Cranks will not start?

IKEBMAN

MEMBER
1994 NISSAN SENTRA
1.6L
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
150,000 MILES

I changed the spark plugs. I checked the spark plugs out of the cylinders and no spark cleaned build up out the distributor and gave fresh clean surfaces. It was running fine when I parked it a week ago. The rear motor/transmission mount came unbolted, and it wouldn't go in any gears other than first until I got it home and hoisted the engine a transmission up and managed to (over a period of days by myself not knowing what I was doing) get it remounted and have all gears it seems. But now that it's all back together it won't even fire. Any advice is greatly appreciated it was my only reliable vehicle.

5 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,758 POSTS

Hi,

The most common cause of a crank no start condition is either no fuel to the engine or loss of ignition spark.

Here is what I need you to do. First, see if the engine starts if you use starting fluid. If it does or tries to start and then stalls, we know it is a fuel-related issue. If there is no change using starting fluid, then we need to check for spark at the spark plugs.

Here is a link that explains how to check:

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

If you could, record it cranking and upload it for me to hear.

Do this and let me know the results.

Take care,

joe

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Sunday, April 23rd, 2023 AT 9:55 PM

IKEBMAN

MEMBER
3 POSTS

So I used gasoline instead of starting fluid but it still wouldn't start so I checked for spark but not as was described in the video so I'm going to double check, but once I gotten done checking the way I did I opened up the distributor cap and there was a decent amount of corrosion and lines eaten out of two of the posts inside the distributor so I cleaned it up with a fine file and got the same result is it possible that that corrosion and the file took too much off of the distributor posts and they aren't close enough to cause spark? I appreciate you taking the time to assist me with this very much. I'm at a loss for ideas I can afford or am capable of.

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Tuesday, April 25th, 2023 AT 9:26 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,758 POSTS

Hi,

Try this: Let's see if there are diagnostic trouble codes present. You don't need a scanner on this vehicle. Follow the directions in this link and let me know what you find:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/nissan-obd1-diagnostic-trouble-codes-and-retrieval-procedure-1984-to-1994

Let me know.

Joe

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Tuesday, April 25th, 2023 AT 8:18 PM

IKEBMAN

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thank you so much, Joe. I will try this right away; I thought I had to have like a factory stereo or a code reader in order to even try to retrieve the codes.

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Sunday, April 30th, 2023 AT 10:55 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS