Mitsubishi Repair: 1990 plymouth laser 2.0 turbo, kinds of sensors, crank sensor

Question
ok i just got this car 4 weeks ago for $850.00 an i cant get it to start with the key the car turns but it wont start you can puch start it but even then you have to keep on the gas or it will just die its the 2.0 turbo fwd 5spd i really need some help on this one

Answer
Frank: How was the car running when you bought it? Your problem sounds like a weak or bad sensor someplace. Or this car could have those bad computers. Mitsubishi farmed out the building of their computers to another company and that company did not build very good ones. With time a piece will start to leak into the computer and will kill off that computer. This shows up in many ways but not starting or when you do get it started you have to give it all kinds of gas. You know don't you that were are all kinds of sensors all around your car's engine and the computer pulls its readings off those sensors. Once it get them, it sets the car up to run. But if one sensor is weak or bad or the computer is having a problem. The whole system gets off. You might try to take the distributor loose, turn it either right or left; then see if the car will start. As there is a crank sensor in the distributor. How about this, when is the last times the car had a tune up? Stark plugs, wires, distributor and rotor? I guess I would try the easy things such as turning the distributor cap, have you check that? What does the inside of it look like, does it have all kinds of white dust on the inside of the cap? If so you need to replace it. So do a tune up, it is a lot cheaper than that computer will cost you. If it turns out to be a sensor or more you can get them at a junk yard as new ones will cost almost as much as the car. But computer you will either have to have it rebuilt or replaced; that will hurt. So again try the easy things, if you can get the car going; take it someplace and have it coded. That would rule out any problems with those sensors or the computer. Still it might be an easy fit with a good tune up. How about how old is the air filter? Oh heck one of the guys here at the shop said, might be a vacuum leak too. But still he thinks a tune up would be a good start. I hope this helps and good luck! Linda