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problem starting car, keeps ticking over but never fires

Discussion in 'VR - VS Holden Commodore (1993 - 1997)' started by Caprice5L, Sep 5, 2007.

  1. Sep 5, 2007 #1
    Caprice5L

    Caprice5L Member

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    i got a problem with my other car starting. its a 1992 mazda 626 V6 but anyways the principle should be the same. its got new plugs and i just bought new leads today for $130 and fitted them thinking it would fix the problem but it didnt :bang:. its been doing this for ages but never bothered to fix it until now. it does start eventually on the second turn of the key. it ticks over just like any car with a new battery, but never fires. it'll tick over for about 4-5 seconds and if you hold the key on start long enough it will fire. otherwise, start the second time and will usually start straight away.

    any ideas?

    thanks
     
    Caprice5L, Sep 5, 2007
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  2. Sep 5, 2007 #2
    Boonz

    Boonz Donating Member

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    sounds fuel related to me, has it had a new fuel filter put in lately??? could be blocked or it could be a lazy pump not pumping enough fuel to the fuel rail.

    should hook up a pressure gauge to the supply line and heck what the pressure is doing at initial startup
     
    Boonz, Sep 5, 2007
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  3. Sep 5, 2007 #3
    Harvs82

    Harvs82 Active Member

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    I'm assuming that you have a spark when cranking the first time? Could be an issue with the timing or distributor perhaps? Do you have an after market alarm or immobiliser system... that could be interferring with getting the car started? Could also be a fuel pump or pressure related problem? Can you hear the fuel pump prime when you turn the ignition on? Could also be an issue with the injectors perhaps?
     
    Harvs82, Sep 5, 2007
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  4. Sep 5, 2007 #4
    Caprice5L

    Caprice5L Member

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    as a matter of fact yes!!! last year the fuel pump shat itself and was replaced by a mechanic. car started fine when i went home. but the next day it started with this starting problem. took it back to the mechanic and he said itll go away. but that was last year. my mistake not bothering about it. but i have to fix it now.

    thanks for the tip, ill check that out tomorrow.

    any other ideas?
     
    Caprice5L, Sep 5, 2007
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  5. Sep 5, 2007 #5
    Caprice5L

    Caprice5L Member

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    Harvs82,
    how to check for spark? do i pull the plug out with the lead and see it spark?
    ill check out the timing and distribtutor as well, thanks.
    it has an alarm, but that never interfered before.
    no, i cant hear any fuel pump when ignition on. not from drivers seat anyways. ill suss that out too. but should i, in a standard old mazda?
    ill check out the injectors too.
    thanks mate.
     
    Caprice5L, Sep 5, 2007
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  6. Sep 5, 2007 #6
    Harvs82

    Harvs82 Active Member

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    Re checking for a spark, I'm pretty sure that you can pull off the number one spark plug lead, and whilst holding the lead by the boot (no where NEAR the edge of the boot) place it right next to a metal object, such as the top of the block, and have an assistant turn over the engine at the same time... if you are getting a spark you should get a strong arc between the boot and the top of the block, but MAKE SURE you are not touching anything near it, especially anything metallic, as you will get one hell of a zap... in the order of 10s of thousands of volts.

    Re the fuel pump, yeah even on a stock standard car, you should still hear a quick buzz when you first turn the ignition to on, as this indicates the fuel pump pressurising the lines in order to start the car. My VS does it, and on a number of older commodores, especially VNs, you can actually hear the pump buzzing the whole time when the car is running.

    The only other thing I can think of is that maybe the fuel filter is blocked, and that the initial priming of the fuel pump is not allowing enough fuel to get through due to the filter... do you know when it was last changed?
     
    Harvs82, Sep 5, 2007
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  7. Sep 5, 2007 #7
    J_D

    J_D New Member

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    Testing for spark like that can damage electronic components in the ignition system. The better way to do it is to put a spare spark plug in the end of the lead and ground out the spark plug by holding the electrode to some bare bodywork, that way you dont open circuit the ignition system. And just holding the lead far back is no guarantee that you wont cop a jolt from it anyway. Most people arent affected by it but it can cause heart problems in some people. So if you do this its at your own risk.
     
    J_D, Sep 5, 2007
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  8. Sep 5, 2007 #8
    Caprice5L

    Caprice5L Member

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    thanks for all the tips ppl. ill do what i can and if i cant fix it, then i guess its off to the mechanic.
     
    Caprice5L, Sep 5, 2007
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  9. Sep 6, 2007 #9
    Caprice5L

    Caprice5L Member

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    after checking everything, the problem is the fuel filter, it doesnt purge. there is no sound of the fuel pump whining when the key is on start. autobarn has fuel pump to suit for $120 but its in-tank. ive done one before in my old 180SX, hopefully its similar. should have taken it back to the mechanic who fixed it in the first place. negative rating to that shop.

    thanks for your help ppl.
     
    Caprice5L, Sep 6, 2007
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