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car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 4:41 am
by GTwagon
hi everyone,
well i finally got everything put back together and try to start it and it wont start.
started doing the basic test and found that im getting spark but no fuel.
with a noid light it would flash the first crank then nothing.
turn key off and crank and it'll flash again but nothing after that.
i've checked fuses but found no blown one's but it was getting late so ill check again tomorrow.
only thing i can think of is that i connected the battery terminals back wards as it was getting late and i wanted to hear it run.
( i know shame on me )
everything else seems to work fine.
but have no spark.
whats the chances that i fry the ECM?
also where is the ECM for a 1994 legacy wagon?
dont really see it under the drver side dash.

couldnt sleep and was searching and found this here:
http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=14485
great info.
hope i find my problem and hope its something simple.
crossing fingers.
report back tomorrow on what i find out.
(hope its not a fried ecm)

ok after doing some testing the only thing is that i fried my computer.
so on that note if anyone have one for sale send me a pm shipped to 95037.
payment will be through paypal.
thanks for reading.

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 7:14 am
by robertpaige
So you are NOT getting spark? And you are NOT getting fuel either? You seemed to mix that up a little bit in your original post.

Make sure you check your ground as that can disable spark. Also that the fuel lines aren't backwards, and that your coil and wires are plugged in properly.

If by ECM you mean ECU (Engine Control Unit), it's under the driver side dash, it'll be a silver box with a large yellow pin connector on it, with four harness connectors going into it.

Make sure the battery is healthy also!

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:01 am
by GTwagon
robertlxxii wrote:So you are NOT getting spark? And you are NOT getting fuel either? You seemed to mix that up a little bit in your original post.

Make sure you check your ground as that can disable spark. Also that the fuel lines aren't backwards, and that your coil and wires are plugged in properly.

If by ECM you mean ECU (Engine Control Unit), it's under the driver side dash, it'll be a silver box with a large yellow pin connector on it, with four harness connectors going into it.

Make sure the battery is healthy also!

i AM getting spark.
NO i am not getting fuel.
so i know its not my cam/crank sensors as i am getting spark to the plugs.
also i have connected the green connector and everything seems to be doing whats it needs to.
actuators gets actuated relays getting triggered fuel pump priming.
also if im getting spark, is my ecu is getting power?

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:22 am
by robertpaige
So the car cranks over right?
Are your fuel lines hooked up in the proper order to the right of the manifold?
and your fuel pump is connected, right? I disconnected my fuel pump before I started my last project and couldn't figure out why I wasn't getting ignition.. I forgot to reconnect my fuel pump.

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:41 am
by GTwagon
robertlxxii wrote:So the car cranks over right?
Are your fuel lines hooked up in the proper order to the right of the manifold?
and your fuel pump is connected, right? I disconnected my fuel pump before I started my last project and couldn't figure out why I wasn't getting ignition.. I forgot to reconnect my fuel pump.

fuel lines are hooked up correct.
fuel pump is priming so its connected.
thanks for the reply tho.

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:46 am
by robertpaige
Huh, maybe the ECU got fried and isn't sending fuel to the injectors? Not sure. Someone else chime in on this

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 2:26 am
by Legacy777
If you're getting spark, and the relays click in the diagnostic mode, the ECU is probably fine. The chances of you frying all four injectors drivers is pretty slim. Have you verified you have fuel pressure to the injectors?

Have you verified you have 12v to the injectors? You should have 12v on one of the pins with the key in the ON position, and while cranking.

As mentioned, make sure your grounds are hooked up properly.

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 2:38 am
by randomiam
I would check the timing, if you have spark and fuel pump is functional, it may just be slightly off

if the fuel pump is working proper and timing is off, it might be flooding the cylinder, do you smell any gas? Unplug the fuel pump and crank it good to clear it out if thats the case

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 2:58 am
by GTwagon
randomiam wrote:I would check the timing, if you have spark and fuel pump is functional, it may just be slightly off

if the fuel pump is working proper and timing is off, it might be flooding the cylinder, do you smell any gas? Unplug the fuel pump and crank it good to clear it out if thats the case

timing is right on the money.
i did the timing belt while the motor was off and made sure all the marks lined up.
even after rotating the assembly couple times back and forth.
everything was new and is a gates timing belt kit with tensioner.
so i hope its not.
also the cylinders are not getting flooded no matter how much i crank it.
so to me i fried the injector drivers which grounds the signal to open the injector needle.
and since i connected the battery backwards this usuallly happens to a computer since its only a 5v system.
its a lesson learned thats for sure.
now i hope to find a known good computer.

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:01 am
by Legacy777
Did you verify you had 12v at the injector connectors?

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 8:15 am
by GTwagon
Legacy777 wrote:If you're getting spark, and the relays click in the diagnostic mode, the ECU is probably fine. The chances of you frying all four injectors drivers is pretty slim. Have you verified you have fuel pressure to the injectors?

Have you verified you have 12v to the injectors? You should have 12v on one of the pins with the key in the ON position, and while cranking.

As mentioned, make sure your grounds are hooked up properly.

yes i have 12v to the injectors, to all of them, i tested each one.
and i also tested for continuity from injector connector to computer connector.
only other thing i can think of is that the cam sensor wires are swapped due to the fact i had to replace my original one since it broke off on me.
also i'll recheck all the grounds again as i know its important to have them connected.
but if im getting spark is the connector wired correctly?
or do the ignitor use the crank sensor to trigger for spark?
i'll check that out tomorrow.
thats really good to hear that its pretty hard to fry the computer.
i'll have to verify that im getting fuel pressure tomorrow.
thanks everyone for your reply's
its definitly making me sleep better lol.
i'll report back tomorrow.

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 9:54 pm
by GTwagon
hey are the stock injectors high or low impedance?
if its high impedance then i need to redo my test cuz i was using a noid light.
and from what im reading noid lights dont really work for high impedance injectors.

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 3:07 am
by Legacy777
They are "high" in that they should be around 11-12 ohms.

What do you mean your cam wires are swapped?

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:39 am
by GTwagon
Legacy777 wrote:They are "high" in that they should be around 11-12 ohms.

What do you mean your cam wires are swapped?
the cam sensor wires broke off when i yanked the motor out and didnt see the connector caught on something and rip it off, just wires exposed.
and the connector i took off a 95-96 legacy wires dont match up so i dont know if i hook the wires in the right place.
but i think im alright since im getting spark and its and crank and cam sensor that triggers spark.
but i had a side job today so i couldnt do further testing today.
i'll report back tomorrow.

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 6:58 pm
by Legacy777
As a test, you could try unplugging the cam sensor and see if you still are seeing spark.

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 7:22 pm
by GTwagon
Legacy777 wrote:As a test, you could try unplugging the cam sensor and see if you still are seeing spark.
yeah i'll try that when i get time again.
it'll prob be tomorrow tho.
been busy with work so thats good.
will report back asap.
thanks for all the help.

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 5:45 am
by GTwagon
ok was able to squeeze in time for some testing.
and its not looking good for me.
hope im wrong tho.
the cam sensor wiring is correct.
disconnected it and no more spark.
reconnected i got spark back.
then i test fuel pressure
35 psi with koeo
48-50 psi cranking so i know im getting fuel
just the injectors are not letting fuel into the cylinders :(
also tested injectors with a test light and was not able to see any flashing
so i really think its my computer.
what do you guys think?
i've checked and double check for loose or disconnected grounds but found none
so im really lost now.
hope i can find a ecu at pick and pull one of these days to test it out.

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 5:40 pm
by cj91legss
Man, I hate to say this seeing as someone already has and don't want to seem like I'm second guessing your work, but it really sounds like fuel lines are backwards. All this shit happened when I did my DOHC swap, I ran thru every little thing you're experiencing almost down to the t. It had me stumped for a week, then a friend of mine came over and pointed it out to me.

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 8:11 pm
by GTwagon
cj91legss wrote:Man, I hate to say this seeing as someone already has and don't want to seem like I'm second guessing your work, but it really sounds like fuel lines are backwards. All this shit happened when I did my DOHC swap, I ran thru every little thing you're experiencing almost down to the t. It had me stumped for a week, then a friend of mine came over and pointed it out to me.
i really dont think my fuel lines are backwards.
as im not getting injector pulse not no fuel.
im getting fuel just no injector pulse so no matter how much fuel i have, if the injectors dont get a signal to open pinto it wont matter.
hope i find a used ecu today.

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 10:03 pm
by cj91legss
I see. I must have read over that and missed that part.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 10:55 pm
by GTwagon
cj91legss wrote:I see. I must have read over that and missed that part.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

np man.
keep throwing me ideas lol

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 11:03 pm
by cj91legss
You have power at the injectors but they arent pulsing? Bad ground somewhere?

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 1:52 am
by GTwagon
cj91legss wrote:You have power at the injectors but they arent pulsing? Bad ground somewhere?

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2
when i mean ideas i mean new ones lol
if you reread my post youll know that im getting power and are not getting signal.
cant find n e loose/disconnected grounds.

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 2:26 am
by cj91legss
My apologies, have been using tapatalk all day, just now sat in front of a computer. Did you find a new ECU? is there anyone local that you can barrow their ecu for an hour or so? I would suggest borrowing one before committing to buying one. And if someone suggested that already, apologies in advance. Been way too busy to just read and read and read...

Re: car wont start, got spark but no fuel

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 5:07 am
by GTwagon
cj91legss wrote:My apologies, have been using tapatalk all day, just now sat in front of a computer. Did you find a new ECU? is there anyone local that you can barrow their ecu for an hour or so? I would suggest borrowing one before committing to buying one. And if someone suggested that already, apologies in advance. Been way too busy to just read and read and read...
np man.
thanks for the replys.
no luck today at pick and pull
only found n/a ecu's :(.
i really dont know any one local with a turbo wagon or sedan.
but keeping my fingers crossed.