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Won't start - intermittently

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Discussion starter · #23 ·
blackbeastsrt4 said:
Dam, you should try ordering one from AEM or see if Aaron has an extra

IIRC this happened to me with my FIC installed too..
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Yep, definitely on my to do list lol


I think found the culprit...I went home for lunch to poke around the engine bay some more and was checking the FIC connections in the daylight (infinitely better than with a flashlight at night:jester:). In doing so I pulled the main connectors from the FIC and noticed some condensation/water around the plastic connector:nono:

I wiped them down with a towel real quick and tried to start the car - this time it cranked, started to fire but never caught. A small change, but a change none the less. I sprayed down the connector on the wires and FIC with some QD electronics cleaner and left them unplugged to hopefully dry out while I'm at work.

Hopefully I'm on the right track....guess I'll find out in a couple hours

A big THANK YOU to all the guys who have chimed in to help
 
#24 ·
I have had similar problems starting. I have the 1.8, I thought it was just in need of a tuneup at first, new plugs and new filter did not remedy the problem. I live in colorado, cold and snowy. The top of this engine (coils and connections) seem so exposed to me. It starts hard at times, but it does start, and this problem is intermittent, could the cold be a contributing factor?
 
#25 ·
Destruction1 said:
The top of this engine (coils and connections) seem so exposed to me.
Click to expand...

You can get a cover from a dealership. Makes a big difference. They didn't come stock on most of the cali's as a cost saving measure :(

Image
 
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#26 ·
Sky said:
You can get a cover from a dealership. Makes a big difference. They didn't come stock on most of the cali's as a cost saving measure :(

Image
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I have a very rare 1.8l engine cover.

They stopped putting the engine covers on the 1.8l and 2.0l in 2008 IIRC


On topic - my 1.8 has the original battery (Built Nov. 06) and even with the short drives i do, it starts all the time with no problem (unless i forget to put the clutch in :jester:)
 
#27 ·
It sound as if you may have found the problem! Get it in the garage, pull the plug and let dry well (or use SO's hairdryer), put it back together tightly and spary with the wire-
Drier. It will keep moisture out. Glad it was just anoying. Cold, humid wet weather will find a weak spot.
 
Discussion starter · #28 · (Edited)
the saga continues....

Finally got the car in the garage last night, it took 4 of us to get it up my driveway lol

pulled the plugs and they were well covered in gas. Dropped in some new plugs - nada, still won't fire

I also left a space heater on low over the FIC for an hour or so, still wouldn't fire.

whatever my problem is, it has to be ignition related
 
#29 ·
whodie said:
the saga continues....

Finally got the car in the garage last night, it took 4 of us to get it up my driveway lol

pulled the plugs and they were well covered in gas. Dropped in some new plugs - nada, still won't fire

I also left a space heater on low over the FIC for an hour or so, still wouldn't fire.

whatever my problem is, it has to be ignition related
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well at least its in the garage
 
#31 ·
whodie said:
the saga continues....

Finally got the car in the garage last night, it took 4 of us to get it up my driveway lol

pulled the plugs and they were well covered in gas. Dropped in some new plugs - nada, still won't fire

I also left a space heater on low over the FIC for an hour or so, still wouldn't fire.

whatever my problem is, it has to be ignition related
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do you have a WOT box?
 
Discussion starter · #34 ·
blackbeastsrt4 said:
Hmm try seeing if your coils will fire now. There have been problems on here with failed coils..

Sucks to be having those problems man..
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Yep, that's my next task - I just ran out of steam last night. Like Sky mentioned I'm going to pull the plugs and ground each individually to check the coils.

whoosh@Realtune said:
do you have a WOT box?
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Yep - another one high on my suspect list. If none of the plugs fire when I test them individually my guess is the WOT box took a **** on me.

To confirm this, I was going to use a shunt on the connector to connect the red & black wires and bypass the WOT box. In fact, I may try this first since it will take 30 seconds to do lol

Got a spare on hand Ron, in case this is my culprit?
 
#38 ·
Next step is to check for juice going into the connector. I would guess one or more should get juice when the switch is turned on and none when off. If so, it is the connector. If not, it is farther back in the ignition system.

BTW, have you checked all fuses related to the ignition circuit? You may also have aloose ground somewhere as well. Put a meter on the ignition wire and wiggle everything you can reach and see if it affects the meter. I have a 2000 Intrepid that did this every so often and after much digging, found that the battery ground had loosened over the years. It had streched enough to not make contact sometimes. New clamp and wa-la!
 
#40 ·
Did you try pulling the coil while starting the car and grounding it? I don't know if this is that safe, but it's worth a try to see if there actually is spark going into the cylinder. Other than that you checked fuel as well too right? Fuel Pressure? Also what you can do is what 400hpsrt4 once told me to do which is a good trick, just take off the two 13mm bolts that hold the fuel rail down, and flip the fuel rail upside down to actually see if the injectors are shooting the way they're supposed to be. Put like a cardboard box underneath to catch any fuel that the injectors shoot out. Other than that i'm stumped too since all you need is fuel, air and spark to start a car.

Another suggestion could be the starter isn't fully engaging the flywheel..which is probably a dumb thought..just wondering though

Good luck and hope things turn out for the best
 
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