INTRODUCTION
What you will find in this writeup is just a simple reference guide to follow if your car develops a problem. Please keep note that IT DOES NOT COVER EVERY SINGLE ASPECT of a car’s problem. What I am trying to accomplish here is to save some time and hassle in helping people solve some common problems.
I suggest running through the list of known problems based on the symptoms that you have encountered, and see if it that has solved your problem. If not, then, by all means, post a query in the Help forums of G2IC.
If you have any questions/comments, feel free to mail me at the_oz@hotmail.com
Regards,
Oz
[u]BASIC TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE[/u]
[u]Engine Related Problems[/u]
Engine will not rotate when attempting to start
- Battery terminal connections loose or corroded.
- Battery discharged or faulty.
- Automatic Transmission/transaxle not completely engaged in Park mode or Manual Transmission Clutch not completely depressed.
- Broken, loose or disconnected wiring in the starting circuit.
- Starter motor pinion jammed in flywheel ring gear.
- Starter solenoid faulty.
- Starter motor faulty.
- Ignition switch faulty.
- Starter pinion or flywheel teeth worn or broken.
Engine rotates but will not start
- Fuel tank empty.
- Battery discharged.
- Battery terminal connections loose or corroded.
- Leaking fuel injectors, faulty fuel pump, faulty fuel pressure regulator.
- Fuel not reaching the fuel rail.
Ignition components damp or damaged. - Worn, faulty or incorrectly gapped spark plugs.
- Broken, loose or disconnected wiring in the starting circuit.
- Loose distributor is changing ignition timing.
- Broken, loose or disconnected wires at the ignition coil or faulty coil.
Engine hard to start when cold
- Battery discharged or low.
- Malfunctioning fuel system.
- Injectors leaking.
- Distributor rotor carbon-tracked.
Engine hard to start when hot
- Air filter clogged.
- Fuel not reaching the fuel injection system.
- Corroded battery connections, especially the ground.
Starter motor noisy or excessively rough in engagement
- Pinion or flywheel gear teeth worn or broken.
- Starter motor mounting bolts loose or missing.
Engine starts but stops immediately
- Loose or faulty electrical connections at distributor, ignition coil or alternator.
- Insufficient fuel reaching the fuel injectors.
- Vacuum leak at the gasket between the intake manifold and throttle body.
Oil puddle under the engine
- Oil pan gasket and/or oil pan drain bolt washer leaking.
- Oil pressure sending unit leaking.
- Cylinder head covers leaking.
- Engine oil seals leaking.
Engine lopes while idling or idles erraticallly
- Vacuum leakage.
- Leaking EGR valve.
- Air filter clogged.
- Fuel pump not delivering sufficient fuel to the fuel injection system.
- Leaking head gasket.
- Timing belt and/or pulleys worn.
- Camshaft lobes worn.
Engine misses at idle speed
- Spark plugs worn or not gapped properly.
- Faulty spark plug wires.
- Vacuum leaks.
- Incorrect ignition timing.
- Uneven or low compression.
Engine misses throughout driving speed range
- Fuel filter clogged and/or impurities in the fuel system.
- Low fuel pressure.
- Faulty or incorrectly gapped spark plugs.
- Incorrect ignition timing.
- Cracked distributor cap, disconnected distributor wires or damged distributor components.
- Leaking spark plug wires.
- Faulty emission system components.
- Low or uneven cylinder compression pressures.
- Weak or faulty ignition system.
- Vacuum leak in fuel injection system, intake manifold, air control valve or vacuum hoses.
Engine stumbles on acceleration
- Spark plugs fouled.
- Fuel injection system faulty.
- Fuel filter clogged.
- Incorrect ignition timing.
- Intake manifold air leak.
Engine surges while holding accelerator steady
- Intake air leak.
- Fuel pump faulty.
- Loose fuel injector wire harness connectors.
- Defective ECU or information sensor.
Engine stalls
- Idle speed incorrect.
- Fuel filter clogged and/or water and impurities in the fuel system.
- Distributor components damp or damaged.
- Fault emissions system components.
- Faulty or incorrectly gapped spark plugs.
- Faulty spark plug wires.
- Vacuum leak in the fuel injection system, intake manifold or vacuum hoses.
- Valve clearances incorrectly set.
Engine lacks power
- Incorrect ignition timing.
- Excessive play in distributor shaft.
- Worn rotor, distributor cap or wires.
- Faulty or incorrectly gapped spark plugs.
- Fuel injection system out of adjustment or excessively worn.
- Fault ignition coil.
- Brakes binding.
- Automatic transmission/transaxle fluid level incorrect.
- Clutch slipping.
- Fuel filter clogged and/or impurities in the fuel system.
- Emission control system not functioning properly.
- Catalytic converter plugged.
- Low or uneven cylinder compression pressures.
- Obstructed exhaust system.
Engine backfires
- Emission control system not functioning properly.
- Ignition timing incorrect.
- Faulty secondary igntion system (cracked spark plug insulator, faulty plug wires, distributor cap and/or rotor).
- Fuel injection system malfunctioning.
- Vacuum leak at the fuel injectors, intake manifold, idle air control valve, or vacuum hoses.
- Valve clearances incorrectly set and/or valves sticking.
Pinging or knocking engine sounds during acceleration or uphill
- Incorrect fuel grade.
- Ignition timing incorrect.
- Fuel injection system faulty.
- Improper or damaged spark plugs or wires.
- Worn or damaged distributor components.
- EGR valve not functioning.
- Vacuum leak.
Engine runs with oil pressure light on
- Low oil level.
- Short in wiring circuit.
- Faulty oil pressure sending unit.
- Worn engine bearings and/or oil pump.
