Expert: Roland Finston - 8/18/2011

Question
Ive had everythhng looked at and my car will not fire but does crank. The whole motor was taken out and put back in. Is there any resetting we would have to do on a machine for it to fire or could something be crossed somewhere not allowing it to fire? Weve replaced crankshaft sensor and nothing. Plus we have also check the censors.

Answer
Hi Crystal,
What year model is this, and which engine?
Why was the motor taken out in the first place?
There is a socket under the dash by the steering column into which a fault code reader can be plugged and that may give you a code number that will say why the engine is not starting. The vehicle has self-diagnostic capability may also give you a code read out by turning the ignition switch:"on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then watch the odometer window on the cluster to see the mileage reading disappear and in its place one or more 4-digit numbers, each preceded by a P or a B. Let me know of and codes you get either way and we can then go forward,
Have you checked to hear the fuel pump hum in the tank when you rirst turn the key to the 'run' position?
Have you checked to see if you are getting spark at one of the ignition coils?
Those are some ideas to try.
Roland
PS Sorry for the delay but I just found your quesiton in the question pool where Kevin just referred. Please rate my answer by clicking on the thank/rate tab, and if this has been helpful consider giving a 'yes' response to the question about a nomination of me to be 'volunteer of the month. Thank you