QuestionI have a 1994 Plymouth Sundance.It will not start and will not turn over.what is weird is that sometimes it will start once.but if I try to start it again it will not start.It has a new battery and all the lights work.we hot wired it and again sometimes it will start and i will drive it,but then i turn it off and it won't start again.I have no idea whats going on because I am a girl and no nothing about cars.But I'm learning....Can you please help me figure this out?
AnswerHi Rita,
I like that "can do" spirit!
I need to make sure whether the issue is that the starter motor won't crank the engine over OR that it will but that the engine will not ignite and run on it own. I will answer as it if is the latter. Write back if you mean the former.
The most useful thing to do would be to readout the engine controller for fault codes now, which you can do yourself, at anytime. Here is how:
Reading out the engine controller memory for fault codes is the first step. Try using the ignition key: turn it "on-off-on-off-on" and leave it "on" (doing this quickly, no longer than 5 seconds). By "on" I mean just the normal position when the engine is running, not the cranking position. The 'check engine'light will remain on when you leave the key in the "on" position with the engine still not running. But then watch the 'check engine' light to begin flashing, then pause, flashing, pause, etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause and keep track of the numbers. Repeat the readout and verify the counts are correct. Then group them in pairs in the order that they came out, thus forming two digit numbers. You may notice that the pause is shorter between the digits of a given number, and longer between the numbers themselves. Then send me a 'follow-up' question telling me the results of your readout. By the way, 55 will be the last number (two groups of 5 flashes each) and that is the code for "end of readout".
I have the troubleshooting manual for the both possible engines in your car (but tell me if yours is a 4 or a 6 cylinder) and we can look up the possibilities of what is wrong based upon what fault codes you show. There is also an essay on fault codes at the site:
http://www.allpar.com/fix/codes.html
which gives the meaning of the code numbers. But then you need to get specific info for what exactly might be the diagnostic tests or parts to replace to complete the repair. Let me know the codes and I can give you some direction. If there are no fault codes then the problem could be a spark issue or a fuel pump issue.
If it is really a problem only with the starter motor please write back and tell me so. Also tell me what sort of "hot wire" you did to get it to start.
Roland
