850 T5-R I'm Stumped! Not starting, Fuel pump replaced

kaj2003 · Post by **kaj2003** » 02 Dec 2010, 20:58

The last couple days have been quite a saga for me. Basically, my daily driver is stuck in my garage. It turns over, but never catches.

It started Thanksgiving night. I pulled into the driveway, and when i went to move the car into the garage 3 hrs later, the car stalled and barely hobbled into the garage. I was tired, so I left it till the morning. When I went to check it, the engine would turn and turn, but never catch.

I did some poking around and deduced that it was probably the fuel pump. I didn't hear a whine when the ignition was turned (though I didn't really know what I was looking for, I couldn't hear anything from the back). I had replaced my fuel pump relay last winter with a picknpull, and it didn't act like my car did last winter with that problem. When I bled the schrader fuel line, only a trickle amount of fuel came out. Fuses are all good (except for my cig lighter which went out 2 weeks ago). So I ordered the pump and put it in last night (middle of grad school final week too! This is killin me!).

With the pump installed I now definitely hear it whine when i turn the key (never heard that before). I turned the key off and on about 15 times every time I go to crank it. The Schrader valve gives a steady stream of fuel. Still I'm getting no fire! It just turns and turns. My battery is now shot, but I got a rechargeable jump starter I'm using.

Are there any ideas? Could it be the fuel filter? My friend wonders if it's the fuel injectors (which i know NOTHING about). Some guy mentioned the camshaft position sensor. I'm at a loss here. Should I throw in the towel, and my credit card, and get it towed to the shop for them to aimlessly poke around and charge me for it?

___
Another thing just popped into my mind that's probably totally unrelated. 2 weeks ago I ran through a huge puddle. A mile down the road my ABS and Track Off lights came on. 5 miles later they were off. By the time I got home, I realized my cig lighter had no power and I'd tripped the fuse. It all doesn't seem connected, and completely unrelated to the car not starting now. But maybe it isn't.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 02 Dec 2010, 21:17

If you can get you hands on a fuel pressure gauge check the key off fuel pressure after you have the key on and make sure it doesn't drop quickly to zero.

Post back your results and we can work from there.

...Lee

Post by **jblackburn** » 02 Dec 2010, 22:22

Pull out a spark plug and check to see if you have spark. The injector relay isn't a very common failure item, but it does happen.

If you can get your hands on a voltmeter, check the resistance of the ECT sensor (brass plug with a wire coming out of it just under the upper radiator hose into the engine). It should be >2800 ohms on a cold engine I think.

hrahn · Post by **hrahn** » 03 Dec 2010, 02:28

Had a similar problem with my T5 when I replaced the ECU. I also replaced the fuel injectors for a set that I was told were overhauled. Turned out, they were shot (all 5 of them), didn't switch anymore at all.
Even after replacing them I got not fuel though. Somewhere on this forum I read something about the ECU having to re-learn the position of the crank and cam sensors and just keep trying to start the car for 2mins max (otherwise the starter motor would burn).
Lo and behold, with a fresh battery and after about 75 seconds of cranking, the engine sputtered into life and now runs smooth and steady.
The technician at our local garage was as stumped as I was, but she's still running strong 20.000km after this.

Post by **Red-Arrow** » 03 Dec 2010, 06:05

You don't have to remove a spark plug to test the coil. Just pull the ignition lead and put a spark plug into the boot, removing plugs is bad for the seal.

It sounds like it could be the cam sensor. It won't be your fuel filter if you have pressure in your fuel rail.