Hey guys, I bought a 96 4 cylinder from a friend who said it had had intermittent problems with starting especially after raining. Shortly after getting it I experienced this issue. The previous owner said they had the starter replaced so I ruled that out. Battery good, alternator good, everything looked ok. Replaced the fuel filter because it was the original and the vehicle had 177k miles on it and it started up just fine.
Well, now it's back at it. It's rained the past week almost, it started fine yesterday and today it won't crank. Checked for basic things, battery has charge, did have to fill coolant as it was low for some reason, oil good, everything looks good. It sounds like it's trying to crank but doesn't quite get there (sorry, I'm no mechanic and am learning things as I go).
My boyfriend noticed there is a lot of play in the throttle cable, but I'm curious if that would be what's causing this? The little bit of research I have done doesn't seem like it but it does need to get some attention. Just curious if anyone had any insight or ideas for me to check out! Anything would be greatly appreciated!

I think for someone to help you, you are going to have to be a little more specific about what it is doing, or not doing when you try to crank it over. That seems to be the critical issue at the moment. Don't worry about the throttle cable for now.

Is it cranking too slow to start?
No crank at all but a clicking of the starters soleniod?
Nothing happens at all when you turn the key?
Are the lights on and OK? Do they dim when you try to crank it?
Is it a standard? Does the 'clutch start cancel' button change anything?

Start with the basics. Make sure the battery terminals are clean and tight and the cables are not crap. What is the resting voltage of the battery before you try to crank it?

Just because the starter has been replaced does not mean it is good, especially if it is not an OEM starter.

When I tell someone a car won't crank I mean the starter does nothing when I turn the key, the engine doesn't turn at all, there is no noise except maybe a small quiet click of the starter relay or a loud metallic click of the starter contacts. You said it sounds like it is trying to crank, so is the starter turning on and cranking the engine but the engine is not firing up and running? If, on a rainy day, it cranks over (the starter turns the flywheel), but it coughs and sputters and almost starts, but just won't quite fire up and run you probably need an ignition tune up. Check your spark plugs

When the key is turned it cranks, but doesn't actually start. The lights and everything turn on and everything works as its supposed to. No clicking, it sounds like a normal start up it just doesn't actually start. It's an automatic, so no clutch. All the terminals and connections look good.

Well, that is different. All that I posted is of no value because it is cranking but not starting. I'm not the most experienced one on here so I am of no further help but at least we ascertained that it is in fact turning over. Good luck.

Okay so thats very important information. So it cranks...So that means the battery has some juice and the starter is working.

That leaves fuel/spark/compression. Most people will first point to check fuel pump. Watch the video I linked and try and check fuel pressure and the pumps working. You replaced the filter so thats a good step. Our cars will have something similar to the video and you can prob look up how to check i the fuel pump is working on our cars specifically if you need. Thats the first step.

You can check injectors are working from the video also.



Best video ever, for working through the process on cars.

YouTube

Usually when a vehicle doesn't start in wet conditions its because it isn't getting spark. This is a result of moisture creating an electrical path to ground, which goes away when it dries. This was very common when vehicles used distributors. Less common with electronic ignition systems, but it's likely to be something as dirt build up or an exposed wire connection. Start by looking around the coil.

Well, we checked out the spark plugs and replaced those, and it still won't turn. We can smell fuel when we try to crank it and my boyfriend is thinking it is probably an injector because we can hear the pump working. Now we get to do the fun job of taking everything off to get to the injectors. Yay...
Edit: only one side of the fuel injector relay is working with our relay tester. Any ideas guys?
Btw you guys are awesome for responding so fast!!

Test for spark before you go messing with the fuel system. Do a YouTube search for how to do it. Fuel problems usually aren't intermittent, and it sounds like you're getting some fuel, which it should still be able to run on, even if it's running poorly

As the saying goes, 99% of fuel problems are electrical.

I'm sorry, I'm not mechanically minded at all. When you say test for spark, besides the spark plugs where should I be looking? The spark plugs that were in there didn't meet gap requirements so we replaced them.

YouTube will be your friend if you've never done it before. the process is pretty simple all you do is pull a spark plug and connect the wire then ground that spark plug against the engine well one person cranks over the engine. If you're getting spark you will see Sparks happening on the spark plug. If you're not giving any Sparks then it means you have a failure some place further up the line like the coil, which is what generates the high voltage of the spark.
Sorry if there are typos in this paragraph, dictation taken by my phone

Please watch the video link I attached above. ChrisFix shows you how to do all the things your asking. The best is to use a engine stethoscope.They can be picked up online or at something like harbor freight for cheap. If not you can use a long screw driver. The video shows you how.

https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-52500-M...ne+stethoscope



But I forgot this is linked to rain and water. I agree with ageoctane about following the wires. check the spark plug wires and check the ignition coils. make sure they are clean and getting power.


You can always get a spark plug tester for cheap as well. Can be picked up at harbor freight too.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002STSC6...03_02_t_img_lh

Check the connection on the starter. might be bad. Being it was just replaced thats were i would start.

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She said it cranks over, but won't start, so the starter system is working okay.