Full loss of power: Crank but no start | Thoughts Needed Topic is solved

yanga001 · Post by **yanga001** » 19 May 2021, 00:49

Hi Everyone,

was driving on the highway and was doing a spirited pull when suddenly it felt like the car would not accelerate or respond to gears. This was followed by the slow loss of all power steering and then dead on the side of the road. I tried to start the car but i just get a crank with no start.

Issues present:
Car will not start, sudden loss of power, battery is good
-car will crank but will not catch. It almost seemed like the battery voltage was too low but it was running minutes earlier and the lights did not dim nor did the interior dim. Alternator seems good according to the dash indicators.

Environment checks:
-Replaced 103 with an on hand working one with no change
-Will check with VOL-FCR tomorrow
-Battery good
-Spark plugs changed 30 k km ago with bosch NGK iridiums
-coil could be old, at least a few years old as it was from my previous car
-air filter clear and replaced 10 kkm ago
-half a tank of fuel in the car, had refueled 2 days ago
-Timing belt + water pump 20k km

-Tried running with MAF unplugged but would not start

i think its related to the spirited acceleration roughly 4000 rpm's, and there was a slight stutter on startup in the days following up.

I thought my tranny went out at first however i am more inclined to think this is ignition or fuel related. Could a bad fuel pump cause a catastrophic failure in the engine where it no longer stays on and just cranks. I thought it was the relay but replacing it made no difference. I have a parts car up north but i am open to any and all input.

This put a lot of other projects on hold, was about to get a new set of Defenders for the car on some terra wheels but it wont even start. I checked and there were no leaks, oil is in the middle, tranny fluid is as per spec, coolant as per spec, power steering at spec.

In terms of warning lights, i didnt see anything out of the ordinary as in the up arrow did not flash and it just kind of went off the road. I put the car into neutral as soon as i felt things let go so i am thinking the tranny is fine and the engine simply stalled out.

Questions:
-Could a bad coil cause no start, failure to stay on. It was hot and had a little bit of smoke at one point
-is an ignition overhaul my best bet here
-chances of the engine being caput? (no leaks seen, no smells, no knocks or wierd sounds)
-could a failed fuel pump cause this
-could a clogged fuel filter cause this

Hoping that this is a very small hurdle to overcome. I have the car at work and i dont think they will have an issue with it being there for a few days.

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 19 May 2021, 03:23

Determine which fundamental it is: Oxygen, Fuel, Spark.

Post by **abscate** » 19 May 2021, 04:56

Use a little ether to do what Rick suggests. A 3 second shot should give you some firing if ignition and compression are ok.

Post by **jreed** » 19 May 2021, 05:48

Agreed with above. It will be interesting to hear what the source of the trouble is. My first guess when I read your post was a clogged fuel filter / fuel line or a failed fuel pump.

yanga001 · Post by **yanga001** » 19 May 2021, 14:14

I am an idiot for forcing this while recovering a fuel pump from a parts car.

Broke the tab off the pipe.

I get a double DOH for not checking the basics first. I purged the fuel line and it recharged.

Finally I learned that crappy tire parts are a no no in all cases.

yanga001 · Post by **yanga001** » 19 May 2021, 14:16

Yea i also left my scan tool up north and didn’t think to check the fuel rail before pulling out a pump. I am not just a clown I am the entire circus at this point. To add insult to injury my professional life is root failure analysis lol

yanga001 · Post by **yanga001** » 19 May 2021, 14:21

Images of the deviant part

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 19 May 2021, 17:10

yanga001 wrote: ↑19 May 2021, 14:16 To add insult to injury my professional life is root failure analysis lol

You get to the root cause by asking questions. Why does that not apply to this case?

Q: Car won't start, why?
A: Oxygen, Fuel, Spark.

Connecting an known to an unknown. The basis of root cause analysis.

Post by **scot850** » 20 May 2021, 11:16

Hey we all have those days. If you wrench on your own cars long enough, you will have the odd brain fart which makes the fixes more complex than needed. Congratulate getting there in the end as the positive from this. It is like having a bad round of golf (like most of mine) and having a great shot on the last hole that brings you back out again!

Neil.

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 20 May 2021, 16:15

scot850 wrote: ↑20 May 2021, 11:16 If you wrench on your own cars long enough, you will have the odd brain fart which makes the fixes more complex than needed.

If it ain't broken ... break it, so you have an excuse to play with the wrenches.