850 Not starting, no spark . . .

nmotzing · Post by **nmotzing** » 04 May 2009, 20:40

The other day my girlfriend and i were going to pick up a couch with my (fairly new to me) '94 850 turbo wagon, turned the key and it would only turn over but not fire. I popped out a spark plug, had her crank it over and alas there seemed to be no visible spark. So today i was able to get over to autozone to rent an engine scanner but the only thing it threw back at me was the P0133 o2 sensor code and i don't think that is the problem. Also, i'm pretty certain it isn't a fuel issue because it won't fire with ether on the air filter and when i pulled the fuel rail apart gas definitely sprayed out. Does this sound like something anyone else has experienced and maybe could lend some advice?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 04 May 2009, 22:11

What comes to mind is the cam position sensor (without the car turning over, this code is typically not set but it will keep the car from turning over), or bad ignition wires, rotor, cap or the one single wire from the ignition coil to the rotor or the ignition coil itself.

nmotzing · Post by **nmotzing** » 04 Jun 2009, 13:32

alright, so it's been a couple weeks and have replaced plugs, wires, rotor, and rotor cap. I took the ignition coil to a shop, they tested it and said it was performing within the acceptable range. The problem still persists and i'm almost positive the CPS is not at fault. From what i have read they will cause stalling and hesitation at acceleration before actually failing completely. this didn't happen to me. ran fine one night and then the next morning there was nothing. the guy i bought the vehicle from this winter was selling it because it wouldn't start in the morning on cold days and needed to be jumped; then would run all day. that happened to me like once but figured it was just a dying battery. this is so aggravating! i fear i'm close to taking it to a shop

Post by **confused_al** » 04 Jun 2009, 16:36

nmotzing wrote:... The problem still persists and i'm almost positive the CPS is not at fault. From what i have read they will cause stalling and hesitation at acceleration before actually failing completely.

Where did you get that idea? When my CPS went south, it was exactly "turned the key and it would only turn over but not fire" with no sparks. Nor did I experience any stalling prior to that.
Having said that, you might also want check your fuel pump relay and/or fuel pump by checking the fuel pressure at "no start".

nmotzing · Post by **nmotzing** » 08 Jun 2009, 20:11

WOOHOO!!! popped in a new CPS today and had it run!! that is the good news: bad news is i turned it off after about 5 minutes of idling and now it won't fire up again. not much more to say than that

nmotzing · Post by **nmotzing** » 08 Jun 2009, 20:16

i guess i should also mention it was idling real rough, not quite but similar to knocking sound . is it normal to have to re-time a car after replacing the cps?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 09 Jun 2009, 15:48

No- that thing doesn't change the timing in any way... Did you buy a new one or a used one?

nmotzing · Post by **nmotzing** » 09 Jun 2009, 17:01

brand new. when it started i was jumping off of a 4.0L suv. could the higher amperage of that system make a difference? since i have jumped off of two different 4 cyl that haven't done it. might my battery be getting ruined/going bad?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 09 Jun 2009, 20:35

It's very possible- can you get a hold of a trickle charger?

nmotzing · Post by **nmotzing** » 10 Jun 2009, 14:00

first off, thanks for all your help. this has been so frustrating but i'm not the kind of person that outsources my auto repairs.

i bought a trickle charger yesterday and let the battery top off overnight. didn't make any difference. i know it is still an electrical problem but can't figure out why it would start once but now--without doing anything the vehicle--won't. maybe i should just torch it for the insurance money?