Help! Car Won't Start...

"Ram_Riot_6" (tony-ram-riot)
07/28/2015 at 20:45 • Filed to: None

This morning when I was leaving for work my car wouldn’t start. I tried jumping it and it was still a no go. I bought a new battery as that was the easiest possible fix and i hoped that was the problem. It wasn’t...

The car is a 2007 Jeep Patriot.The car will turn over, so I don’t think it is the starter, but I am not 100% sure. If anyone has any advice on what it may be or how I could it started that would be awesome. I really don’t want to pay for a tow and if I can get it to run long enough to drive it to a shop that would be awesome. Thanks in advance!

DISCUSSION (10)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Ram_Riot_6
07/28/2015 at 21:00

I had non-starting issues on my ‘09 Accent once....it would always start on the second or third try, but it turned out to be the coil in the steering column not properly picking up the code from the key, so the immobilizer would let it turn over but not start. It always sorted itself out and started fine by the 2nd or 3rd try at cranking though....

....your problem could be something like that....? If it was the starter being dead, you’d usually just hear the relay and it wouldn’t crank. Did you check for spark on one or all the plugs? Any warning lights turned on or staying on on the dashboard that usually aren’t?

Was it acting up before you parked it, or running fine? A stupid thing to check, but are you sure it has gas in it (the gauge could’ve stopped working properly...?)

Ram_Riot_6 > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/28/2015 at 21:07

It was running fine before. It has always had an issue starting where it would take longer or multiple attempts. I took it to multiple shops years ago to see if something was wrong, but nothing was ever found and it has been starting like the same way for over 6 years now. I have not checked for gas, that is a good point to check. It had gas when I parked it, but I park it on the street so someone could in theory siphon it.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Ram_Riot_6
07/28/2015 at 21:09

Hmmm....COULD be the coil in the column for the key, or something related to reading the key...is the immobilizer light on or flashing when you are trying to start it? (My coil for my key actually wasn’t making the light come on any other way the it usually does, which is why I never thought of it until the dealer said they’d seen it happen before).

Could also be the ignition coil too perhaps? Checking a spark plug while turning over the engine would help you figure that out if you feel comfortable doing that.

Ram_Riot_6 > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/28/2015 at 21:19

All the normal dash lights come on, no immobilizer. I’ll see if I can check for a spark tomorrow. Unfortunately I am away from all my tools this summer and don’t really want to buy tools I already have. Thanks for the help!

.jdb. > Ram_Riot_6
07/28/2015 at 21:22

So there are probably smarter mechanics than me who will come along, but...here’s where I’d start:
If the Check Engine light is on, you need to find out what the codes are, that may very well be the source of your problem. Some car parts places will scan your car for free. But ... that’s probably not very helpful, and if the MIL (aka the Check Engine light) was on, you’d probably have said that.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND....
If the engine is turning at a normal-sounding speed and the car has a new battery, it’s probably not the starter and definitely not the battery (or a battery connection, because you cleaned the terminals and clamped them down well when you replaced them... right? OK, if not, get some sandpaper and go do that). We can also eliminate the starter solenoid, because if that wasn’t working, the engine wouldn’t crank at all.
It could be a gummed-up fuel filter and you’re not getting any fuel (and yeah, someone could have siphoned it, so check that too!), but I think you’d be having power issues well before now if that were the case. Same goes for a clogged air filter.
If I had to guess, I’d guess spark. I would just make sure everything is connected well - these instructions look good:

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthre…

I wouldn’t go so far as to pull the plugs, so you would just do steps 1-5 and 11-12, but just pulling everything apart, checking for damage, and putting it back together again may be enough to fix the problem ... if that’s the problem.

Good luck!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Ram_Riot_6
07/28/2015 at 21:23

No problem! I’m not terribly mechanically inclined so not sure how much help I am being, just going with comes to mind off the top of my head and from experience! Good luck! Let me know how things go! :)

Toby F., Manager > Ram_Riot_6
07/28/2015 at 21:30

Same year, and essentially the same car as my Caliber. I had the exact same symptoms and no check engine, except on mine would happen after my car would heat up during my drive. If I were to shut it off, it would not restart until the engine bay cooled down enough. It ultimately turned out to be a faulty computer, which set me back $1k for the part, reflash, and installation. Of course it was the computer after I had replaced the fuel pump, crankshaft position sensors, and coolant temp. Sensor.

Ram_Riot_6 > .jdb.
07/28/2015 at 21:32

Thanks, I’ll definitely give that a look tomorrow. Hopefully there is just a lose connection somewhere. I did get it to kind-of start for about 5 second this afternoon, so either gas or a spark seems like a possible cause.

Ram_Riot_6 > Toby F., Manager
07/28/2015 at 21:35

Wow, I really hope that is not the problem and this is the first time that it wont start even after multiple tries. I definitely don’t want to be spending that much on it right now, hopefully it is a simple, inexpensive fix.

iSureWilll > Ram_Riot_6
07/28/2015 at 23:11

Could it be a leaking fuel pressure regulator? I don't know anything about the Patriot or its injection setup but... My $.02.