Plymouth Breeze

2142 Views 12 Replies 9 Participants Last post by UpstateNYBill, Jan 28, 2016

Grizzly28

Discussion Starter · Jan 6, 2016

So I understand were on a Cruze forum But, I'm looking for some ideas on fixing a problem. I was given a car for my mother in law( next to Mint condition) it's a 99 Plymouth Breeze. When I picked it up, the battery was dead, had put a new one in, and my mother in law was driving it and it just died on her while driving. It sat for a year prior to me owning it, but now it won't start. My thoughts were change the plugs, new fuel filter, maybe fuel pump, or Alternator? Anyone have an Idea?

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ChevyGuy

· #2 · Jan 6, 2016

You'll have to troubleshoot what's going on. If it's the alternator, the battery is likely dead.

Beyond that, I'd look at the basics. There's a number of things that have to work for it to run. Any one of them could cause it to drop dead and fail to start. Do you have fuel and spark? If no spark or fuel injection pulse, it might be a crankshaft sensor.

I might be a good idea to find out why the car was parked. Perhaps you just discovered the reason. (Intermittent problem.)

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obermd

· #3 · Jan 6, 2016

Check the battery. If it's dead again I'd start with the alternator.

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Robby

· #4 · Jan 6, 2016

Died while driving......meaning running down the road and it just quit, right?

If so, first step is check for spark. Don't bother with plugs yet since we know four plugs don't all fail at the same time.
If you have spark, it verifies that the cam and crank position sensors are functioning.
It also proves the camshaft(s) are turning, meaning there is no belt or chain concern.

I don't know what engine we are discussing, so I don't know if it has belt driven cams.........but most Mopars had belt drive back then.

If there is no spark, you should be able to see the camshaft with the oil fill cap removed......have someone crank the engine while you observe for rotation of the cam.
If the camshaft is turning, you can home in on one of the two position sensors........in order of failure, for no known reason, exchange the cam position first, crank position second, ignition module last.
One of those steps should get spark and a running engine.

If there is spark, the fuel pump becomes suspect.......so, to help make that determination, pull the air inlet hose off the throttle body, fire a healthy shot of carb cleaner into the throttle body while holding the throttle open, reinstall the hose, and crank the engine.
If it starts and dies, you have proven, by substituting something to burn, a no fuel condition.

The owners manual may indicate the car has a fuel pump reset switch, known as a rollover switch. These are common on Fords, Sometimes on Chrysler, never on GM.
If one is listed, reset it.

You should be able to hear the fuel pump run for one to three seconds every time the key is switched to the 'on' (not crank) position.

If there is no sound......it may be time to enlist a professional that has a means to measure pump pressure, and pump circuitry.

Going further makes me sound like a shop manual so I'll leave it at that.

Rob

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spacedout

· #5 · Jan 6, 2016

If it sat for a year the gas could have been bad due to phase separation(a layer of low octane gas, and another layer of a mix of water and alcohol). Would run ok for awhile, but once you get to the water layer it would die and never start again until you replace the fuel.

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UpstateNYBill

· #6 · Jan 7, 2016

Yeah, we need more info. What do you mean by it won't start? Does the engine turn over when you crank the ignition, but it fails to start? Or when you turn the key, all you hear is a clicking sound, etc?

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Grizzly28

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 27, 2016

Hey guys sorry for the long wait, been real busy.. I turn the ignition over and you can hear that the motor wants to turn over but it won't. Replaced Crank sensor( Lots of Oil in there), then replaced the Cam Shaft sensor( more oil as well), still won't start I can hear the fuel pump kick on and off, I thought maybe I didn't have the bolts all the way tightened on the cam shaft sensor, but I'm thinking my next steps are ECM maybe

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Robby

· #8 · Jan 27, 2016

Have you verified the cam is turning?

Rob

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UpstateNYBill

· #9 · Jan 28, 2016

Before getting into replacing sensors, have you verified that you have spark and fuel at the necessary places?

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chevrasaki

· #10 · Jan 28, 2016

spacedout said:
If it sat for a year the gas could have been bad due to phase separation(a layer of low octane gas, and another layer of a mix of water and alcohol). Would run ok for awhile, but once you get to the water layer it would die and never start again until you replace the fuel.

Also this is a good point, don't forget to replace the fuel with something fresh and hasn't caramelized. Gas does weird things after it sits for awhile. You may even have some gummed up the fuel lines.

Source: Had to clean out and unplug the gas lines in my old snowmobile once after I forgot to add stabil, it had been sitting for 10 months.

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rfruth

· #11 · Jan 28, 2016

Do the headlights dim when U try to start it ?

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BlueTopaz

· #12 · Jan 28, 2016

1. Fresh fuel
2. Is it getting spark?
3. Is fuel getting to cylinders?
4. If it has a fuel filter might need to change it.
5. Charge battery for a fresh start at trouble shooting.

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UpstateNYBill

· #13 · Jan 28, 2016

Grizzly28 said:
I turn the ignition over and you can hear that the motor wants to turn over but it won't.

Sorry, but this sentence is incomplete. It won't what?? Won't turn over, or won't start?

If you are saying it wants to turn over, but won't turn over fast enough to start the engine as if the battery is near dead, then that could be anything from a worn starter or a bad connection (ground or otherwise) or a battery drain to something more serious that is engine related. My son once called me to say his car died while driving down the road, and wouldn't restart. What had happened was the a/c compressor seized, and stopped the engine. By the time I got there hours later, the seized a/c compressor had cooled down, and I just started the car and drove away.

If, on the other hand, you are saying the engine wants to turn over (fast) but won't start, then go back to the basics of spark and fuel before going any further. Keep it simple. You could have something as simple as a bad ignition wire or coil, or plugged up fuel filter, common problems in an older car.

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