Cranks but will not start?

2003 DODGE NEON
140,000 MILES • 2.0L • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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M GASPAR
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Came home from work, and the car ran fine. No engine codes, just the evap / gas cap.
Went to start 2 days later, cranks but won't start. Battery at14.5 volts, fuel pressure at55 PSI, getting spark / tested all four plugs, plugs are less than 6 months old and gapped fine. I removed the valve cover to observe that the cam is turning, so I know the timing belt is intact. Used my obd scanned to check the map sensor is reading.
Any suggestions?
Dec 30, 2024 at 9:15 AM
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STRAILER
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Will the engine run on starting fluid? If you have a shorted fuel injector it will shut down the driver inside the PCM. Please go over this video and guide below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXLJbuAZ4CE&t

And this guide can help you check the fuel injectors:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-fuel-injector

I have seen the catalytic converter come apart and block the outlet, I would crank it over while having a helper see if you get distinct air bursts out of the exhaust pipe. Please go over these guides and get back to us.
Dec 30, 2024 at 11:45 AM
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M GASPAR
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Unfortunately, I have no one here to assist at this moment. I will do the best I can alone.
When I pulled the plugs to check spark and compression, I could smell fuel on each plug.
Compression was 150 on 2 and 3, 135 on 1 and 4.
I will get back to you.
Thank you.
Dec 30, 2024 at 3:24 PM
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M GASPAR
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Checked the catalytic converter, it's not plugged .
Checked the injectors ( ohm reading ) , all within spec .
Thought maybe one or more injectors could be plugged so I removed the fuel rail and that's when I smelt something odd. The fuel did not smell like gas, more like a kerosene.
I put gas in it before coming home from work. And it ran fine all the way home.
Let the car sit for two days and the kerosene / diesel / whatever it was settled to the bottom of the tank , where the fuel pump sump is .
It tried to start the whole time but wouldn't.
Drained the tank and the liquid was green, not a yellow color.
Put 10 liters in it and tried to start .
30 seconds later it was running.
Thank you for your help. I was about to give up .
Dec 31, 2024 at 8:54 AM
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STRAILER
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Nice work! you must have gotten a bad tank of gas somehow. Use 2CarPros anytime, we are here to help. Please tell a friend.
Dec 31, 2024 at 11:37 AM