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car will crank but wont start

T

twoleos617

New member
2004 3.8 GT2

was having issues a week ago with starting the car. would only start with my foot on the brake. now it wont crank but all dash lights light up.
brand new battery didn't fix it. jumping it doesn't work.
ran power probe to starter and it started the car while someone else turned the key. this was done by both jumping the starter as well as just providing power with the power probe and grounding to the trans.
I cleaned all connections/wires to/from starter to no avail. rigged up a push button starter inside the cab and then got in the car to test. decided to try a key-only start and it fired up normally 3 times then stopped working. tried key to on and push button start and it fired up too. this morning, neither the key or button will fire the car although the starter turns strong with the push button.

2 months ago I had the typical cowl leak that fried the heater blower and relay. I replaced both of those as well as the ignition switch. although the blower still isn't working, the car started/ran perfectly until now.

help!
 


with all the testing. you ever check if the little wire to the starter has power when the key is turned to crank? if you have power to that wire its your ground cable, or a dead starter.

the 04 up cars have some kind of crappy ground off the battery right? check that thing.
 
yes. that wire does get power when turned to crank.
to clarify, the batteries ground cable splits from the battery and only goes to two locations- the starter and body(just off the battery), right?

it does have that other little ground but I think I forgot to check/clean that one.

if it is my main battery-to-starter ground line that's going bad, where the heck do I find a replacement that long?
 
when you turn the key and it fails to crank, does the dash black out and you hear a click in the dash? if so thats a bad starter.

you can try the old hammer hit to the body of the starter, if it cranks after a few hits its the starter. or have some one hold it to crank while its hit with a hammer.

parts stores carry long cables. yours loops around the rad support to the starter. ground cable does the same trip but to the tranny bell housing near the starter. id only think its a bad cable if you see bare wire at the cable ends. other then corrosion at the ends they last a long time.
 
and your first issue needing to work the gas to get it to start, thats a dirty TB. take it off, clean the back side of it. 04 has a o ring gasket, its reusable, so just take it off. no need to buy anything but carb and choke cleaner or brake cleaner.
 
when I turn the key, the dash lights up and gauges move as normal. No clicking at all- just normal audible dings and then silence.

thanks for the insight. my battery post is new, cable terminal perfectly clean, and the cable ends seem clean of corrosion but id have to double check that.
I found that Napa carries a 5 ft cable for $13 if I need it.

I can try to beat the starter but I wouldn't think its stuck. if I sit in the car and hit the push button start, it spins instantly and strong....with or without the key turned to Crank. it doesn't seem to engage (with or wo the key) but spins well.
 


you mean a jump start button? you clipped to the starter?

check for fuel and spark too i guess. the normal two things you need to make a engine run.

id only think tps if you got a code for it.
 
yes a jump start button. ran a fused wire from + battery to a momentary switch in the cab then to the starter. I use it along with the key. it worked/started a few times then quit.

ill check spark tonight. got too dark last night to try that.

I have a friend bringing a code reader tonight.
 


twoleos617 said:
yes a jump start button. ran a fused wire from + battery to a momentary switch in the cab then to the starter. I use it along with the key. it worked/started a few times then quit.

ill check spark tonight. got too dark last night to try that.

I have a friend bringing a code reader tonight.
Click to expand...

odd that works but the key wont crank it. when the key is turned to crank it sends power to the little wire on the starter. and you say you have power at the wire when the key is turned to crank right?
 
to check for spark you can pull and prop a plug wire over the coil terminal, a big blue spark will jump to the wire if its got spark.

the fuel rail has a black cap on it, take it off theres a valve inside looks like a tir valve stem. push the pin, gas should fly out with lots of pressure, turn key to run, then test. watch your eyes, fuel can fly if your pressure is good. i lay a rag over it, it still flys.
 
ScottyDoggs said:
odd that works but the key wont crank it. when the key is turned to crank it sends power to the little wire on the starter. and you say you have power at the wire when the key is turned to crank right?
Click to expand...

whats odd is that after the switch was put in, it started with just the key on the first try.
yes, power at the wire when cranked.
 


ScottyDoggs said:
to check for spark you can pull and prop a plug wire over the coil terminal, a big blue spark will jump to the wire if its got spark.

the fuel rail has a black cap on it, take it off theres a valve inside looks like a tir valve stem. push the pin, gas should fly out with lots of pressure, turn key to run, then test. watch your eyes, fuel can fly if your pressure is good. i lay a rag over it, it still flys.
Click to expand...

ill try both of these tonight. spark would tell me that the crank sensor and ICM are good. ill check the pressure at that schrader valve too.
 
you may have a bad ignition harness or something like that. need see if gas and spark are there tho.

if you dont hear the fuel pump whine when the key is turned to run, pump could be not getting power, or its dead. id only go this deep if you have no fuel pressure, if you have a gauge to test with you want over 42 psi. tester screws on the rail.
 
awesome. thanks. I have some homework to do tonight!

I can hear the fuel pump working and when it did start each time yesterday it was nice and strong. Im leaning towards electrical issues but ill know more tonight.

thanks for all the prompt help guys!!
 
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