Car won’t start, no faults!

Hi everyone, I’m hoping someone on here might be able to help me. I have an 2003 ep3 type r 107k on the clock.

A few weeks ago I drove to work with no problems parked up and when I went to go home at the end of the day it wouldn’t start. There’s power there, the car is turning over no problem so not the starter. I have checked the coilpacks, I’m getting a spark from each plug and I’ve had it hooked up to find fault codes and nothing. The fuel pump is priming also.

I think there may be too much fuel coming through at start up and it’s flooding the engine. It not 100% sure. I disconnected the fuel and the car started Just and then cut out once the fuel in the pipes was used.

I have been told to try switching the ecu, but this involves changing locks, solenoids, barrel etc. Plus I don’t want to spend money on what it might be.

Someone said it could be the timing belt has been stretched/skipped a tooth but there was nothing wrong when I switched the car off when all this started?

Has anyone had a problem like this before?

Thanks

Gary

You don't have to change locks etc. Just get the ECU recoded to your key. Honda or a specialist can do this.

Sounds an odd problem if you have fuel and spark, the only thing really left is timing. Could be worth whipping an injector out and seeing if you're getting proper pressure at the nozzle.

Hi Hazz, thanks. There’s pressure at the nozzle. Can I just take the ECU in on it’s own for this or do I need the car taken in? Sorry probably a stupid question but I’ve never encountered this before.

Is it easy to check if the timing is out? I’m pretty good at the basic mechanical stuff but haven’t done this before.

Cheers

Gary

I'm not sure of the procedure for checking the timing, presumably it's just rocker cover off and turn the crank by hand and check alignment of certain things... That's as much as I can help on that one :lol:

As for the ECU, I would presume it would require you to take the car in with old and new ECUs.


The only other thing I can think of is compression. However if it was running well previously and showing no signs of smoke or excessive burning of oil... I'd say that's unlikely to be your problem.

Hazz said:

I'm not sure of the procedure for checking the timing, presumably it's just rocker cover off and turn the crank by hand and check alignment of certain things... That's as much as I can help on that one :lol:

Click to expand...

Basically that, there's two marks on the cams to check.

Krzys said:

Basically that, there's two marks on the cams to check.

Click to expand...

With the addenda that the spots A and B should have the black links of the chain over them (otherwise the chain has either skipped or stretched - or both).

But, if timing were out sufficiently to cause the car to not start then it would cause a fault.

Jack the driver's side up so the front wheel is off the ground, stick it in 4th gear and turn the wheel by hand.

Could it be an immobiliser problem?

If you have a spare key try starting the car with that or change the battery in your key.

Worth a shot and only pennies to replace a battery

Signs of the timing skipping a few teeth. When you turn the engine off. Either the crank shaft, camshafts or both will rock back slightly in the opposite direction of rotation. If the chain is stretched or the tensioner is worn, as one of the shafts rocks back, it’ll skip a tooth or more. Come back to start the engine, timing is out causing non start.

Is it a pre facelift? It definitely sounds like an immobiliser issue.

Immobiliser light would be flashing on the dash if that was the case?
Unless a well known Honda tuner has had their hands on it and removed the bulb from the dash.....