i have a 93 del sol. one day i went to start my car it just kept cranking over and over i had fuel i had spark so i jumped it it started right up so it was wierd casue it was cranking but i bought a new battery. put it in runs fine for couple weeks then today had to jump it again . why does it crank yet when i jump it it starts right up. i am thinking alternator but could it be possible starter casue i can drive long distances and all acceseroies work while driving. im stumped . if any one has tips please post thanks. bill

 

 

yes put brand new plugs in and fuel was good. i think it might be a bad fuel regulator but this is a very wierd problem and very hard to diagnose since it is intermintent. and once it starts running when i jump start it or pop start it it runs fine and can drive for as long as it can go but sometimes if i stop it wont start again other times it will its very interminent very peculer

 

So when the engine won't start, are you sure that the starter is actually cranking the engine?

How specifically are you testing for spark and fuel?

 

i had this problem on my civic. are your battery clamps loose on the battery posts? if they are, you might have a not-so-great connection and it will cause the car to sporadically not start. the jump starting works because you are clamping it to the battery clamps which is causing them to have a better connection. the solution to this is to tighten the battery clamps. if they are as tight as they'll go but the clamp is still loose on the post, you need to buy these lead battery post cover things. they go over the battery post and basically make the post wider so that you can tighten your clamps all the way. they sell these at auto parts stores for very cheap.

 

consider getting your alternator tested as well. if you are losing battery voltage over time, it's potentially an alternator issue.

 

 

only thing i can think of is if its cranking and sparking is maybe your fuel pump isnt working completely. my 89 was doin the same thing it was cranking my plugs were good but it wouldnt fire. but i had a l.e.d. under my carpet that told me fuelpump

 

In every case of "cranks but won't start, but only sometimes", the main relay should be strongly considered.