About a week ago I noticed I was leaking coolant and checked it out and found out it was the thermostat housing, purchased my replacement. Put it in today. Turned the car on but forgot to close the cap on the reservoir so I turned it off and closed the cap. I then gave the engine a little water and air pressure to clean it up. Went to turn the car on and it won't start and now the cruise contro malfunction symbol pops up ( I have a manual) and power steering failure shows up and I hear a clicking noise in the fuse box. Checked every cable, took it apart and back together and same problems. Any help???

 

It is likely that "a little water", propelled by air pressure, made its way into some electrical bits that it should not be in. You may have to just wait until it airs out, or you may have to start digging through every connection, taking it apart, drying it off, and reconnecting it...

:(

 

Did you try to push start the car? Probably wet electrical connection. Do you still have a problem? I wonder if the OCDII readers read when you can't turn the car on. Does anyone know?

 

Yes we tried push starting it and nothing happened, the obdII won't read it because the car doesn't turn on and I believe I found the problem! Checked the spark plugs and there's just no electricity reaching them when the car tries to start, and still getting power steering failure symbol and no brake fluid symbol and cruise control failure symbol (I have a manual?) so if anyone can tell me what the problem might be? Could be ECU is screwed but still hoping it doesn't come to that.

 

Did you find anything wet?

 

When you change out the thermostat housing, you have to watch that main wiring loom that sit right above it, some of the wires go to the coils. That one look in the wire shott with the platsic cap off shows it going to the coils. . There are also a bunch of cables tied into it. I hope its just something missed and unpluged. But you might have pinched on of those wires.

See where for the wires on the thermostat install, linked at the near the end are the parts:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...hermostat.html




And here is the thread for eveything else from the water pump, thermostat, expasnsion tank, water pipe, etc...

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...8-no-heat.html



Thanks

 

That's interesting.
So you turned car on after repair and worked ok while intake was off. Then washed it, put intake back on and car not turning on.
It cranks but doesn't turn on and you have no power to the coils?
I would think that if you didn't connect something on it wouldn't turn on in the first place. That's odd.

Did you put an OBD2 reader on? What did it say?

 

Yes exactly. OBD reader just says it can't connect to the ECU and I should try turning ignition on. Checked all the wiring again and nothing was pinched, everything intact. Car attempts to turn on but doesn't. No power going to coils still, stumped at this point. Any other ideas what it could be?


Thanks

 

Scan the car, I doubt a wet connection is your issue.

Make sure all the electrical connections are in place, if the car can't tell what temperature the coolant is, it defaults to thinking it is overheating majorly and will not start. If everything is plugged in, try clearing the codes and see what happens.

Everything needs to be in place as well, the mass air flow sensor has to be connected and plumbed in, and a pressure bleed of the cooling system will make life a bit easier, these cars are finicky. Assuming everything is connected and plugged in, codes are cleared, and you're still having starting issues, more diagnosis will be needed.

Nick
Detroit Tuned

 

Nick,
Why do you think he can connect to the ECU with the OBD scan tool?
I would think it would connect if there is power in the battery...

 

There is power to the ECU with the key on engine off, this is the norm for connecting to the OBD connector.

 

Nick,

The problem with attempting to clear the codes is the scanner continuously tells me it cannot connect to the ECU, I in fact bought a new scanner and tried it with that one and same problem. Again there is no power going to the coils which is the problem, just not sure what is causing the no power to the coils.

 

Did you remove the 8mm nut from the valve cover bolt that grounds the coils? Did you reinstall it after the job was over?

 

Yes I did. Also, when I put the key in and start the ignition without the clutch depressed, all the failure codes are showing up on the dash (power steering, cruise control, low brake fluid, no DSC)

 

There is something disconnected at the electrical connection right above the thermostat housing. That's the only area that could have been touched under the repair. That would cause this. Also look back at that thread:




https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...hermostat.html

Thanks