attn GURUS

[INTHABLOOD]

what up fellas i just aquired an 03 matrix XRS and it WONT START ....it seems to have no spark???? and the 2 far right injectors are workin but the 2 on the passenger side of the engine are not (dont know if thats how theyre supposed to fire?)...does the car have an ignitor or is it just the C.O.P 's it turns over fine but wont start up ...............ive checked all the FUSES and all good ....it had 3 alarms hooked up in it (yes 3????) which have been unhooked so i dont know if there is a starter kill or something preventing it from starting ????? also the key is just a metal hardware store key and not the black plastic kind so not sure if its supposed to have a key with a chip in it maybe preventing it to crank????

i know its a broad question but any info or suggestions (other then bring it to a mechanic ) would be greatly appreciated

lil background on the story i was told upon getting it ......the guy had busted the radiator and blew the head gasket.....im no mechanic but the oil is fine no water in it .................the radiator did have a couple holes in it i repaired to test the car and it held the right amount of water and never got mixed in with the oil the whole time i tried to start it ...so ive kinda ELIMINATED THE HEAD GASKET theory due to it would still start up with a blown gasket correct???????


THANKS
ill get pics up of it ...its a really cool car has airbag suspension and lays hard on the side skirts so i have to revive it

[fishexpo101]

The 2003 Matrix XRS just has the C.O.P. ignition setup - no separate ignitors. This year also do not have the factory immobilizer (chipped or transponder keys) - just a plain key setup.

Now with 3 different alarm systems hooked to it - you definitely want to check into a wiring issue. Chances are pretty go that atleast one of them has cut into the existing airing harness in some screwy way - hard part is tracing it down. Worst come to worst - may have to replace the main body harness.

A dead ECM can also cause a no fire condition - probe the injector harnesses and coil on plug harnesses to make sure that wiring is correct. Check for good fuel pressure and note any missing hoses, connectors, etc.

The very first thing I would have done would have compression testing the engine. Since it sounded like the car didn't run when you were looking at it - and given that it doesn't look like oil/coolant contamination - need to find out what exactly is wrong. Could be anything from an electrical issue to a broken timing chain or worse.

You are correct, a car will run (barely) with a blow head gasket up to a point. Since there is no fire - I'd suspect an electrical issue. If all the fuses under the hood check out, then you'd have to work on the main harness, check the ECM.

[INTHABLOOD]

thanks and ive eliminated all of the alarms now and have it all back to the stock wiring all the splicing was done properly and looked as no brakes in the wires were made ......... i know its getting fuel to the injectors but have no way of really checking any further with those .....it was not running when i got it and only has 73'000 miles on it ...ive checked all the fuses and they are all goo but i have no way of checking the relays and such ......in the car when i got it was a compression tester but i dont know if it was checked they had started to unbolt shit from the engine but none of the gaskets have been broke loose so i guess they gave up ....but they were set on it bein a blown head gasket but the oil is still clean ....thanks for any input or suggestions