Engine will crank but not start

Tiny
BEAUTIFULQUEEN40
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 INFINITI J30
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 170,000 MILES
So, I just bought the car listed above a week ago. I was in the drive thru, and it just cut off. It will crank just won’t start. I have replaced the battery and spark plugs. I had a mechanic come out and he checked everything; the spark plugs are good, the coil packs are good, and the starter is good. It has good compression. It's not throwing any codes. They checked the exhaust, it was good. The fuel pump and fuel filter is good. No bad gas. It's not security issues. Any advice would be helpful. Please!
Sunday, June 26th, 2022 AT 5:30 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
It sounds like the timing belt let go or I have seen the crankshaft sensor go out causing this issue and when this sensor goes out it will not set a code. If you send me a short video of the engine cranking over, I can tell for sure if it is the timing belt.

You can connect the car to a scanner and crank it over. The scanner should show the engine RPMs and if not, I would replace the sensor. Here is the location of the sensor in the diagrams below and a guide to help you connect a scanner:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Check out the diagrams (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem. The crankshaft sensor is in with the timing belt.
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Monday, June 27th, 2022 AT 10:49 AM
Tiny
BEAUTIFULQUEEN40
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Here are the videos I have. Please, any advice will help.
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Monday, June 27th, 2022 AT 1:59 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Thanks for the videos, it sounds like the engine is okay, continue to scan for codes and see if the engine has spark. This guide can help you:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-for-ignition-spark

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Tuesday, June 28th, 2022 AT 11:36 AM
Tiny
BEAUTIFULQUEEN40
  • MEMBER
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I had a mobile mechanic come out and they couldn’t figure out what the problem was, this is what they sent me. When I hook up my scanner it now reads a code p0115. Could that be my problem?
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Tuesday, June 28th, 2022 AT 2:26 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yes, a shorted coolant temperature sensor can cause the ECM to dump fuel into the engine which will make it not start. I would try unplugging the sensor, then hold your foot to the floor and try to start the engine, if it starts let up on the throttle. Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Wednesday, June 29th, 2022 AT 10:35 AM
Tiny
BEAUTIFULQUEEN40
  • MEMBER
  • 12 POSTS
I unplugged it as you will see in the video, and it still didn’t start.
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Wednesday, June 29th, 2022 AT 11:18 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Thanks for the video, can we shoot a little starting fluid into the intake to see if it starts? That way we can tell if it is fuel, or ignition. Also, did you check compression in all cylinders? I can hear a little knocking when it is cranking over.
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Thursday, June 30th, 2022 AT 8:19 PM
Tiny
BEAUTIFULQUEEN40
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We tried the starter fluid, and it didn’t work. Yes, the mobile mechanic checked the compression and said that it was good on all cylinders. I also replaced the coolant temperature sensor and no luck.
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Thursday, June 30th, 2022 AT 8:47 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Okay, let's check for spark, this video will show you how:

https://youtu.be/baq_aEWNQ0Y

Let me know.
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Friday, July 1st, 2022 AT 10:29 AM
Tiny
BEAUTIFULQUEEN40
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It has spark.
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Friday, July 1st, 2022 AT 10:29 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Okay, you could have a clogged exhaust system. Can we plug a few spark plugs out to see what they look like? You have compression in all cylinders and spark but it won't run even when fuel is introduced?
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Friday, July 1st, 2022 AT 10:36 AM
Tiny
BEAUTIFULQUEEN40
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We checked the exhaust and it’s good. The spark plugs are new.
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Friday, July 1st, 2022 AT 11:03 AM

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