Car will not start

SHANALEE

MEMBER
2001 MITSUBISHI RVR

I had my vehicle for about 3 years. I serviced it regular and it never gave me any problems until about 7 months ago. As my husband was driving it, it started shaking, then loosing power and within a week it would not start at all. I had a diagnostic done and was told that it may be the fuel injectors. They were looked at and still nothing, now I can't even get the car to start. Do you have any idea what could be the problem? No one wants to purchase a vehicle that is just not working, and I have not been able to get it sold as is.

5 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,871 POSTS

"was told that it may be the fuel injectors. They were looked at and still nothing"

What does "still nothing" mean? I can look at my injectors all day long and nothing is going to change. Were they removed and checked for flow? Were they replaced? Were they tested electrically?

All of the injectors would have to fail at the same time for the engine to not start. It's rare for even one to fail, so causing a no-start isn't very likely. Have you checked the basics? Is there spark? Is the fuel pump running for one second when you turn on the ignition switch? You should be able to hear it hum. Have you checked for fuel pressure?

Shaking, loosing power, then not starting suggests the timing belt has jumped a few teeth. Has it been checked? Has anyone considered performing a compression test?

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Tuesday, October 11th, 2011 AT 7:26 PM

SHANALEE

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2 POSTS

No compression test was done and the timing was not checked however, everything else listed above was performed. Spark plugs changed, and there is spark, the fuel pump is running for at least one second when the car is turned on. All the basics have been checked.

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Tuesday, October 11th, 2011 AT 7:53 PM

CARADIODOC

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I don't know which car model or engine size you have, but since there's spark, the crankshaft position sensor and / or camshaft position sensor is working. That means the fuel pump should turn on during engine cranking. Based on the symptoms, I'd suspect the timing belt first. It won't be broken but it likely jumped a few teeth. Some Engine Computers shut the engine down when the timing belt jumps. It can tell when that happens when the signals from the two sensors are not synchronized. Some computers turn off the injectors, and some kill the spark, fuel pump, and injectors. Either way, that prevents potential serious damage to the valves if you continue to try to drive the car.

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Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 AT 3:23 AM

RYANDIXON

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2 POSTS

Iv got a rvr 2.0l turbo manual gearbox.I had the clutch plate done about two weeks ago.I test drove it it was ok the hole afteroon when I got home I switched it off now it just wont start. At first it was starting then would swich off after a few seconds now its just dead they I checked a sensor just beneath the timing belt to see if the cables have snapped like it did befor but the cables are ok please help if you have a solusion

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Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 AT 8:59 AM

CARADIODOC

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33,871 POSTS

You should start a new post with this question. By piggybacking on this one, I'm the only person who is going to see it because I get an automated e-mail directing me here. None of the other experts will know about your problem or be be able to help. I'd help you if I could but there's going to be a bunch of other people out there who are more familiar with your car than I am.