Problems

Starting Up?
DON'T GO OUT AND BUY A NEW BATTERY
JUST BECAUSE YOUR CAR WON'T START.
Twist the key. Your car cranks for a second or
two, springs to life, and then quickly settles down
into a fast idle while it warms up. At least that's
how it's supposed to work. This morning, no dice.
It's dead, and there's no obvious reason why.
Here's how to figure out why your car won't run.
The best approach to finding a solution is to remain
methodical. This is classic systems analysis. Just fol-
low the decision tree on the next page, and you'll
find and cure the problem. Our decision tree is
BY DENNIS KLEIMAN
STARTING ISSUES + FOGGED-UP
WINDOWS + BACK-PROBING
DIY AUTO
SATURDAY MECHANIC
0 0 DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY/// EASY
generic, but it should resolve the
majority of failure-to-start scenarios.
The only real diagnostic tool you'll
require is a decent multimeter. A fuel-
pressure gauge and a nciid light, for
testing fuel injectors, might be handy
once you've ruled out the starter
P 0 P U LA R M E C H A N I C S C 0 M I FE B R U A R Y 2 0 0 9 89
PM DIYAUT0 /1/ CAR WOS'T S-:-. .!.R T?
step 1
Turn the
key: Do the
dash lights
come on?
YES, but
they are
really
dim.
YES
NO
Check the De,-::- ,.
Is it chargee_
Charge it to ::.2..5
volts. use
j umper cab.: -
YES
ep3
Check the
x"ttery clamps
and cables.
Go to step 2.
7

step4
r
NO
YES
r
Does the engine
crank?
1
YES,
but
step5 step6
Is the secu-
rity system
activating? If so,
troubleshoot or
deactivate it.
I
NO
Is there spark?
Use a spark-gap
Check ignition
tester to confirm
spark at the plug.
system per
service manual.
YES
1

Return to
step 2 and check
Check the battery
battery, cables
voltage while
and clamps. Bat-
cranking. Is it
tery should be
below 9 volts?
1
Do you hear a
:n=ing or clicking
-oise underhood?
I
slowly.
fully charged.
Check e :ba-_._e,:-,
and da ps.. -:- -
on e key, arc
t he lights or ra
Wiggle and tap
t he battery co
nec::io 1 e
lights co eo ,
go to step 3.
motor and battery. You - 5-= ::
need a battery charger to ::=::-
tery to a full state of charge. ::c . ::-
engine is cranking, because.:_ -::=::
a ful ly charged battery w ::: :::-:: :=
t hese diagnostics.
One point: If the beL:::-_ :: :::::::
because you left the lig- ::: ::- :- _ :_
cranked AC/DC all nigt: :-;
to actually charge the :;::::::-_ = :- :
just jumpstart your 'e-::: =-: -=.::
the poor alternator cc: :: :-=::
ing at t he same tirre :::.-::: ::: :-_ -5:---:
supply the curren ;:::-::- -=-=-.=.
know, I know, t hat'"=--::::::-=.
when some ki ndly s:::-5::- := _
90 F E 8 R U A R Y 2 : : :;;
Low voltage to
the solenoid
makes it click.
eck t he battery.
- it charged? Go
to step 2.
_ :::_ a j ump in the parking lot at mid-
- 5:1t in a blowing snowstorm. Let's
::-_ : he fi rst few stages of the Aow-
.:.-:: -::, hen you' re on your own.
Started
:'::. :::1 turn the key and not hing hap-
:::-s. ada. No lights on the dash, no
-: :::: Jnderhood, just the sound of
_ : _ : :m muttered cursing from the
:: s seat. You've got an electrical
s::_:: ::1d odds are it 's an open ci rcuit
=: :- :: ::attery posts or cables. Unless
:::S.COM
YES
1
Replace battery.
your vehicle has been in storage for
years, there should be at least a little
juice left in t he battery, enough to
dimly illuminate the instrument-panel
lights. Your first step is to check the
battery posts and cables. I' d bet a
good whack with your shoe might re-
establi sh the connection and put you
on the road. Tip: Leave the key on and
t he radio up loud. If you're poking
around underhood and it starts rockin',
the problem is t he last wire you
touched. Or, another branch of t he

step7 stcp8
Check fuel pump
fuse, relay and
wiring. Unfortu-
nately, the fuel
------7 pump is iJ:lside
NO the tank on most
Listen for fuel
pump. Does the
fuel pump run for
a few seconds
after the key is
turned on?
YES
T
NO
Are the spark
wet with
Pull one or
and inspect
electrodes.
YES
l
Dry out or
replace
the plugs.
vehicles.
Depress Schrader
valve in fuel rail. Is
there pressure?
If possible, check
fuel pressure with
a gauge.
decision tree: The dash lights come on
but go off when you try to start the
engine. Could be either a discharged
battery or corroded cables or clamps.
So, time for step 3: Clean up the
cables. Don't crank the engine for
more than 15 seconds without a
60-second pause or you may overheat
the starter motor. Let me say this
again-foll ow the decision tree. There's
one thing I learned working on cars
many years ago. It's not uncommon to
see multiple problems with intersect-
symptoms. And if you try diagnos-
that problem intuitively, you'll
ickly make yourself crazy. Try solving
step9
YES ~
NO
l
step 10
T
YES
Check injector
with noid light or
voltmeter. Is the
injector firing?
NO
Pinch off return
line to tank. Is
there pressure
l
now?
YES
l
Check fora
crimped or
blocked fuel line.
If it's fine, replace
the fuel pump.
N O ~
Replace fuel-
pressure
regulator.
problems from the top down, and you'll
find each, one at a time. That's the way
mechanics are taught, and that's the
way that the car manufacturers expect
a repair to proceed if they're going to
pay for it under warranty.
Flooded
If you've discovered that you have
wet spark plugs (rare on fuel-injected
engines), you may not need to remove
them to dry them out. Inj ected engines
almost always have a Clear Flood
mode: Depress the throttle to the
floor, and then crank the engine. As
long as you hold the pedal at full throt-
step 11
Get out the scan
tool and factory
service manual.
T
NO
Check engine-
computer-power
fuse. Is the fuse
blown?
YES
l
step 12
Get out the scan
tool and factory
service manual.
Replace fuse.
tie, the computer won't inJect any fuel,
and a few seconds of pumping air
through the engine, without fuel, will
dry off the plugs.
Following this chart should get
95 percent of all cars started. If
you've worked your way to the right
side of the chart, and the car still
hasn't started, your last recourse
might be to haul out the factory ser-
vice manual, some tools and a scan
tool to dig deeper into your car's black
box. Different fuel-injection architec-
tures call for different diagnostics; the
factory manual will have those spe-
cific to your c;ar. PM
P 0 P U LA R M E C H A N I C S . C 0 M I FE B R U A R Y 2 0 0 9 91