So, was it a bad ground ? Is it running good now?

N

 

I did get it running out of nowhere the other day after testing some wires. I wasn't content with that as I wanted to find what was causing it to not start so I could fix it. This happened on the stock ROM, which didn't start the car before testing wires. I flashed the V7 ROM on and it started up fine on that as well. Then I swapped in the old ECU with the V7 ROM and didn't start, tried the other one again with no start. The ECU was the only thing touched so it should be the wiring somewhere.

 

You may want to check the ECU connector, and make sure all of the wires are tight in and didn't pull back out of the harness.

N

 

I jumped the crank sensor and both power and ground wires to the ECU with no difference. I'll try the ignition wires in a little while, just have to find which wire(s) to jump.

 

Look at all the wiring at the ECU, sounds like that is where your problem is...pull your plugs off and look for chafed wiring, and recessed/bent pins on the connectors. Did you tap any wires by the ecu for anything?

 

I messed around with the wires the day it started up, checking the pins and connectors. The thing is that the ECU was bolted to the factory location since 2005 when this problem started. Also checked the tach while cranking again and it does move after 2 or more seconds.

 

Messed around with it again last night. Was looking for which wire to jump from the ignition (black/white wire) but didn't see that it ran to the ECU. Decided to crank the car over for no reason at all and it started up. While running, I moved the ECU around in different positions to see if it would die and it stayed running so I'm hoping it's narrowed down to the ignition wiring. I did have a turbo timer hardwired in since '04 and pulled it off late last year to install another one with the harness. I taped up all the wires but I'll take the time to unpin the wires and use heat shrink tubing. Will know more when I get off work.

 

It sounds like a short is holding one of the main relays in one position, not allowing the car to start...

 

Havent read much of this thread but fuel relay?

 

It does get fuel to the rail.

I'm wondering if it's causing it to not send a signal while cranking but is working fine otherwise as in if I tried to push start the car and it started. If so, it would no doubt be the ignition wiring but I'm not about to put it to that test.

 

I just know that part can be a little finicky in these cars. You might just have a corroded or otherwise messed up wire running somewhere.

 

Back again. After letting the car sit in my shop for 3 days last weekend, I fixed a CV boot on Monday and went out to get a log. Car started several times with no issues for a few days before this. Brought the car back, parked it outside and let it cool down before shutting it off. Only thing done was pulling off the negative battery cable. Came home from work last night to drive the car 500 ft to my shop. No start, same thing as usual, cranks strong, and all fuses are good. Both times the car had this no start problem, it had sat outside for 1 night the 1st time, 4 nights this time. This time, we had rain and I don't have the hood vent installed, not sure if all this may be related from getting water in the engine bay.

So I guess pulling the wires out of the looms to check for damage is next. No wires where the turbo timer was installed are touching or even exposed so I'm assuming that wasn't the problem to begin with either. I don't know how to test the ignition switch or I'd try that too before I go deep into pulling the harness apart. Could wiring in a push button starter bypass the OEM piece to test if it's bad?

 

The harness connector for the ECU may have a loose wire. You said that you have put in and removed ECUs, and you could have a wire loose in there even if it looks like it's in the socket.

N

 

The car started having this problem before the ECU was touched.

I'm just ordering a new ignition switch.

 

Pull off the cam sensor connector and see if there is water inside the connector... this has happened to me a few times and water had gotten past the grommet in the connector