Redtop S13 starting issues...

[mlewis.cap]

Hey so I have been having problems with my redtop sr20det that I have in a 1991 240 hatch and with plenty of searching haven’t found anything definitive or helpful. I'll start from the beginning and tell all my symptoms..

I bought this car the other day. It was running fine. It was a sweet deal and all I really wanted was the engine. When it runs, you can smell fuel, so I think it's running extremely rich. It has a little bit of gas smelling smoke that comes out while I'm driving it and while it idles. Here's where things get fishy... I stopped to get gas after I bought it and I filled it up. It would not start for the life of me!!! I was pissed! Called the guy back who sold it to me, but he wouldn't pick up. He told me this happened to him before, but he fixed the problem. It would crank, but wouldn't start. I started messing with the fuel pump and the fuse. Nothing. Then I noticed gas was leaking from the gas tank right above the exhaust. It eventually stopped after 10 minutes of slow leaking. Then we messed around for like 20 mins and nothing. Could hear the fuel pump turn on and everything. Somehow it just started after messing with it for 5 mins longer. Got it home. Turned it off and the same thing. Wouldn't start for the life of me. Next day, tried to start it and it cranked up fine. Let it idle til warm still started up fine. Drove it around and parked it, not so fine. I cranked it and it turned over a little bit for a split second then it died. Then it just cranks and cranks. That happens every time I drive it no matter how far or close I drive it. The fuel pump sounds different when it comes on when it will start and when it won't. When it will start, it sounds pretty regular flow of fuel to me. Like a machine powering on. When it won't, it sounds like putt putt putt putt. Not like it's dying, but like it's gargling. I have already tried pulling out the spark plug and putting it on valve cover....we have spark. Checked compression....120psi. Sprayed starting fluid in throttle...no response. I have fuel. Too much. Spark plugs smell like gas, oil cap smells like gas. Took it to a shop and he was boggled. Mechanically, it should have turned over. Tried to check engine codes, but nothing flashed. I believe my check engine light doesn't work. The guy I bought it from said it might be a timing issue and said the sr20 ecu has a safe mode and if the air n fuel ratio is messed up it can cause it to not start. But I thought unplugging the battery would fix that...nope. It also has an alarm system that has a remote start on it just in case that might mean anything. Everything about the engine is stock. It might have a warlbro fuel pump, but that's about it. If I crank it long enough, like 15-20, the cranking sound changes. It doesn't have the constant sound it normally has and it dumps down and slows, but not like the battery is running out of juice.

This morning I went to start up my car and fired up and started easily then let it warm up then killed it then tried starting it on and off like several times and worked perfectly every time then I drove it and turned it off and tried it again and it tired to start then died then will just crank constantly until I wait a day and try it again.

Anyone have any idea on what is happening or what I should look at? Could it be an ecu problem?

[Lobo240sx]

Several things to check. Mechanical timing, your gas leak in the tank? That might be causing it to not run right. Careful with that area it gets real hot and could cause a fire from your exhaust.

Open up your ECU and check the board/pins. Make sure they aren't burned out. You could have a bad fuel pressure regulator, Fuel pump, or stuck open injector. Welcome to the SR20DET world.

[mlewis.cap]

I checked the injectors...nothing. I turned the key to the on position and no fuel leaked out of the injectors. I messed around with the ecu, and nothing looked burnt or bent. I've narrowed it down to the fuel pump. I believe it's just waaaaaaaaay too rich. I can start it by cranking it over and over for a good 30 seconds, then unplugging fuse to fuel pump(and fans) and starting it with it unplugged. It turns and runs s*** long enough for me to jump out of my car and run over and plugging the fuse back in!! Then it runs just like usual. I need to check the timing tho, and see if I can get that gas tank checked out too.... Thanks for the response, Lobo.

[2_Liter_Turbo]

120psi is low compression for an SR. 157psi is OEM new, anything below 145psi or so in considered "tired". Is it 120 across the board? Anyways, back to your issue. It sounds like you are flooding the motor somehow. When the car wont start, try pulling your plugs out and looking down the plug tubes with a flash light. Do the piston tops look wet? Is there a pool of gas or does it look bone dry? Also, what do your plugs look like? Post a picture of those, plugs tell you a lot of information.