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1988 Acura Legend won't start! Help!!!!


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kindermom
Novice

Aug 3, 2010, 7:26 PM

Post #1 of 12 (6763 views)
post icon 1988 Acura Legend won't start! Help!!!! Sign In

PirateI'm so frustrated! I have a 1988 Acura Legend V6 2.7 with no start. It is cranking with the starter clicking, but no start. We have checked battery and terminals, new plugs and wires and checked for spark. Fuel pump is working, no visible air clogging and air filter is good. all the fuses look good and test out fine. Prior to this we had some trouble starting it, but as long as we kept the gas pedal down it would usually start with some black smoke out the back. We had an overheating issue and fixed a leak in the radiator and we were in the process of finding the solution to the cooling fans not working, but now it won't start at all and that is now the problem at hand. I'm out of ideas and money to spend on this car, so any suggestions are welcome. I have had 4 mechanics advice to get this far and now running out of ideas! Please help!!!!!!!!!


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 4, 2010, 2:37 AM

Post #2 of 12 (6750 views)
Re: 1988 Acura Legend won't start! Help!!!! Sign In


Quote
It is cranking with the starter clicking, but no start.


That is a conflicting statement. Is the starter cranking the engine over or not?



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



kindermom
Novice

Aug 6, 2010, 12:20 PM

Post #3 of 12 (6734 views)
Re: 1988 Acura Legend won't start! Help!!!! Sign In

It is cranking, but unable to turn over to start. I'm not a car person so I'm not sure of the terminology. we checked if it was the starter, but it was clicking so I was told it was not the starter. Crazy


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 6, 2010, 12:22 PM

Post #4 of 12 (6731 views)
Re: 1988 Acura Legend won't start! Help!!!! Sign In

Cranking and turning over mean the same thing. It means the starter is engaging and turning the engine and doing it's job but the engine just isn't firing.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



kindermom
Novice

Aug 6, 2010, 12:30 PM

Post #5 of 12 (6727 views)
Re: 1988 Acura Legend won't start! Help!!!! Sign In

Okay, so if it's not firing. I read your post about checking the basics and they have all been checked and everything looks good, so what do I turn to next?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 6, 2010, 12:50 PM

Post #6 of 12 (6722 views)
Re: 1988 Acura Legend won't start! Help!!!! Sign In

No, that would pretty much be impossible. If it had all those functions it would be running.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



kindermom
Novice

Aug 6, 2010, 1:01 PM

Post #7 of 12 (6717 views)
Re: 1988 Acura Legend won't start! Help!!!! Sign In

I understand. I guess then we need to go and check the basics again to make sure!! Thanks for you help! Just one more question! If the catalytic converter is clogged could that be a cause?


Hammer Time
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Aug 6, 2010, 1:05 PM

Post #8 of 12 (6712 views)
Re: 1988 Acura Legend won't start! Help!!!! Sign In

It would cause it to have no power but it wouldn't prevent it from starting.
With the previous overheating history, I would really look at the compression close.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Aug 6, 2010, 1:07 PM)


kindermom
Novice

Aug 6, 2010, 1:22 PM

Post #9 of 12 (6706 views)
Re: 1988 Acura Legend won't start! Help!!!! Sign In

Thank you very much! we will check that out!


Sidom
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Sidom profile image

Aug 6, 2010, 1:27 PM

Post #10 of 12 (6706 views)
Re: 1988 Acura Legend won't start! Help!!!! Sign In

Just to eliminate some of the confusion here. It might be a good idea to go down the list, tell us what the readings were you got on those tests and a quick note on how you performed the tests.

Reason being if the tests weren't done with the right tools you may have confirmed a bad part as being good. Using a screwdriver to check for spark or listening to a fuel pump will confirm a total failure but will pass a marginal part as good that is in fact causing a no start.

Sounds like there may be a few things going on here but the 1st thing we need to find out is what is missing....If it's not starting, then there is definitely something missing....


kindermom
Novice

Aug 7, 2010, 12:31 PM

Post #11 of 12 (6695 views)
Re: 1988 Acura Legend won't start! Help!!!! Sign In

I really appreciate your imput. My mechanic is unable to be here today, but I pulled the fuse to the ECU and the cable to the battery and waited 10 min. , once I put everything back it started right up. I turned it off and went to change clothes, approx. 10 min and went out and it would not start. So I'm just a woman trying to do this for myself and I've been told by the auto parts store that my ECU may be bad. Is that the problem? I don't have the capability to get it to the auto place to get a diagnostic machine on it. I'm unsure if I should just give up.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 7, 2010, 1:36 PM

Post #12 of 12 (6693 views)
Re: 1988 Acura Legend won't start! Help!!!! Sign In

It's going to take a lot more than a drive to the auto parts store to confirm a bad ECM. First off, not one of those parts clerks has a clue how to diagnose a bad ECM or even a "no start" condition. The first thing you have to do is run every one of the tests I listed in that procedure and then and only then can you have any idea where to look for your problem.

PS, If you really did have a bad ECM, you car would have failed more than one of those tests so somebody needs to start doing some accurate testing.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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