Please help! Car does not start

Dear All,

I finally took the plunge and bought a 91 348 two months ago. I have been enjoying the hell out of it. On friday, I decided to take the car out, warmed it up all nice and as soon as I started to get it out of the garage the car hesitated. I reved it a little and it kept going, (the check engine light popped up a few times) and the car came to a stop sign (a mile away fro the house)and then the car just died. Started it back up without a problem, drove less than a mile and the car started to behave stragenly, coming of a hill it just shut off- luckily I had enough movement to pullover. I tried to restart, but nothing. The dashboard etc do not light up, interior lights, exterior mirrors do not light up, cigaretter lighter does not work, I can hear the seat belts working, the headlights do turn on. I replaced the battery today, despite the store saying the old battery was good with a output of 11v. I put the new battery in but still nothing!

Any help is appreciated, before I have the car towed back to the dealer!! I have checked the cables (only the cables I can see and I checked to see if the were secure), I checked the fuses (the ones I can see look good, there are other fuses silver square one I am not sure of them)

Thank you very much for the help!

Thanks

Vishal




Symptons:

a. The battery light and the Abs lights only light up on the dash.

 

Did you make sure the red connector behind the battery is tightly connected?

 

I need to preface that I know next to NOTHING about these cars but am learning on the fly from the guys on this board. Literally am heading to NAPA after writing this to pick up some supplies to fight the good fight. There is one thing that popped out at me though...

Did you let your ECU "reconfigure" itself after you put the new battery in?? Did you go through that process??

Not sure that that is the cause of your issue but......

And to clarify....
Does the car turn over right now?? You said you get two lights on the dash. What does the car do though?? Any starter movement or completely dead??

If you get NO turnover, it has to be something with your cable connection with your new battery.....IMO. Makes too much sense since you were just monkeying around with it this morning.

 

^^ + check the bullet connector buried under the airbox.

 

Sounds like 12v from the battery is not connected. Check the connections/ground leads at the alternator too.

 

Thanks for the info.

I checked the connetions at the battery again. The red cable is secure. Where do I find the alternator so that I can check the cables there.



Also in looking at the speed\tach meters it seems like it is not in the default spot. No gauges work (oil pressure, heat, hazards, signals, etc....). The car was not jump started. I had it towed back and put the battery in today. The car does not start at all. I hear the starter when I crank the car, but it just does not start. I also do not have any pressure on the accellarator pedal.

The motorized seat belt works. Honk works, headlights work with highbeams.

Thanks

 

The alternator is at the front/right side of the motor but you will have to look under the car there may even be an underpanel blocking it) just make sure they are secured/tight. Try the stuff below first (easier)

No pressure??? The cable may be broken (suspecting)......If your motor turns over, it may be possible that the throttle cable was being used as an idle ajustment. Then after it broke it lost the idle setting.

To verify this, have someone press the throttle while you see if they move on the throttlebodys. If they don't move that is your problem......throttle linkage broken. good luck!

 

The car does not turn over, it cranks but just does not start.

Would a broken linkage lead to the car not running. I still do not see any lights on the dashboard other the the ones listed earlier.

Thanks

Vishal

 

A broken accel cable will still let you start the car.
Has the car got fuel in it?
I would go over and check your ground connection and maybe even put another new one in. 348's do not have the best grounding leads/straps. Thats my wild guess at the moment. Mainly because you said none of the gauges work ect.........

 

Spray 2 bursts of starter fluid into the air intake, then see if she starts up. Let us know if she keeps running or dies as soon as the starter fluid is burned off.

 

Try unplugging the cat temp ecus, and see if it fires up.

 

I'm gonna have to second that one. Check your grounds.

 

Yes, though he mentioned he had no pressure at the accellerator pedal.

+1

 

The throttle issue has been resolved, the cable was loose at the engine. Just today I have learnt so much about the car

The car still does not start so I will try the other recommendations, including checking the ground connections. I can try changing the ground connections as recommended, what is the best way to do so, etc.. I am pretty handy and mechanical so I do not mind working on it. Please let me know what tools etc I will need, I have the standard wrench set, etc...

I have checked the fuses in front and in the passenger side. Are there any other fuses or relays somewhere else.

Thanks for the guidance and help so far!

Vishal

 

Loosen the ground strap bolts and use some wet&dry sandpaper and clean the area to make sure it has good contact. You could also fit another one there somewhere would also be a good idea. The only fuses are in the hood and the kick panel. Has the car got fuel in it?

 

I ditto Daniels post. The positive battery cable runs under the air box on its way to the starter. It has a bullet connector in between the battery and the starter right under the air box.

 

Yesterday, I removed the airbox, however I could not find the bullet connector being mentioned. Also by the battery I do not see any bullet connectors. The battery connects to a on\off switch, and then runs directly to the starter. I will remove the airbox again and take a few pictures and post after working on the ground connections.

Thanks

Vishal

 

Dear All,

Alright I have tried most of the recommendations however car still does not start.

a. The positive battery cable does not have the bullet connector it directly goes from the battery to the starter. I rechecked by removing the airbox.

b. The connections at the battery (battery and on\off switch), and grounds to the frame have been disconnected and cleaned (wet\dry sandpaper). There was on additional ground near the frame (15# inches away), I cleaned that also. I cleaned the connectors as well.

c. I tried to use starter fulid, by removing the intake (airbox) and spraying into the air hose and at the point of connetion to the engine)e. I am not sure if I did it right. Car did not fire up!

d. I disconnect the motronics behind the car seats and tried restarting.

e. I have added fresh fuel.

f. My friend pulled a spark plug, I cranked the car and noticed no spark.

Few additional observations:

a. For a few minutes yesterday, when playing with the high beams and wipers the dash board light up. I cannot make it happen again, and the lights are still off with no movement.

For some reason when I have the high beam on, and i pull the high beam switch towards me the internal light comes on and a buzzing noise occurs.

Where do I find the Cat? It was recommended I disconnect and try again. Also what is the easiest way to check the ground connetions at the alternator. I cannot see anything from under, does it need to be lifted.

 

Where are you? Perhaps there is a brother nearby who can give hands-on help.

 

Any help would be appreciated? Are there any local mechanics, or should I go to the Edison dealer, if the problem still remains. I would still like to try to fix it, if I can, I am learning so much about the car!

Thanks

Vishal

 

Does your car have an aftermarket alarm system or immobilizer? Wasn't there some owner in Europe who had the same problem within days of buying his 348?

d

 

I do not think I have one!

It does have an aftermarket radio, the type you can remove the faceplace on.

a. I also cleaned the ground connections behind the fusebox (passenger side).
Car still does not start.

Thanks

Vishal

 

Not to be the bringer of doom, but could it be a bad ECU??

 

348's will start with just 1 ECU working. Both ECU's bad?!

I'd guess that he's got an entire cable loose somewhere to not get any spark (his problem). Could be some sort of short circuit in the ignition switch area fore of the steering wheel.

It's probably the type of problem to take to a dealer.

 

To everyone who helped me so far, thank you very much! I greatly appreciate it.

After the dealer gets it back on track, with the info I have learned I will like to fix small things such as. ( I have seen solutions for it on the forum)

a. Slow windows.
b. Motorized Seat belt not working (passenger side)

Thanks once Again to everyone for helping me so far. I have learned a lot, about ECU's, Cat's and how the 348 operates. Thank you very much. (I did not know what ECU stood for or what its purpose was, but after a quick search I now know what it is, being in computers makes it even more easy to comprehend.

Thanks

Vishal