QuestionQUESTION: I have a '91 Chrysler LeBaron, and one day about a week ago, it just refused to start. It turns over, but doesn't catch. My father-in-law and a friend of mine have told me that it might be the coil, but I don't really know for sure. We have already checked the Distributer cap, and it looks fine.
ANSWER: Hi Nick,
Did you check for spark? If none then it still could mean several causes: the coil, the rotor, the sensors in the distributor, to name a few. If you have spark, then listen for the sound of the fuel pump when you first turn the key to the "on" position but before the starter is tried. It should hum for about a second. If you don't hear it, then the fuel pump or relay could be faulty.
The best approach is to use your ignition key to see if the engine control computer has recognized a fault and recorded it as a two digit code in its memory. Turn the ignition switch:"on-off-on-off-on and leave on", doing that in an elapsed time of 5 seconds or less. Then watch the check engine light, which remain "on", to begin to flash, pause, flash, etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause. Then repeat to assure an accurate flash count. Then combine the numbers in pairs in the order of appearance to form the two digit fault codes. The last code should be 55 because that code means "end of readout". Then go to www.allpar.com/fix/codes.html for a code translation or write back with the results and I can tell you how to proceed. Tell me which engine you have.
Roland
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Engine is 3.0 L 6-cyl. We tried to check for spark, but we're not sure if we were doing it wrong. Couldn't get a spark plug off, so we took the main wire off the distributor cap and held it close to one of the motor mounts, and there wasn't a spark. We replaced the ignition coil, and that didn't help. We took a fuel line off and tried to start it, and no gas came out. We took the fuel filter off and tried to start it, and no gas came out behind the fuel filter. I can't hear the fuel pump when we turn on the ignition. I tried to check the computer like you said with the ignition key, but the check engine light didn't even come on. I'm at a loss.
AnswerHi Nick,
If you aren't getting a check engine light when you turn the ignition switch to "run" then either the bulb is burnt out or the ignition switch is faulty. I would be inclined to look for a black disconnect at the base of the steering column that has 7 wires coming and going to the ignition switch. Turn the switch to "run" and check for 12V to be present on the dark blue wire, the black/white wire, and the black/orange wire. If one of those is absent you have a bad ignition switch section. Use a pin to probe the metal at the plug pins (or pierce thru the insulation) and compare it to ground (any shiny structural body surface nearby). If the voltage is present, then the bulb is probably out.
Let me know what you find. Until we get the check engine light going again we can't be sure the computer is being powered up.
Roland
