[V6-12v] Car not starting

[apowell at colocougs.org]

Mancubus has a 95 90 that won't start.

Before you pursue the complicated suggestions offered, step back and remember two basic principles
that have saved me a lot of work:

1) When a car doesn't work right, figure out the SIMPLEST thing that could cause the problem, and
look for that thing.  9 times out of 10, that's going to be the problem. No start? Check gas, check
for spark.

2) A car only needs three things to start: air, fuel and spark. If it doesn't start, the problem is
in one of the three.
Figure out which.

For example - check your manual to make sure it won't nuke your ignition system, and if not, pull a
plug wire at the distributor (not spark plug) end and hold it near the cap. If a spark jumps, you
have spark to the plugs. If no spark, check the coil. Do you smell gas after cranking? If not, it's
likely a gas problem. Air isn't usually a problem unless something is blocking either the intake or
exhaust.  Hall sensors and such are a big step above this level of complexity, so save them for the
second round of diagnosis.

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Al Powell
apowell at gocougs.wsu.edu
1958 Fiat 1200 Transformabile Spyder
1983 Datsun 280ZX Turbo
1993 Audi 90Q
1991 Camaro RS Convertible
1997 Chebby Blazer
1999 Chebby Blazer
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