that mean the wiring harness is cactus? its all dry inside there though.
     
  9. OZX_320

    OZX_320 Detachable Member

    Did you pull the coilpacks? Check that you haven't filled the spark plug galleys with water. Found that even the slightest bit of moisture in there will cause the coils to earth out, rather than spark through the plugs.
     
  10. OZX_320

    OZX_320 Detachable Member

    Remove the coilpack. Firstly inspect the Spark Plug Galley for moisture. A compressor with air blower handy will make the job a lot easier. Inspect the coilpack also. Remove the lower rubber cap from the shaft and check for any moisture there also. Be aware that the spring loaded graphite connector at the end will come out. Dont Lose it. Got my money in you filling the galleys with water. Even though the Guides (or whatever they're called) are insulated, the slightest bit of moisture at the base of the plug will cause it to short out.
     
  11. mhoff25

    mhoff25 Member

    yeah ive pulled them all out, they are all dead dry.. so im truely lost now, if i had water in 1 of them it would at least fire up the rest of the cylinders but none are firing.
     
  12. nonesenze

    nonesenze New Member

    if u know someone who has a paint shop, then make them bake the car at low heat over night, that should dry everything up nice 40c (just dont leave anything in the car like aerosol cans and stuff like that) ;)
     
  13. MagicMike

    MagicMike Moderator Staff Member

    LOL WTF???:eek:
     
  14. red32

    red32 You talkin' to me?

    Did something similar with my Zed some years ago (sprayed foam cleaner to degrease the engine) and managed to kill the crank-angle sensor. Result - cranked really strongly, but wouldn't fire!
    Swap it out for a known working one and see what happens.
     
  15. mhoff25

    mhoff25 Member

    lol thanks guys.. ill try that.

    and to nonesenze.. QLD is already a very hot place and its already been a week.. so im guessing its definately not a water issue.
     
  16. swampman

    swampman 89 Z31 2+2

    It must have origionally been. Car started before, hosed engine bay (water got somewhere it shouldn't have), car does not start. Pull all coils packs, check ECU codes, possibly PTU or CAS.
     
  17. mhoff25

    mhoff25 Member

    but it started after i hosed it....then i moved it back to its spot, after that it wouldnt start.
     
  18. swampman

    swampman 89 Z31 2+2

    What ecu codes appear? No spark or no injection? Remove the CAS and rotate it, do you get both injectors and sparkplugs ticking?
     
  19. zed4life (zedcare.com)

    zed4life (zedcare.com) Ω vicarious zedder Ω

    Are you getting spark?

    Pull a coilpack and spark plug out. Reconnect the wiring plug and insert the spark plug into the coilpack. Hold the end of the spark plug a could mm from the plenum and crank it over. If you get no spark between plug end and plenum, then I'd try a known working PTU...

    Series 1 PTUs have been known to die at any time. This could be a coincidence. Although its still possible that the PTU was hot and a splash of cold water could have killed it...
     
    mhoff25 likes this.
  20. mhoff25

    mhoff25 Member

    nah mate no spark as stated above. i'll definately give that a try, thanks
     

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