I replaced the opti, water pump, map sensor & ignition control module a couple months ago. The car has been running fine since and just now it decides it doesn't want to start. It's trying to turn over, but not quite making it. It did this sorta thing before the opti swap. So now I am stumped. The SES light has been on non stop for the past couple weeks, but the car ran fine. I am waiting for the cable to come in so I can scan it and see what is wrong.

 

I think you need to narrow it down a little first. I would start with checking spark. I use a spark tester on one of the spark plug wires. If you have spark at the wires check fuel pressure or plugs to make sure they aren't fouled. If you do not have spark at the wires move to the coil and verify you have spark there. If you have spark at the coil and not the plugs then it's something in the opti. Also check the wiring harness that plugs into the opti. When I replaced my motor I had a break in the harness and it took me forever to figure out why I didn't have spark. I just used a voltmeter to verify there were no breaks from the computer to the harness where it plugs into the opti.

 

I have spark.

 

Might want to take your battery out and get it checked. Also, check your positive and negative battery connections.

Then check on Shoebox's website. He has a test on there to check to make sure there is a signal from the opti.

 

If you have spark, and it attempts to fire, then it is fuel related. Which can be anywhere from fuel pump to injector harness to FPR. It sucks when these things happen. But you need to go through and test each one individually.

On a side note, if you were receiving an SES light than it is stored in memory, whatever you do do not disconnect the battery or you will lose that code. Which will make your life harder.

Sometimes when optis go they warn you with an SES light. Other times they do not. So determining what that code is will help you eliminate or focus the problem on the opti.

Good Luck

 

More than likely it is not the battery being bad. Obviously from what you state, you are cranking away just fine. Negative grounds are something to check. But try to get that code before you kill power.

 

Battery is fine.

This opti is BRAND NEW.

How can I check the injector harness, FPR and fuel pump?

 

Well......

First off I would change the fuel filter to take that out of the question. Then I would check the fuel pressure with a fuel pressure tester from autozone or wherever. Check with key on and key off. If you have good FP, say over 30 then that should take the fuel pump out of the question atleast for startup. Next step would be to check for any fuel smell on the fuel pressure regulator. If you smell a lot of fuel or can feel that it is wet than you have an issue there. Next step is injectors. You need to test to make sure that they are all receiving power while turning over the engine. Best way to do this is to pull the Fuel Pump fuse, pull the coil wire and test each one as they cycle through (Short Intervals).

As far as the injector harness, that was a little bit of a long shot, but you can take it apart and clean with anything from WD40 to electrical cleaner.

How confident are you that the ICM (Ignition Control Module) is good. That can throw codes and prevent startup. It is located by the alternator.

Thats about it, I am fresh out of suggestions. Hopefully someone else can help a little more.

Edit: One more thing, did you make absolute sure that all your fuses are good. I know it sounds dumb, but the simple stuff counts. Don't forget the fuse block by your intake air filter. That is where all the injector fuses are.

Once again, Good Luck

 

My ICM is brand new. I'll check the FP and stuff this weekend.
I haven't looked at any fuses so I may as well check all of those too. Thanks for the help.

 

I went out to give it another try a couple hours ago and it started. I'm still gonna check out that stuff, but this is really weird.

 

Sounds like leaky injectors...

 

It seems to only do this when it is raining or wet out. It was raining the day it fif it earlier this week and I tried to start it today, it's raining, and it won't start.