Ok, so this just started today and got steadily worse over the time. What's going on is that if feels like the starter is working really hard to turn the engine over. As it turns the engine over it's really slow and labored, but as it gain momentum it gets faster until the car fires. I tired turning the car off then starting it right away and the thing was a no go, but if the car sit for a little it goes as described above. I tried leaving the headlights on and off and there was no change in the issue. I'm thinking either the battery is going out, or the starter is, but I'm not getting the rapid clicking sound of bad starter and I thought the headlight attempt would rule out the battery.

 

I'm now getting backfire as the car is trying to start. Once it's running though it runs fine

 

what rpm is it turning at ?

Also those are kinds of symptoms of low compression. Or flooding .

 

Low.

Replaced the battery, no help.

Had grey exhaust this morning

 

sounds like a battery issue possibly....as soon as the car is running it doesn't run off the battery anymore, it runs off the altenator. if your battery is crap and its not replaced that will make the altenator (sp) work harder to keep up then eventually that's gonna go bad too. if anything I would take it to a car parts store and get them to check both for you to make sure they are both good/bad. I see your in LA..i don't know how cold it is there, but here in VA when it gets cold, people find out real quick when they have bad batteries cause their cars wont start.....just my .02......ya im a newbie but I have had these issues/symptoms in more then one of my cars

 

I wonder if it's that relay problem I've bean reading about, where the starter isn't getting it's full 12v

 

Here videos always help

 

the cranking sound is too faint but the bouncing on the tach is abnormal, leading me to think you have a major ground issue or faulty wiring somewhere which could be isolated to the ignition like a failing coil or elsewhere deeper in one of the harnesses. it could also be as simple as a fouled spark plug so you might start there if they are old plugs.

it doesn't look like a starter issue, more like erratic ignition while cranking.

 

Newer plugs, less than a year and just replaced the coils about a month ago. There was a MSD on here that was roasting the coils.

 

Might of roasted the plugs as well.

 

i would double check the wiring repairs from the MSD removal and try cleaning the plugs with starting fluid and dry them off to see if that helps.

also check to be sure the wires are secure at both ends and not arcing during starting(watch the engine bay in a dark area while trying to start).

 

When i removed the msd I got a new coil harness to replaced the hacked up one.

Just went to start the car and now it wont start at all, meaning it wont even crank, and there is a loud buzzing coming from somewhere around the UIM???

 

Thats probably a solenoid . from the rats nest .

 

that would likely be the IAC motor trying to set the idle. normally you won't hear it but it could be the result of an issue in the control system, normally it only operates while the engine is running after the AWS solenoid has done its job.

 

Figured it was the aic, but don't know why it would start doing that.

And no rats nest, single turbo and removes the aws.

 

could be interference that the ECU is interpreting as a start/run condition. check all your battery connections at each end.

 

I agree with RE, looks like an ignition circuit issue. The tach bouncing is not right.

I would check the coils, the wiring after the MSD unit was removed, as well as double check the crank trigger sensors on the crank pulley. Something may have shorted or grounded and its affected those sensors, altering timing to the point it cant decipher what is going on.

I dont think its starter or battery.

Do you have a hand controller for your PFC? Does the sensor check screen give any clues as to a sensor that could be out of action?

 

Tach bouncing usually points to a problem with the crank angle sensors or ignition.

 

I do have the commander. I'll have to check the reading tomorrow

 

Also have a datalogit, what sensors should I be looking at and what values should I be seeing?

 

What is the condition of the wiring harness?

 

The whole harness or just the harness where the MSD was hooked up?

The harness as a whole seems ok. The previous owner replaced it about 3 years ago and the coil harness is brand new. Replaced it when I removed the MSD

 

as mentioned look at the pickup wheel mounted under the pulleys, the crank sensors themselves and the harness leading up the nose of the engine from the triggers.

sometimes oil can get into the connectors and tweak the signals, so if there is an oil leak check for that.

 

Finally got a day free to play. So far I've done the starter relay by pass and checked all the fuses. Nothing helped so far. I was going to hook up my datalogit to my pfc, but for some reason the batter went bad on my lap top. Funny enough I never use it since I mainly work off of a mac.

I do have the hand held, what am I look for and what at?

 

When I first tried when I got down there, I got the car to crank once, a little back fire, then no cranking at all. I can hear the stater engage then the hum of energy that is going to it.