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96 Eclipse RS Start issue *Paniced*


Valakin
09-30-2008, 01:31 AM
Bought the car a ittle over a month ago. Guy who sold it said that he had done a full rebuild on the motor (which should now have roughly 7k on it) replaced all the hoses and added an after market ignition system and cold air intake.

--Problem--

Cold starts were fine. Get in, put the clutch down, and turn the key. The car would start fine. However, if the car had run up to average temp and was shut off for more then a few mins it would take 2-3 attempts to start it up again. I called the guy and he said he had known about the issue and was advised by people on the forums that it was an issue with putting a cold air intake on a RS non turbo model.

Well when I went to get the oil changed one of the guys there said that such an excuse was beyond stupid... which I had wanted to agree with but I didn't know anything about his motor. He advised it was probably a conflict with the after market ignition system and the factory ecu. That line of logic seemed reasonable.

About two weeks later another problem started. It now on the random event would just stop trying to start. I would put the key in, put the clutch down, try and start it, the starter would kick up, and every once in a while it would just stop. I would have to back the key off and try turning it again. This issue never seemed to happen twice in a row and only happened 1 ever 10 or so starts. I thought maybe i just fluttered the clutch out a bit or something.

Well I took it in the the service people and paid them $160 for them to tell me that my fuel pump was bad and was the source of the problem, which I was smart enough to know they didn't listen to a damn thing I said.

Two days later I go out to start the car and turn the key and nothing happens. All my gages and lights come up but nothing seems to happen in the engine area. I try two more times with the same result. On the third time it fires right up. Then tonight I go to start it and in the middle of the ( what I can only say is the standard noise my starter makes when trying to fire it up ) the started stops and I get this grinding noise. I stopped for a sec then tried it again. Nothing the second time besides the started and the engine turning over.

Now I'm completely freaked and don't know what to do. I've got about 600 in my account that I can throw at this, and I really can't afford to miss any more school on account of issues like this.

Some one at work advised taking it to AutoZone or O'Reilys and having them check the starter but I'm not sure it is the started. From what I know the starter was replaced new 7k miles ago.

So any ideas on this are needed desperately.

david-b
09-30-2008, 09:32 AM
Take off the starter and check that first. Depending on where this "new" starter came from, it may be crappy. Every starter I bought from AutoZone has failed on me in a couple months time. Take it to AutoZone and have them tested just to be safe. Can pull the starter in about 10 minutes max so not too much time to do.

However, that does not solve the other problems. From other people with similar problems on here, I would say check the crank position sensor and cam position sensor. If you have a Haynes manual it'll say how to check proper resistance and all. Those 2 sensors are always culprits.

Whoever said the CAI was causing issues should be punched. Ignition will not cause issues too unless you have some major setup. Are we talking just a MSD coilpack or a full ignition control setup?

Valakin
09-30-2008, 03:06 PM
Take off the starter and check that first. Depending on where this "new" starter came from, it may be crappy. Every starter I bought from AutoZone has failed on me in a couple months time. Take it to AutoZone and have them tested just to be safe. Can pull the starter in about 10 minutes max so not too much time to do.

However, that does not solve the other problems. From other people with similar problems on here, I would say check the crank position sensor and cam position sensor. If you have a Haynes manual it'll say how to check proper resistance and all. Those 2 sensors are always culprits.

Whoever said the CAI was causing issues should be punched. Ignition will not cause issues too unless you have some major setup. Are we talking just a MSD coilpack or a full ignition control setup?
It is a MSD system according on the label. I'm picking up a new starter in a little under two hours. The guy at O'Reilys said that there was a loose nut and section on it which shouldn't be loose.

So I'll have the new one installed in about two hours.

NateS
09-30-2008, 03:19 PM
I had a problem with my starter acting up (it would randomly decide to start and not start) and I found the wires connecting to the starter were just loose. If that is all your problem was you don't need a whole new starter just tighten down the nuts.

Valakin
09-30-2008, 05:07 PM
Okay, put on a new starter which sounds to be working fine, however the car isn't turning over at all. No grinding and no random shut offs on the starter. The guy at O'Reilys pointed out that my solenoid was loose on my old unit which probably explained most of my issues.

So unless I'm missing something it seems that Serra was correct about an issue with the fuel pump. Currently (again) all electrical is working fine and the starter sounds like it is working just right.

SilvrEclipse
09-30-2008, 06:44 PM
When you turn the key on you will hear your fuel pump cut on for a sec or two to prime the rail.

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