2003 Dodge neon SRT-4 - 190,000 miles. 2 weeks ago my car was running fine, and then I shut it off at my house, 2 hours later I get into the car and try to start it and it cranked and cranked but it wouldn't turn over. I went back into the house and waited for a couple hours, I came back out and tried to start the car and it started right back up. Two days later I shut the car off for about 20 minutes, then tried to start it back in the same thing happened. It would crank and crank and crank but it wouldn't start. So I decided to try and push start it, and it worked! Well then I came home shut the car off, and tried to start it the next day and it wouldn't start. I had some starting fluid and decided to try that. The car started right up. But the next day the car wouldn't start again, so I tried the starting fluid and it tried to start for a moment, but then wouldn't start. Now every time I try to start the car it won't start at all. I replaced the ignition coil, wires, and spark plugs and still no headway. I checked the relays under the hood. I switched the horn and the fuel pump relay and still nothing. Where should I go from here? And how should I go about it? I have a voltimeter, and most of the sockets and extensions that I may need as far as tools wise. I don't have a lot of money so taking it to a mechanic or the dealership is out of the question. I also have an AeroForce interceptor scan gauge but there are no codes showing.
Montytickle
Car cranks but won't start, no check engine code
3 reading
I've also had some innermittent high throttling lately. But once the car warms up it stops. Not sure if the TPS can cause a No start situation or not but I'm hoping it's the problem, it seems like it's cheaper to buy anyway.
Monte, just a thought on what else may be happening here.
This is a description from the SRT4 FSM:
"The Auto Shutdown (ASD) and fuel pump relays are located in the Power Distribution Center (PDC).
The camshaft position sensor and crankshaft position sensor signals are sent to the PCM. If the PCM
does not receive the signal within approximately 1 second of engine cranking, it deactivates the ASD
relay and fuel pump relay. When these relays are deactivated, power is shut off from the fuel injectors,
ignition coils, oxygen sensor heating elements and fuel pump."
To me, this means that if either the Cam sensor or the Crank sensor are defective, or are beginning to go bad, the PCM will shut down the ASD relay and everything attached to it will not work. The intermittent non-start could be explained by either one or both of these sensors beginning to fail.
It the presence of the signal from the cam sensor and the crank sensor that would let you see if they were working. If there was no signal when cranking, then that would indicate a failed sensor.
I know an oscilloscope can test for that (I have done that), but a normal volt meter wouldn't. The signals range from 0.5 to 5 volts and are alternating between those values 5 or 6 times per second at cranking speed.
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I have replaced both sensors in other SRT4s, but not my own (yet). Cam sensor also has a magnet which is a separate item. Cam sensor is relatively easy to get at. Cam sensor is located up near the starter and the replace the sensor, the starter bolts have to be loosened and the starter shifted slightly to be able to get at the sensor mounting bolt.
Modern Performance has listings for these sensors.
This is a description from the SRT4 FSM:
"The Auto Shutdown (ASD) and fuel pump relays are located in the Power Distribution Center (PDC).
The camshaft position sensor and crankshaft position sensor signals are sent to the PCM. If the PCM
does not receive the signal within approximately 1 second of engine cranking, it deactivates the ASD
relay and fuel pump relay. When these relays are deactivated, power is shut off from the fuel injectors,
ignition coils, oxygen sensor heating elements and fuel pump."
To me, this means that if either the Cam sensor or the Crank sensor are defective, or are beginning to go bad, the PCM will shut down the ASD relay and everything attached to it will not work. The intermittent non-start could be explained by either one or both of these sensors beginning to fail.
It the presence of the signal from the cam sensor and the crank sensor that would let you see if they were working. If there was no signal when cranking, then that would indicate a failed sensor.
I know an oscilloscope can test for that (I have done that), but a normal volt meter wouldn't. The signals range from 0.5 to 5 volts and are alternating between those values 5 or 6 times per second at cranking speed.
I have replaced both sensors in other SRT4s, but not my own (yet). Cam sensor also has a magnet which is a separate item. Cam sensor is relatively easy to get at. Cam sensor is located up near the starter and the replace the sensor, the starter bolts have to be loosened and the starter shifted slightly to be able to get at the sensor mounting bolt.
Modern Performance has listings for these sensors.
I wanted to post an update. So after I got the car running, which was a very random thing all together, it was able to run long enough to get the TPS sensor code which was bad. And I got a crank positioning sensor code. Went and got some replacements in today I'm going to be installing them. After the install I'll post another update. I wanted to say thank you to everyone who took the time to shoot me this info. Everything helped. And I hope to help someone in the future with this problem.
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