Car will not start

Tiny
FIDEL CASTRO
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 NISSAN SENTRA
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 92,000 MILES
My GXE model will not start. It cranks and turns but will not start. I have tried jumping and charging the battery. My spark plugs are sparking and are getting soaked with fuel every time I try to start it it is dumping way too much fuel. When I opened up the holes where the spark plugs go in and tried to start the car to see how much gas was going into it I had mist of gas shooting out of each hole. I have pressure tested all my head gaskets and they are all coming back fine with 120. I have tried putting new cam and crank sensors in along with a mass airflow sensor as well and nothing works, I even hooked up my uncles $6,000.00 snap on code reader and ran every single test possible and it was not throwing any codes. But when I tried to run a vacuum test on my fuel regulator I was unable to suck or blow any air threw the hose, is this normal? I am starting to think my computer is shot. Any advise would be great! Also, my car would sometimes start up rough and and give me issues with starting but usually all I had to do was pump the gas while trying to start and it would work. Hope all this information helps.
Tuesday, January 14th, 2014 AT 4:31 PM

53 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 34,094 POSTS
This is not a cylinder head gasket issue. That has nothing to do with too much fuel. The vacuum hose to the fuel pressure regulator is the proper place to look for fuel leaking into it, but as for blowing through it, which way are you blowing? You should have free flow into the intake manifold, not into the regulator.

The cam and crank sensors aren't the problem either. If they do not work, you will not have spark.

Check for a crushed or restricted fuel return line between the fuel pressure regulator and the gas tank. That will cause the fuel pressure to be too high, and too much fuel will spray in. To temporarily stop the fuel flow, you can remove the fuel pump fuse or relay, but you will need a scanner to view live data to look for other causes. The mass air flow sensor has the biggest say in how much fuel enters the engine. It is operation can be observed on the scanner. If you have just one or two cylinders getting too much fuel, you might look for their control wire being shorted to ground. The driver circuit in the engine computer could be shorted too, but that is not common. Either condition will hold those injectors open all the time and you will get way too much fuel. The clue there is to measure fuel pressure with a mechanical gauge. The engine has to be cranking for the fuel pump to run. With the ignition switch on but not cranking the engine, fuel pressure must stay up. If it bleeds down, an injector is sticking open or is being turned on. Measure the voltage between the pair of wires to see if it is an electrical problem or a mechanical problem. If you find voltage across a pair of injector wires, we have to determine why. If you find 0 volts but it is still spraying fuel, that injector is stuck open.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+3
Tuesday, January 14th, 2014 AT 7:45 PM
Tiny
DEBTFREEHOUSE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2002 NISSAN SENTRA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 172,000 MILES
GXE model will not start. I have spark, fuel.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+2
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Will the engine run when you spray starting fluid? Here is a guide to help us get started:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Please run down this guide and report back.

Cheers
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DEBTFREEHOUSE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
When you crank it, it acts like it is starting and then it stops. Spark is okay, fuel is okay. I do not know if the cam and crank sensors working.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
It sounds like you have a timing chain issue. Can you test the compression to see if it is low? This will confirm the issue.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

Please run down this guide and report back.

Cheers
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DEBTFREEHOUSE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Compression is 70 pounds. I took it to the shop and they told me timing chain and it would cost about $1,200.00 to fix so I have to save my money. Thanks for your help on this. I love this site.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-2
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Use 2CarPros anytime, we are here to help. Please tell a friend.

Cheers
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-2
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VALLEGS11
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2002 NISSAN SENTRA
Four cylinder front wheel drive automatic.

I was driving my car the another night. I noticed that the car went down in speed. It quickly picked speed back up. When I came to a stop light, the car cut off. It started back up. I kept going and it went down in speed again. I pulled over to the side, it cut off again. It took a few seconds to start it. I managed to get it started. I drove back home cut it off. I cut it back on and it started right up. The next morning it started for about a minute, then it shut off and have not started since. My mechanic did some testing like, he tested the fuses, he changed the spark plugs, tested the fuel pump. He ruled out the fuel pump because, he listed for the sound and sprayed starter fluid to see if the car would start. It did not, so that is why he is ruling out the fuel pump. Help.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi vallegs11,

Thanks for the donation.

Based on your description of the symptoms and test done, it should be electrical.

Did your mechanic test for sparks at the plugs?

Was the CEL showing when the car started to misbehave?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VALLEGS11
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I know he put new spark plugs in, but I do not know if he tested them for spark. What is a CEL?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi vallegs11,

CEL = Check Engine light in the meter.

Ask him the question about the sparks.

Has the distributor and its components been checked?

Any fuse blown?

Is there power supply to the distributor when ignition switch is turned on?

Ask more questions to make your mechanic sweat. ;)
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VALLEGS11
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
No, there is not spark coming from the spark plugs.
I do not have a distributor. He did check the fuses.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BILO5
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2002 NISSAN SENTRA
Car would not start in the morning.
It has happened twice. Car would turn but would not start. I open the plugs I saw some fuel on the top of the pistons. Plugs were wet with fuel. I sprayed some starting fluid and crank it for good two minutes then the car would start. Once the car is started it would run fine without a problem. (Starts on first crank)
No code in the car computer? Please help.
Thanks
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the coolant temperature sensor and cold start injector time switch and cold start injector.

Cold start injector injects fuel for a short period of time-before the CTS takes over to demand fuel from the computer.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi vallegs11,

Get a scan done to find out if there are any error data stored in the ECM.

When there is no sparks from the coil, either it is bad or it is not receiving the signal to work.

It could be a faulty crankshaft or camshaft position sensor. Check their resistance.

Resistance should be more than zero and not infinity. Measure between pins 1 to 2 and 1to 3.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BILO5
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
What is a good method to check these items?
Thanks for your help.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the CTS connection make sure its tight

Check the CTS resistances warm and cold-should have a high resistance when cold and decreases when hot. CTS should be close by the thermostat housing-not really familiar with this model.

The computer uses the CTS signal to determine how long to open the injectors for fuel demand during open loop mode -meaning when the engine is cold before the oxygen sensor takes over
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BILO5
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Checked the CTS it is fine. Where would I find cold start injector time switch? What would be the next thing to check?
Thanks
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BILO5
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Change the CTS but still have to crank a lot in the morning, once it warms up no problem? What next in line to check?
Thanks
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the throttle position and airflow meter sensors connectors and bench test the AFM.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 24th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM (Merged)

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Engine Not Running Content

Car Cranking but Not Starting? Try This
VIDEO
Car Cranking but Not Starting? Try This
In­struc­tional re­pair video
Engine Not Starting
GUIDE
Engine Not Starting
Over the past 20 years at 2CarPros we have iden­ti­fied the top prob­lems that are eas­ily fixed. This guide can save you a trip to the re­pair garage or call­ing a tow truck and...
VIEW MORE