Mitsubishi: Help! Dodge Colt won't run.

"Eric R Snow" <com> wrote in message
news:com... 


OK, lets start with the basics.

Disconnect the battery for at least 30 seconds. This causes the ECU to reset
itself.

Turn on the IGN. The check engine light (CEL) should come on, then go off
after about 10 seconds. There should not be any error code output. There may
still be one (non-critical) if the CEL is off.

Try to start. It probably won't. You should hear a click from the MPI relay
(probably behind the radio).

Now to check for fuel at the engine. CAREFULLY undo (but not remove) the two
M6 bolts that secure the fuel hose to the fuel rail. Wiggle the hose: there
should be some residual fuel pressure that leaks out. I suspect you have low
to none. do the bolts up again.

Lets say yes, no fuel pressure. There's several possibilities:

1. the fuel filter (the can on the firewall end of the fuel hose) is
blocked. To check, take if off (the input pipe fitting will be a bear to
undo), and give it bang or two and reverse blast with compressed air. Can't
hurt, and often unblocks the filter until you can replace it.

2. There's crud in the fuel tank thats blocking the pump filter. As a last
resort, you can drain the tank from the drain cock on the underside of the
tank.

3. The fuel pump is not running, either because its not getting power or it
worn out. You get access to the pump from a plate under the rear seat or in
the trunk (depends on the car model). The MPI relay is what provides power
to the pump. When you turn to START, the relay provides power to the pump,
and once the engine is running, the ECU controls the relay. So ... put a
multmeter on the wires going into the pump. You should be able to hear the
pump whirring, even from the driver's seat. If you don't have power on the
pump, trace the wires back. There's another connector block somewhere under
carpet near the B pillar. You 'll probably have to take the radio out to
check the output of the MPI relay. MPI relays do fail.



Stewart DIBBS
www.vysor.com/lancerproject

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 19:22:42 -0500, "Stewart DIBBS" <com>
wrote:
 
Thanks for the speedy reply. It does have fuel pressure. But I only
checked it at the top of the fuel filter on the firewall. I'll check
at the fuel rail and let you know what happens.
Eric

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 19:22:42 -0500, "Stewart DIBBS" <com>
wrote:
 
I have fuel pressure. It comes out pretty fast. Still won't run. I put
some gas, a couple tablespoons or so, into the intake manifold. THe
thing won't even pop. Now I'm really starting to suspect the spark.
Even though the plugs spark blue in open air, and even though the
plugs are new, and even though the ignition timing seems correct it
must be spark related. Is there any way to test that?
Eric

"Eric R Snow" <com> wrote in message
news:com... 

When everything looks right, a primary assumption is wrong. I advise taking
the cam belt cover off and verify that the cam is correctly aligned. Its not
impossible that the belt has jumped a tooth. The engine will still try to
run as the ECU will do its best to set the timing back (waaaay back).

You could also check that the coolant temp sensor (on the thermostat housing
AFAIK) has good connections to the wiring harness. Also, the sensor is
driver by either +12V or very close to +5V (I'm not sure which for the 92),
so check the wires to the sensor. This temp sensor output is critical to
getting the engine to start, esspecially when cold. On a warm day, or in a
heated garage, you can take the wires off the sensor and the engine should
start quite easily. If the sensor is shorted out (happens sometimes) the
engine can be a pig to get started.

You also need to verify that the injectors are getting power. The ECU drives
these by grounding the circuit. That is, when the IGN is ON, and certainly
on START, you should be able to detect +12v on on the larger of the injector
wires. If there's no +12v, then I'd suspect the MPI relay, as this is where
the power comes from. As said previously, it usually behind the radio, but
may be in the dash near the A pillar.

Stewart DIBBS

On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 18:20:23 -0500, "Stewart DIBBS" <com>
wrote:

Greetings Stewart,
You are absolutely correct about me missing something. I will have
time saturday to do another diagnosis. It will probably show me where
I goofed when making the first. Thanks for all the help.
Eric