'04 Vue No Start

[04stealthvue]

I have a 2.2L 4 Cyl 04 Vue. It will not start. Fuel is getting to the rail, sometimes with quite a bit of pressure, starter works, the engine turns over, and there is an occasional backfire. I've changed the ICM. My thoughts on the issue are 1. Bad coil pack 2. Injectors 3. CPS What would be the best thing to do to narrow those possibilities?

[fdryer]

Personally, if several starting attempts didn't get the engine to startup, there's a real possibility of a flooded engine. As we're all 'spoiled' from the EFI system instant startup in summer or winter weather, this reliability nearly ignores the rare occasion if numerous starting attempts fails to get the engine to run. Every engine using EFI relies on the coolant sensor to determine fuel mixtures so cold engines always needs extra fuel for starting. Allowed to continue this way from several failed starting attempts, fuel is continually injected hence the possibility of engine flooding. This presumes the rare occasion when a battery is near dead and cranking several times fails to get the engine to start. In these cases, clear flood mode is suggested (from owner's manuals); hold pedal to the floor for all subsequent starting. This tells the ecm to shut off injectors during starting resulting in zero fuel as cylinders expel excess fuel and plugs dry out. Spark plugs short circuit high voltage, preventing a flooded engine from starting. As the excess fuel is blown out thru the exhaust system, the leaned out fuel mixtures and partially wet plugs allows spark to ignite this mixture resulting in a sputtering startup. Once running, the pedal is released for normal warm up.

The easiest way to kill two birds with one stone (not knowing if fuel or spark is faulty or both) would be trying the clear flood mode first. Only one or two starting cycles is needed with each startup using no more than 5 seconds each. If the engine doesn't startup then try the next procedure using starting fluid. Spraying starting fluid into the throttle body means manually supplying fuel for immediate ingestion into the engine on the next start. With a know amount of fuel (starting fluid) fed into the engine, this leaves spark in question. Either the engine fires for a few seconds or nothing. No startup suggests a faulty ignitions system, no spark or intermittent spark).

There are other ways to check for fuel and spark if you're interested in manually testing for each.

[waiter21]

Welcome to the forum.

How many miles on the engine?

Any codes set?

When did it start having this starting problem?

Starter Fluid. Spray about 2 second blast directly down the throat of the throttle body then immediately attempt to start. Does it try to start?

NOTE -keep your fingers clear of the throttle butterfly plate, it will cut your finger off when it moves automatically.

[04stealthvue]

Originally Posted by fdryer

The easiest way to kill two birds with one stone (not knowing if fuel or spark is faulty or both) would be trying the clear flood mode first. Only one or two starting cycles is needed with each startup using no more than 5 seconds each.

I tried your method for clearing flood mode, with no change, but I'll be trying the starting fluid tomorrow.

Originally Posted by waiter21

Welcome to the forum.

Thanks!

How many miles on the engine?

About 220K.

Any codes set?

None that I can determine.

When did it start having this starting problem?

Vue was parked in a place that the nose was pointing down a bit, so my only other thought was possibly oil level in the engine because of the angle of decline?

Thank you both for the input!

[conemark]

If you have access to an OBD2 scanner, check to see if there are any pending codes. I have seen situations where a no-start condition was corrected by clearing codes then doing the drive cycle routine.

[waiter21]

220k miles on an 04.. Possible timing chain tensioner may be version #2. If so, its near the end of its life.. Its possible you jumped timing.. (You mentioned occational backfire while attempting a start)

Do the starting fluid thing... If no start, do a compression test..

If you jumped timing only by a tooth, you may have lucked out and didn't bend any valves..