Cranks but will not start

MRBARNARD

MEMBER
2006 CHRYSLER SEBRING
2.7L
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
85,000 MILES

My car listed above convertible has sat during most of the pandemic shutdown.

The starter turns the engine but the engine does not fire.

I had to replace the water pump, then the radiator, then the battery. After all that, it wouldn't turn over. Now that I got the starter to crank, the car won't start.

I have checked all the relays and they appear to all be good. It sat for months low on gas, now has 1/4 tank. I don't think I hear the fuel pump whirring when the key is on, but not sure (it's inside the tank).

5 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

I think you are on the right path. We need to start with checking for fuel pressure and then move to spark.

I would just take some starter fluid and spray it in the intake and see if the engine fires. If not, then we need to remove the spark plugs and check for spark while cranking.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

The other possible cause is you have stale fuel and need to fill the tank with fresh fuel. If this is the case, more then likely you need to change the plugs if you have been cranking and the fuel pump is working. If it is then you will soak the plugs and foul them.

So let's confirm this is a fuel issue and if you don't here the pump running and it fires with starter fluid then we need to replace the pump. Or you can just check the fuel pressure with the guide above.

Here is a general guide that goes through what we will be doing:

https://youtu.be/dCjmRL3p4Cs

Let us know the results of this and we can go in that direction depending on the results. Thanks

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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 9:57 AM

MRBARNARD

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10 POSTS

Thanks. Will try it ASAP.

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Tuesday, August 11th, 2020 AT 12:39 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Sounds great. Let us know how you make out. Thanks

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Tuesday, August 11th, 2020 AT 7:15 PM

MRBARNARD

MEMBER
10 POSTS

I've used the starter fluid, and nothing. The car cranks (and I think I hear the pump) but with starter fluid sprayed into the throttle housing, it does not fire. I tried four times. In that the fuel pump requires removing the fuel tank, I'm hesitantly relieved. But why doesn't it fire? I checked fuses and relays.

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Thursday, August 13th, 2020 AT 7:36 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Okay. One of two reasons. Either you have no compression (unlikely) or you have no spark. We need to pull a plug and hold it against the block and crank the engine to see if if fires. If not we clearly have an ignition issue.

Something to be mindful of is if the pump is working and the injectors are firing but the engine is not starting and you have been cranking it then it can foul the plugs. I would suggest if you find there is a weak spark or even what appears to be a normal spark, I would change the plugs just to make sure you are not dealing with a weak spark at this point. You may have fixed it with one of the other repairs but now have fouled plugs which is causing it to not start.