Crank, no start

Ted Mechanic Arkansas Posted   Latest  
Unsolved
Driveability
Electrical
2016 Chevrolet Cruze Limited LT 1.4L (B LUV) 6-spd (M32)
Crank Nostart

Customer stated vehicle was operating under cruise control at 60 mph, engine light came on flashing and stabiltrack. Car stalled and customer got it to side of road where it would not restart. Customer left battery unhooked before having it towed here so no codes saved in system.

Verified no start condition, no codes have shown up in 2 days of checking it.

Can communicate with all systems.

Have crank signal and good waveform, scanner shows steady increase up to 300 rpm during cranking. Have spark.

Have 65 psi fuel pressure, have injector pulse and also pulled injector rail to verify spray pattern. 

Ran compression, 170-180 across all 4 cylinders.

Checked throttle body for correct operation, no problem found. 

Checked catalytic converter, even unbolted and inspected shell and with exhaust unhooked no difference in cranking.

Checked purge valve and found no issues.

Also worth noting that I have lots of spare parts for these cars so I swapped with a known good coil and spark plugs just to see if it made a difference. Car cranks strongly but will not actually start. Feel like I'm missing something really simple here.

0
Rudy Technician
Utah
Rudy
 

a vehicle needs 5 things to start: - Air - Fuel - spark - The correct amount of each. - All 3 need to be occurring in the proper sequence(in time)

+3
Ð Awarded
Helpful
Derrick Diagnostician
Kentucky
Derrick
   

A quick thing you can try is just unplugging the MAF and see if it will start. You may already know this sometimes I forget the little things too

0
Ð Awarded
Glenn Owner/Technician
Texas
Glenn
 

Hi Ted, Disable the fuel and clean the plugs then try running it on a propane torch/ bottle. This favors a contaminated fuel issue possibly.

+1
Ð Awarded
Agree
Ted Mechanic
Arkansas
Ted
 

Yes it was contaminated fuel, fires up and runs this way.

+1
Ð Awarded
Glenn Owner/Technician
Texas
Glenn
 

Hi Ted, I have seen a lot of that this year, distributors are dumping reclaimed contaminated fuel off on many small stores these days. It is that or the car owner has some 3rd party mischief going on. Drop the tank and clean it out, there is no other way to resolve this issue.

0
Ð Awarded
Matt Engineer
California
Matt
 

I presume you checked all the fuses? Engine/Transmission oil levels good? Timing OK? Starting fluid in throttle body to see if it will even pop.

0
Ð Awarded
Cody Diagnostician
Illinois
Cody
   

I see you swapped the coil and plugs but did you check for spark? I've seen a bad ground for coils or blown fuse cause the same symptoms. sorry i missed where you said you have spark

0
Ð Awarded
Jeff Owner/Technician
Arizona
Jeff
 

You pulled the injector rail? Thats quite a bit of work since its a DI vehicle. Did you use the proper special tools and replace the combustion seals. If you didn't, you created a new problem for yourself. In any event, what usually kills these cars is a rocker arm or two that comes off of its pivot. Compression will still look despite a valve isn't opening.

0
Ð Awarded
Ted Mechanic
Arkansas
Ted
 

It's not really any work on this car, it's one nut and 2 t30 screws on the intake. I did change the seals out since they were removed. It ended up being a contaminated fuel issue.

+1
Ð Awarded
Agree
Jeff Owner/Technician
Arizona
Jeff
 

Then you must have mis-listed the vehicle type in the description in your original post. You have it shown as a 1.4 LUV motor. Those are direct-injected and you can't just pull the injectors out. You need to use a slide hammer and a bunch of other special tools.

0
Ð Awarded
Tony Owner/Technician
Missouri
Tony
   

That's what I said earlier. “I'm confused” to be specific. And of course there was no VIN…

0
Ð Awarded
Glenn Owner/Technician
Texas
Glenn
 

Hi Tony, I have brought this up with DN before along with asking for a mileage reading. Apparently it has not become important enough to them yet. Then again, I have seen people get defensive and think you were asking for their social security number when you ask for the VIN. It's like they are paranoid. Luckily, We don't have near the trolls or idiots like other sites yet, and I hope that…

+1
Ð Awarded
Agree
Obie Technician
Washington
Obie
 

The DN folks are very polite and give much more latitude than other sites. Nonsensical posts for help aren't called out with the bluntness that they deserve.

0
Ð Awarded
Caleb Diagnostician
Indiana
Caleb
 

It says its a Limited Jeff which wpuld have the old port injected 1.4. He must have got the wromg engine RPO.

0
Ð Awarded
Tony Owner/Technician
Missouri
Tony
 

You pulled the fuel rails and verified spray pattern? I'm confused. This is a SIDI engine, correct? Have you verified the fuel high pressure PID is normal when cranking or that you have any high pressure operation beyond the electric in-tank pump's 65psi?

0
Ð Awarded
Obie Technician
Washington
Obie
 

Couple of questions. Why was battery disconnected? How does that clear codes? Was a jump start attempted? Can you induce a code and then read it? The first two paragraphs have unanswered issues.

0
Ð Awarded
Raymond Mobile Technician
Michigan
Raymond
 

im with obie, I wonder if u can go to obd side of pcm and get permanent codes (mode 10), I have seen camshaft actuators solenoid get stuck and cause problems

0
Ð Awarded