For some reason im not getting "Spark"

2000 DODGE AVENGER
136 MILES
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
Tried replacing the ECU and "Flashing" the BDM at a local Dealership and theyre just beat on what the problem is
Sep 21, 2012 at 10:10 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 41,814 POSTS
Was anything done prior to this occurring?
Was the distributor tested?
Sep 21, 2012 at 10:32 PM
Avatar
CARADIODOC
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 34,306 POSTS
Reflashing a defective computer won't fix anything, and reflashes address emissions and performance issues, not no-start problems. Besides that, Chrysler Engine Computers are the last thing to suspect. They just don't cause that much trouble. Have you checked for diagnostic fault codes?

Have you checked for fuel pressure or did you get hung up on the first thing you found missing, the spark? A real quick test is to measure the voltage at the ignition coil, any injector, or either small wire on the back of the alternator. You should see 12 volts there for just one second after turning on the ignition switch. You might need to check that with a test light. Most digital voltmeters don't respond fast enough to show that pulse.

What's important is does that voltage come back during cranking? That will determine the next step in the diagnosis.
Sep 21, 2012 at 10:34 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
They say the reprogrammed the computer,But im not sure they did all,They said theyre not recieving a pulse
Sep 21, 2012 at 10:48 PM
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
And i just bought it a week ago in this condition,For very cheap so
Sep 21, 2012 at 10:49 PM
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
Also the Engines computer is Mitsubishi,I guess those avengers had Mitsubishi engines and such
Sep 21, 2012 at 10:54 PM
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 41,814 POSTS
Did you test the distributor?
Sep 21, 2012 at 11:35 PM
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
I didn't im not sure if Dealership did they have the car at the moment but theyre just becoming a money dump at this point.
Sep 21, 2012 at 11:42 PM
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 41,814 POSTS
Vehicle is equipped with distributor and for no spark condition, that should be the first thing to do. I wonder why they recommend a new PCM.

Sep 21, 2012 at 11:47 PM
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
Well we had spark before,And we didnt have power to injectors. So we thought maybe a Used Computer would work. Once we switched it ,It locked up the Body Mod.
Sep 21, 2012 at 11:50 PM
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 41,814 POSTS
Do you have spark now?

Pulsing of injectors are also related to the distributor.
If the dealer can't handle this, then you need a new dealership in town.
Sep 22, 2012 at 12:32 AM
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
From what they last said,The dont have a spark and "Are completely lost in discovering whats wrong"
Sep 22, 2012 at 12:35 AM
Avatar
CARADIODOC
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 34,306 POSTS
You can't have spark if you had no power to the fuel injectors. They both are fed from the automatic shutdown (ASD) relay. You either did the tests at different times when the intermittent problem was acting up during one test, or something was measured incorrectly. After almost 40 years in tv repair I can't tell you how many times I got confused from misreading my equipment or not making good contact with the probes.

As for "not receiving a pulse", that doesn't mean anything. Pulse from what? Crankshaft position sensor? Injectors? Distributor?

Yes, you will find Mitsubishi stuff on this car. It's a Mitsubishi product with the Dodge name on it. (If it has the original cd / cassette combo radio, those are built by them for all of the Chrysler car and truck models and are REAL high quality).

It just occurred to me, you checked for spark and you checked for power to the injectors, but how did you do that? There won't be any power to the injectors unless you're cranking the engine. Naturally you're cranking the engine when checking for spark.
Sep 22, 2012 at 12:45 AM
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
We checked for the power to injectors,Once we ddint have any we changed the ECU and the body module then locked us out. So we didnt even have spark.
Sep 22, 2012 at 12:57 AM
Avatar
CARADIODOC
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 34,306 POSTS
Were you cranking the engine when checking for 12 volts to the injectors? If not, there won't be any voltage there.
Sep 22, 2012 at 1:47 AM
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
Yup
Sep 22, 2012 at 2:08 PM
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
Mechanic working on my car still confused. I'm having it towed back Monday if they don't get a new guy working on it.
Sep 22, 2012 at 7:09 PM
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 41,814 POSTS
Ensure the timing belt has not failed.
Sep 22, 2012 at 7:17 PM
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
The guy I bought it from thought it was that we checked it before I bought it
Sep 22, 2012 at 7:20 PM
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 41,814 POSTS
If you still don't have sparks, start with the distributor.
Sep 22, 2012 at 7:25 PM
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
The guy I bought it from thought that too. But we checked before I bought it its fine
Sep 22, 2012 at 7:40 PM
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
Ignore that reply dumb phone didn't update the chat and ok what if that doesn't work?
Sep 22, 2012 at 7:42 PM
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 41,814 POSTS
Start with the distributor. The distributor is self-sufficient to produce sparks without the PCM.
Sep 22, 2012 at 7:45 PM
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
Gotcha ill have to wait till Monday the mechanic went home for the day and said Hell continue Monday but if he can't figure it out on his own I'm towing it back at $120 an hour his worthless
Sep 22, 2012 at 8:00 PM
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
Dealership now admits they haven't reprogrammed the ecu. And saying its from a 99 Avenger.
Sep 24, 2012 at 9:36 PM
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 41,814 POSTS
What a way to set a goose chase.
Sep 24, 2012 at 9:44 PM
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
What should i do? Honestly im concerned they're just trying to do whatever to get more money.
Sep 24, 2012 at 9:55 PM
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 41,814 POSTS
If the PCM is with immobiliser, you would need to get it programmed, if not, the PCM is not the cause of no sparks condition.
Sep 24, 2012 at 10:00 PM
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
immobilizer? Sorry not very car savvy,And they're still saying the reprogrammed it. I should have taken it to a Mitsubishi Dealership. Maybe i'd have more progress
Sep 24, 2012 at 10:08 PM
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 41,814 POSTS
Immonilizer = security system whereby there is a key symbol in dash or a blinking red led indicating it has been triggered and would not allow starting.
Sep 24, 2012 at 10:48 PM
Avatar
TOYA439
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
It has one and we told them to reprogram it but idk for sure if they did. If they did do it what would be the next "Cause"
Sep 24, 2012 at 11:30 PM
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 41,814 POSTS
If the light is still blinking, the programming is not correct and unless this is resolved there is nothing else you can do.

If this has been resolved, you need to start loking at why you don't have sparks and as I have suggested, start with the distributor, particularly the ignition coil.
Sep 25, 2012 at 5:39 AM