QuestionQUESTION: The list of things that has gone wrong with this car is long. It started when the throttle position sensor went out...replaced it and then worked well. Yet, last summer I noticed that there car was running weird and when I would try to speed up the car would but would make pinging noises. Well, I had all of the following replaced so the car would stay in good working order: Mass Air Flow, Timing Belt, Spark Plugs and Wires, PCV, Water Pump, Fuel Filter, all belts, and O2 sensor. I had spent a lot of money to get the car to run better. Well, now the car is running horrible again. I have recently had the spark plugs and wires changed and the ignition coils (brand new). The reason I changed them is the car was having a miss fire and that corrected it. Yet, with all the work that I have had put in this car I go out to crank it and the starter does that it needs to do and you hear the starter turn and turn but never cranks until repeated tries after about 5 min. the car cranks and it is a hard jolt of a crank, and the car runs fine after that and doesn't have a problem cranking for the remaining day. ((( I have oil changed every 3000, and just recently had an injector cleaning hoping to resolve the problem))) I wouldn't be too concerned if it was a once in a while issue, but it is happening more and more. It does have the check engine light on, and it has been stating the same thing P1128 --> I have had the Mass Air Flow sensor changed 3 times. ((( I only use new parts ))) Please help me figure something out I know I am over looking. I need count on my car to get me to school every day about 45 miles away .
ANSWER: If you hear the starter running but it isn't turning the engine, you have a problem with your starter or ring gear (on the torque converter for automatic, on the flywheel for manual) or both. You'll need to remove the starter and check its teeth and also turn the engine while inspecting the ring gear teeth through the starter mounting hole.
For the P1128, you should check for vacuum leaks, especially in the PCV hose. You should also check to be sure the air intake bellows is in place, secure, and not leaking.
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QUESTION: Well, the motor turns it just doesn't crank....you hear the sound as if it is going to crank it just doesn't want to start up. Again, after 5 min. of off and on again trying it starts. I would like to add that since I posted it has been cranking every time now...I hope it continues. I would really like to the car to work right.
AnswerIn that case, the problem may be that your fuel pump or fuel pressure regulator is bleeding off fuel pressure while the engine is off. To check for this for certain, you'll need to install a fuel pressure gauge, start the engine, and let it sit to see if the fuel pressure bleeds down to near zero. If it does, replace the fuel pump module assembly (including regulator).
