Sounded the way a car does when it is out of gas?

Tiny
1CRAZYGUIDO
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 KIA RIO
  • 1.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 112,000 MILES
Okay, just as past Thursday evening. I brought my car into the shop where I worked a couple hours before we were done working to allow it to be warm when I got in it so drove into the shop no problem couple hours later when it was time to leave I got in go to crank the car and it sounded the way a car does when it’s out of gas where it tries to start, but it won’t kind of thing and there are no trouble codes. I’ve checked the spark plugs. I’ve checked the fuel injectors. I’m at a loss as to what the heck is going on so any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Sunday, February 16th, 2025 AT 5:54 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,217 POSTS
What kind of work did you do? It sounds like the timing belt let go, can I ask how it sound when cranking, normal? If you can, please upload a short video of the engine cranking and I can tell for sure what is going on. I would not spray starting fluid until we have confirmed the timing belt is okay. If you can't do a video this guide can help us, check the compression which only needs to be done on one cylinder.

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

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
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Tuesday, February 18th, 2025 AT 10:00 AM
Tiny
1CRAZYGUIDO
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Don’t know if you received my video from yesterday or not, I’m going to resend it as well as one that I just made after changing the idle air control valve today.
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Wednesday, February 19th, 2025 AT 7:22 PM
Tiny
1CRAZYGUIDO
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Just did compression test on cylinder #1 got a reading of 120 PSI.
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Friday, February 21st, 2025 AT 12:14 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,217 POSTS
Thanks for the video. the engine sounds okay, let's see if the engine will run on starting fluid.

Here is a video to help:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXLJbuAZ4CE

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
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Saturday, February 22nd, 2025 AT 11:38 AM
Tiny
1CRAZYGUIDO
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Just did as you suggested and sprayed some starter fluid in the air tube intake tube, and it definitely sounded like it wanted to kick over a lot more so than prior. So, the only thing I’m still kind of confused because I’ve checked the fuel pressure, and it was at 40 PSI, I can hear the fuel pump kicking on when I put the car in the accessory position none of the fuses are blown and I’m still not getting any trouble code. So, I mean, I guess I just I don’t want to keep throwing parts at it hoping to fix a problem you know.
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Saturday, February 22nd, 2025 AT 1:51 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,217 POSTS
Thanks for the video. it seems like the fuel injectors are not getting a signal to open, which happens when one of them shorts out, it will shut down the rest of them, let's check out this guide which will show how to check the trigger signal:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-fuel-injector

Also does the car have good gas in it? I have also seen the cat fall apart and block the exhaust system which will cause the engine not to start as well. I would put your had at the tail pipe and have a helper crank the engine over while checking for exhaust pulse flow. Please go over this guide and get back to us.
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Sunday, February 23rd, 2025 AT 10:00 AM
Tiny
1CRAZYGUIDO
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Well I found the culprit that one little wire broken off from a connector that plugs into the coil pack. I fixed the wire plug the connector back in and she fired right up.
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Sunday, February 23rd, 2025 AT 6:31 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,217 POSTS
Yep, that will do it, glad you could get it fixed, thanks for letting us know. Kind of surprised there were no codes. Please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.
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Monday, February 24th, 2025 AT 11:15 AM

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