Washed Engine Now Car Won’t Start
Was offered an engine wash as part of a package at the carwash and I obliged. Driving back home (about a mile later) The car started to jerk and it went into limp mode. Flashing Engine light. It crawled to the house. (A quarter mile more) and it hasn't worked since. (3 Months ago) It rolls but doesn't start. Sometimes it starts and then it goes right off. I am in West Africa and these cars aren't common here, so mechanics are a little baffled. They ran codes and it showed misfire in all cylinders. They suggest I change the ECU, which I did and nothing changed. The mechanic says the
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Washing an engine is a risky business. If you’re going to have it done, it’s best performed by a technician who will know where NOT to direct the spray. Now that it has been done, you could have a failure in one or in multiple components. First, you might need to get your old ECU back. Most of those ECU’s are coded so that they will only work in the car in which they were originally installed. They can only be unlocked and reprogrammed using the Jaguar proprietary diagnostic equipment. From there I would check t see that all the ignition coils are dry and be sure there is no water in the spark plug wells. Then look at all the electrical harness connectors to see if any of them are full of water or even if they were knocked off by the water jet. As for the car possibly running overrich: the injection time is controlled by the ECU, depending on signals from the Mass Air Flow Meter, the Accelerator Sensor, and the Temperature Sensors. faults in any of those can give you an overrich condition. I can’t recommend running out and buying those parts, they are expensive and may not solve your problem. This car needs to be diagnosed by a qualified technician. contact Your Mechanic to see if there is a technician in your area. If so they can come to your home and diagnose your No Start Condition and let you know what can be done about it.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The most common reasons a Jaguar X-Type won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter.
The most common reasons a Jaguar XF won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter. Search our network of RepairPal Certified shops near you to speak with a technician about your issue.
Why won`t my car start but I have power? If you attempt to start up your car but the engine won`t turn over and the dashboard lights up, then you most likely have an issue with your battery. You could have a damaged or corroded battery terminal, which is stopping the engine from starting up when you fully turn the key.
When it comes to the vehicle not starting, and not having electrical power, always start by checking the battery. In your situation you can go remove the battery from the vehicle, and take it to have it tested. If it is bad, simply replace it and drive the care home.
If your car won`t start but the lights come on, it is likely not an issue with your battery so it`s time to turn your attention to your ignition switch. A failed ignition switch won`t be able to supply power to the starter motor, ignition system, and other engine controls, preventing the engine from starting.
Turn the engine of your vehicle off and allow it to remain off for at least one full minute before attempting to restart it. Allowing your vehicle a moment to reset before restarting it will often reset the limp mode, allowing you to operate your Jaguar normally to bring it in for inspection.
The failsafe mode is a feature added by Jaguar to reduce the risk that system failures can pose to a vehicle. When a system failure happens and failsafe mode is activated by the computer, some of the vehicle`s features will become limited, and the speed of the car will be reduced.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Car won’t start. The check engine light, battery light, and oil change light are coming on. I tried jumping the car and nothing happened. Why won’t my car start?
ANSWER : Hi and thanks for contacting Your Mechanic. If sometimes your vehicle will start with the new alternator and sometimes it won’t, then there is a loose connection in your charging system. Check all of the wires to the alternator and to the battery. Make sure that the battery cables are clean and tight. Make sure that the wires to the starter are clean and tight. A loose ground to the ignition system will cause the vehicle to not crank over. Check all of the ground wires from the battery to the starter. Make sure that they are clean and tight. If you need further assistance troubleshooting your no start situation, then seek out a technician, such as one from Your Mechanic, that can assist you.
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The car crank but won’t start
ANSWER : Hi there. This does sound like an issue with the wiring. If the check engine light is coming on every now and then this means that when it does not come on there is no power to the computer. This can be the wiring harness issue or an ignition switch problem. I would have to test for voltage to the computer when the problem is occurring to be able to find where the issue lies. If you need assistance, a certified YourMechanic technician can be dispatched to your location to inspect your vehicle’s non-start issue and suggest any necessary repairs.
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My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
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Map sensor car won’t start up good ?
ANSWER : Your MAP sensor is an important input for your computer. It helps determine the load on the engine to calculate the correct amount of fuel to inject. It sometimes takes a few seconds for the vehicle to realize that the sensor is not producing a good signal.
At that point, it will use other methods to determine the fuel rate, such as pre-programmed fuel maps, throttle position, etc. I would suggest replacing the MAP sensor and retesting. If you would like to have it checked first, a certified technician from YourMechanic will be able to scan your vehicle and test components to determine the root cause of your starting issue before making a repair.
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Whenever I drive 1.5 miles, the s3 light starts blinking and then when I stop my car and come back to it, the car won’t start.
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. It is difficult to determine the issue without some more information. To start, when the check engine light illuminates, you want to scan the vehicle for diagnostic codes. These are what set the check engine light off, and are meant to tell the driver what the computer has detected is wrong. Codes can be pulled at most automotive parts stores, and by most technicians. Once you have that information you can focus in on one component or system. If the engine is truly overheating, then you want to start by checking your coolant and fluid levels. For more help with diagnosing and resolving the issue, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
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My car won’t start, neither does my auto. Start. Sometime it might start if I jump it sometimes it won’t.
ANSWER : Hi there. There are a number of issues that will make a car hard to start. Everything from the electrical system to the fuel system to the actual starter itself can be the problem. Finding the root cause of a hard starting engine can take some investigation. Ignoring a hard starting issue can further damage the vehicle, which will often result in a more expensive repair. You might want to have a mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection so they can pinpoint the source of the issues you’re having and recommend the right repairs be completed.
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My polo 3 won’t start when engine is warm or exposed to the sun for a long time
ANSWER : Hi there,
The problems you are having with your vehicle, may not be easy to diagnose. Apparently, under hood temperature and ambient temperature both create the no start condition. Components can act-up with temperature change. Assuming no check engine light is on. The no start condition will have to be duplicated and inspected at the time of no start. This will help identify what is wrong. So many things can keep the vehicle from starting. I recommend having the vehicles no start condition be inspected and diagnosed by a certified technician from YourMechanic.
The problems you are having with your vehicle, may not be easy to diagnose. Apparently, under hood temperature and ambient temperature both create the no start condition. Components can act-up with temperature change. Assuming no check engine light is on. The no start condition will have to be duplicated and inspected at the time of no start. This will help identify what is wrong. So many things can keep the vehicle from starting. I recommend having the vehicles no start condition be inspected and diagnosed by a certified technician from YourMechanic.
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Car engine dies
ANSWER : The first thing I would do is have the turbo/intake system ’smoke’ tested or visually inspected for any leaks. Without a smoke machine, you could spray your engine and turbo system with brake cleaner and listen for idle changes to help determine if there is a leak. The brake cleaner method is not as effective as using a smoke machine.
Next, checking your fuel pressure is in order to see if you lose fuel pressure as it sits or if the fuel pump in the tank is weak. If the fuel pump in the tank is weak or losing pressure, it would cause the engine to crank as you mentioned. Performing a fuel pressure test is not easy and requires a special tool. If you want to have this looked at a technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose your stalling issue.
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