KA-T wants to start, but, just, wont.

[chrislis]

So here's my story. My car was running perfectly up until around 2:00 pm last Thursday when I hit a bump on a local road and off came two of the hot pipes from my intercooler to my turbo. Alright, let me revise that, the car ran perfectly besides how rich it was running without the FPR installed. Regardless of the FPR, the car ran clean, boosted nicely, and performed better than I had expected. Friday morning I decided to tackle the FPR was unsuccessful as I didn't have the proper tools to get to the stock KA regulator on the end of the fuel rail and it was too close to the firewall for me to get to.

So I leave my house for a 45 minute drive to drop my car off at the Orange County Convention Center for HIN Orlando. On the way there I realize the car is just running like crap. It wouldn't boost nor would it let me even take the RPM's up past 2200. I mean, it was awful. The car would just take abouta minute or two to get to 2200, and shifting at 2200 rpms just felt like crap, not to mention the fact that even when I pinned the throttle nothing happened, the car just wanted to bog down. It's like the car would want to build up some compression and then just quit on me and tell me "no, next gear." Shifting into fifth gear at 40 mph because you HAVE to, sucks alot.

So I'm about 2 minutes down the road from said destination. Thinking the car would make it in at least, I had planned on getting a flat bed for it to be taken home on the next night. Instead my car just died at international drive about 1/8th a mile from the center. I think nothing of it and try to fire it back up, and it's a no go. Car just won't start.

After getting it towed back to Enjuku friday night I have played with a few things and still no progress. This is how my report on it's wanting to start would look:

"Car turns over, fuel pump comes on, all accessories working properly, but car will NOT start. It putters around and wants to start, but even pinning the throttle proves no help or effect when trying to start."

So basically, the compression test is taking place tomorrow to see how deep of a hole I am in. I've been back and forth on numerous things with Enjuku. For instance, the car did NOT smoke at all when the problem occured, nor did it make a big bang, or any noticeable sound out of the blue. The engine just bogged down and finally said "I'm done today, Chris." We tried swapping MAFS in and out, I have a z32 and it's been wired properly, no difference. Here's a list of what HAS been checked thusfar:

-Mass Air Flow Sensor-All Plugs, Vacuums, Sensors, Etc. -Fuel Pump-Fuses and Fusible Links as well as Relays

So what do you guys think? The compression test is tomorrow. I hope the compression comes back fine, if not I'm assuming I have fried rings as Enjuku was suspecting. If anyone has any input that would be great, thanks.

[Florida240sx]

Kida sounds liek my car with cracked ringlands, but you got to be under heavy load for that....typically. Sounds like spark plugs fouled out to me but you said you've checked them. Try sprayign ether in the intake just to see if it actually fires up. Maybe clogged fuel filter?

[Chezedik]

That almost has to be a MAF or TPS issue. What you are experiencing is called limp home mode, and it is common to anyone who has ever experienced a failure of either of those parts.I would like to hear about compression test results, but you have to understand that Nissan computers can be fickle bishez. I know that even after a MAF failure on my last 240, and it's subsequent replacement, I had to charge (or maybe just disconnect) the battery, change the plugs and prime the pump before it would start. Things I should not have had to do on a modern car. Just Weird. I would put more emphasis on those sensors as far as diagnosis.

[chrislis]

new developements:

compression test yielded these results:175 175 175 175

installed new spark plugs and cleaned out the IACV, still no luck. MAFS has been checked again, both the wiring and the MAF as well as the plug.

[Florida240sx]

You said your spark plugs are firing correct? What's your address? I can swing by this weekend and take a look.You do got your fuel line on correct? You try popping the clutch? My friends car we couldn't get to start. Popped the clutch, it fired up and never had a problem with it starting again.

[chrislis]

You said your spark plugs are firing correct? What's your address? I can swing by this weekend and take a look.You do got your fuel line on correct? You try popping the clutch? My friends car we couldn't get to start. Popped the clutch, it fired up and never had a problem with it starting again.

the car is at enjuku right now in the bay getting inspected. if you wanna go by and check it out give me a ring 203-980-7667 and i'll meet up with ya. didn't try popping the clutch yet, but even with my foot on the gas it has no effect, so who knows.

[1995240sxSE]

it sounds like an IC pipe isnt connected! jus my 2 cents, or maybe a big leak in the ic pipe, but IDK why it wont start???

[chrislis]

it sounds like an IC pipe isnt connected! jus my 2 cents, or maybe a big leak in the ic pipe, but IDK why it wont start???

IC pipe has been checked like 18 times.

[frsh13]

Your running an enthalpy ecu right? Maybe check to make sure everything in the ECU area is hooked up right

[chrislis]

i'm going to switch my enthalpy out for the stock ecu in a minute and see if the car starts or not, i will let you know.

[gbaz77]

not sure if any of your ign. relay wires were ever connected/disconnected in the first place but you might want to check those. my car was begging to start and it turned out that my ign. relay wire wasnt connected so i wasnt getting sparks. sounds electrical with something to do with ignition. also you should check the fuse box in your engine to make sure all those fuses are still working.

[chrislis]

all the ignition wires have been checked and are connected, the car is getting spark, but just doesn't start. the fuses are all top notch, and the ecu doesn't make a difference.

[Kenrik]

Got fuel? Got spark?

... only thing left would be timing....

I would personally change the plugs out.. sometimes they can look perfectly fine but still be defective.

[Chezedik]

You should find out from Scott how the ECU reads malfunctions with the new tune, particularly on modded MAF setups. I tried to find out, and got no where (so I bought Emanage). This thing stinks of a bad MAF or MAF wiring failure. Have you tried cleaning it?

[dontbugme]

Doesn't sound like your injectors are firing for some reason even though you have fuel pressure. Did you noticed if they were wet when you pulled them after trying to start it? If you didn't notice, it's easy to check, just pull the plugs and keep the plug wires away from anything metal and have someone crank the engine over while you observe the spark plug holes (from a distance), if they're injecting you'll immediately see/smell a gas mist blowing out of the cylinders. If they're not injecting try disconnecting your MAF conneting plug and try again.

[Chezedik]

An easier way is to disconnect the fuel via relay to the pump. Then you take out the distributor, put the key in the KOEO pos. Finally you turn the gear and listen for clicking of the injectors. I know I have said it, but I will say it again: It is running in limp home mode. TPS or MAF.

[chrislis]

thanks Chez, the MAFS has been tested a bunch of times, the TPS has not. i'm gonna try that if i can get my hands on one soon.

[Chezedik]

You should be able to test it with a Multimeter. Analog would be best. While sweeping from open to closed throttle you want to check resistance, and look for dead spots. That is a spot where resistance goes infinite. I believe the reading should range from about 2k ohm closed, to 9k ohm at WOT. Also, I think that if you disconnect it, the car should start if only poorly. Can I assume that you are using an S13 computer?

[1995240sxSE]

I heard that your car is running now what was your problem?

[Florida240sx]

Manifold is missing a nut *exhaust leak*, turbo-DP is *exhaust leak*Car running to rich, he needs to install the FPR... I hit 10psi in his car Made me pissed because my car is still in the shop...

[chrislis]

i drove my car for about 15 minutes tonight straight and it ran strong the whole time. then i went to let it idle, and went to my exhaust. my exhaust leaks need to be taken care of. i have like no exhaust coming out the exhaust. haaha. it's all at the downpipe right now, ohhh boy.

[Florida240sx]

You either got to have no pressure or backpressure. In consistent pressure will mess your car up. ECU keeps trying to adjust and the pressure changes. Go get the high temp gasket maker or copper gasket maker...It'll last a little while....been on Floyds13 for 2 months now not a problem yet...