97 tracker will not run

[mr willy]

i bought tracker owner said run for a few hundred miles than nothing just would stop. i checked fuel ,spark, timing belt , distributor .reset timing,started ran great 10 miles than died.i pulled computer it has been replaced, don't know were to go from here

[Max]

Need more info.

Engine size, number of valves, mileage, 2 or 4WD and trans type won't hurt along w/your location.

Scanned / counted error codes?

Fuel quality OK?

[mr willy]

1.6 16 valve and it has 10500

[mr willy]

1.6 16 valve and it has 10500 2 wheel drive 5 speed manual

[Bex]

Poor Mr. Willy (which, in Ireland, has quite a meaning.....) Perhaps start from the beginning. The check engine light should be on with the key on, and off once you are cranking. Is the CEL on with the key on? If so, do you have a scanner or code reader to try to see what codes are in the computer?
Is the car cranking, or do you get nothing when you turn the key?
If it is cranking, try starting it with test fuel to see if it will run on the test fuel. If it does, then fuel delivery is your problem. If not, then it's probably spark. Advise on the CEL, and if the car will start with test fuel. Not too many of the 1996+ need computer replacements, unless there has been some electrical issue with the car.....
Also give info on exactly what you did to check the timing, etc. Have you done a compression test on the engine (which will confirm if the timing is ok).

[mr willy]

Thank you very much. Tomorrow I will have all the codes.

[Bex]

Some of the codes may be in 'history', and not current, so scan for codes, write them down, and then clear the codes. Then scan again, for current codes and see what comes up.

[xxx]

x2 all above.
1997 Tracker, 16v 2wd, 5sp, and some doors. USA or Canada.???.. OBD2.
No scan tool?, working on any OBD2 car, with no $50 full scan tool is
bad idea. both time , money, labor and thrown good parts.

Originally Posted by mr willy

i bought tracker owner said run for a few hundred miles than nothing just would stop.
A dead motor. ok

i checked fuel ,spark, timing belt , distributor .reset timing,started ran great 10 miles than died. ( bad fueling works 2 ways)
IS IT FLOODING? pull a spark plug.
white, and dry , no fuel
wet , black is flooding, so easy a test. x4 on 16v MPI as any injector can
leak. or go dead.

i pulled computer it has been replaced, don't know were to go from here

the ECU never fails on 96+ unless bad injector driver inside. rare.

if car is a Canada car, is it? and is truly a Canada car not a USA car
living there... open hood,look up see white sticker?, vac map.?
that is a USA market car...

if missing and maple leaf stuffed on fire wall, that be a real canada car.
and the Canada car does not show CEL on misfire, (even gross misfire)
and fails to show, EGR death. (etc, )
see sticky1 link to 96fsm for why? it's there in the ECU sections under DTC.
rules.... for canada code B.

So if a USA car, ?
key on, is CEL on.?
while cranking is the tachometer swinging up scale. to near 300 rpm
good.
is car flooding....?????/ or starving......?????

if spark is good all engines run on test fuel,. does it? (cut out fuel pump relay, to end flood)
if not ? the spark is bad or the engine is bad.
if not sure? try working engine problem in the right order....
fuses good?
compression at min spec or more 170 PSI, warm or hot,and WOT.
spark hot x4, not crosswired and timing at 5D.BTDC? cranking?
then fueling last.

if you know its flooding, vast ways to flood.

if compression failed, that means,
wrong tbelt used, not GATES brand but some ebay china brand.
or was put in wrong, with the wrong tension, and it is shredded.?
does the cam turn and dizzy rotor spin. (im sure it does you said spark is good, but good only has one meaning to me, not just 1x dummy spark plug test.
if compression is bad, x4? (say at 90? PSI? WOT)
my belt sneak a peak page works. as does the acid test. at end.
100% effective.... (hope)

How to Sneak a peek?


i cover all no starts here.

Cranks-but-no-start

Fast Track !
if motor good? (1st in the line) (compression, if dead or 100psi, its bad, fix that first) checked.!

Using an inductive timing light strobe. here.
if spark good, cranking with strobe attached to all 4 spark boots, 1 at a time. and is not crosswired. 1,3,4,2, and 1 is front. the rotor turns CCW, (do not read Haynes books) that means good spark, if the dummy spark plug shows spark x4 and the strobe lands on 5deg. (the true meaning of good spark and not crosswired)
spark wire boot 1,the strobe mark lands on TDC 0 (v cut on pulley aligns with 5mark on tbelt cover scale) (white sticker under hood show YOUR timing spec. , uSA cars)
boot 3 strobe lands on 180deg (from 0)
boot 4 lands on 0 (180 + 180 = back to 0)
Boot 2 lands on 180 from 0
that is how i check spark , and shows timing is right on all 4. (and the dummy plug test)


if fuses are good, all 3 to ECU, see my fuse map. (97 has a FI fuse in the engine bay, moved there in 1996.
fuse 3 and 8
http://www.fixkick.com/power-elect/96fuse-map.jpg
fuse 7 here
http://www.fixkick.com/ECU/fuse-powe...ox2-fender.jpg

the dome fuse 3 resets all Stored, DTC. (when pulled, (out then in, give it 2 mins. to discharge )



then attach the tool and follow my crib sheet. i walk you through each test. (watch for any DTCs live. and the PID data for all sensors., this ECU)
http://www.fixkick.com/ECU/Authority...OBD2_scan.html

the CEL lamp in a 96+ kick, only tells me some power makes it to the ecu, only a scan tool shows whats going on for sure.

[mr willy]

Purchased car not running.. Previous owner, stated that the car would just die. The work preformed prior to mine timing belt, distributor cap plug wires and plugs. All new.Checked timing belt okay. Wiring and plugs okay. Turned distributor some sign of life. Pulled distributor looked it over reinstalled advancing teeth.Started used timing light set it. Ran very strong started and stopped multiple times drove multiple times just died. Removed computer determined not original. Have fuel at fuel rail. Have spark, service engine light on when you turn the key on. Seat belt also and abs and oil lit oil only when cranking won't start. No codes on code reader.

[Max]

Will it fire up on "Starting Fluid", thus narrowing down the issue to fuel verses spark (which you say you have)?

And what about...

Fuel quality OK?