cranks but no spark?

[Kathlene]

97 xlt, this is first problem since purchased used. has 85,000 mi now.
Went to start this am, cranked over just fine but would not start. Hubby checked manually for fuel pressure at schrader (sp?) valve on fuel line assembly, got good fuel pressure.
Checked relays for cleaniness and tightness in fuse box, under hood, check all visible electrical connections.

Any suggestions and or help?? only good thing, i missed a day of work.
I've edited this to add...
where is this pump relay switch located that i am reading so much about?
and crank shaft relay??

Thanks so much in advance!!

 

[TPLYNCH]

When you first turn the key to "on", pause and listen for the fuel pump to whine before turning to start. If you do;'t hear the whine, then the pump is not running. Try the relay in the black box under the hood, or tapping on the box with a mallet. If the pump is running, could be the crank position sensor or the coil packs.

 

[Kathlene]

Tom, i frequent alot of forums, but for the life of me i couldn't figure out how to direct this post to you, so I hope you see it.
To keep you updated. besides listening for the pump, yes it was on, checking the schrater valve, yes fuel, my hubby checked the plugs for spark next. first plug he pulled no spark, second plug he pulled yes spark and for the first time it acutally tried to start beyond just cranking. I had to turn key off quickly.
He then went and bought and installed new spark plugs, he feels they were bad and may even be original plugs. Anyways to make a long story short. The car finally started and is running.
I have read so many times of this occuring here on this forum alone reading just today and that it is intermittent and no one is actually sure what is the cause and even sometimes the problems comes back. Please pray mine doesn't and the problem is solved.
i wish anyone having this problem.. that it gets fixed and stays fixed, best to you all and Happy Holidays!

 

[yob_yeknom]

Have the computer codes read. See if they show any problems with the crankshaft position sensor. It is possible that it may be starting to crap out.

 

[Kathlene]

Hi me again, You know this is the history since I last posted above:
my hubby changed the spark plugs, seem to work, then a few wks later, it happened again, so he changed the plug wires, seem to work ok, then with in a week it happened again.
So I took it in to have the codes read, they could not find a problem, It seems that it was only happening first thing in the am, so I left the car with them overnite, nope, it started right up, but they changed the fuel filter for free just in case, but problem reoccured a few days later and in the afternoon.
Then this last weekend, i started the car right up, drove a few miles and I could hear this clicking coming from the engine area. sorta like when the flashers click but not that frequent. then it stalled on me. Took me over 20 mins of intermittent trying to get it started to get it home, when it finally started... no clicking. Then yesterday all day off and on I tried to start it and it wouldn't. still cranks but no fire. I had it towed to the shop today, hopefully it won't start for them, as they couldnt' duplicate the problem before.
A mechanic friend mentioned something about a kill fuel sensor maybe from an impact, although I havent' impacted anything. But he told me of a few stories.
And my hubby just phoned the shop as I am typing and they told him they fixed it, that it was an air/fuel censor that was plugged and the computer kept telling itself that it needed more fuel and the timing was thrown off, so the engine tried to feed itself more fuel and so each time I cranked it over it told that computer the timing was off, give more fuel, which in the end would clog it even more.
So lets hope it's fixed. sorry so winded, but if anyone has any more suggestions, I'd appreciate in case this isn't the problem, lol....aloha!