joshmecca Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 I literally just registered here, so, hello. I spent some time lurking, trying to find information but it didn't work out so well. Anyway, I drove into a guy's tow hitch at about 10 mph yesterday and the car shut off... and won't start now. There was minor damage to the front end, everything got pushed in on the drivers side a couple inches, the radiator was broken, and the bumper sits crooked now, but the hood still latches and the fan and everything behind it is fine.. everything should be good once I install the new radiator either later today or tomorrow. But still, the problem remains.. I can not start the car. It will turn over, the starter has no problems.. I have spark and everything.. I don't think it's getting fuel. I have read different things about whether the 1988 DL's have an inertial cutoff switch, been told to check around the back of the car, etc. I spent hours looking yesterday and couldn't find a damn thing. SO I have come here, to seek help from people who know these cars. Does my car have one? Not sure if it matters but it's FWD and 5 speed. Or maybe it's something else? The fuel lines in the engine bay are all in tact.. I haven't removed one to check if there is fuel in it yet because I have just assumed it's not getting fuel and don't want to do the work.. The fuses are all fine, too. I'd like to have my car back running ASAP since it's my daily driver. Any help is appreciated guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdweninger Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 I would guess that the timing belt on driver side was fubar'd. Even if the belt is still intact, it may have jumped a few teeth ... so you might have spark, but at the wrong time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l75eya Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 +1 you're going to have to get to the timing belts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 You may know this, but I have to ask, because it could help other newbies reading this thread someday, how did you check the fuses? Visual inspection is not reliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhelme Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Check your horn fuse. If it is blown the ecu isn't getting power. I had a similar thing happen that pushed back the front bumper and pinched the horn wire on my '90 which caused the fuse to blow and it is the same one that powers the ecu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshmecca Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share Posted October 28, 2015 You may know this, but I have to ask, because it could help other newbies reading this thread someday, how did you check the fuses? Visual inspection is not reliable. I actually don't have a multimeter or anything to measure with, so i think i might have to do that.. haha Check your horn fuse. If it is blown the ecu isn't getting power. I had a similar thing happen that pushed back the front bumper and pinched the horn wire on my '90 which caused the fuse to blow and it is the same one that powers the ecu. i will definitely check into this! man, i feel like such a noob. but then again, I am. so it's alright Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshmecca Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share Posted October 28, 2015 Update: Got it started! Guess it was one of the fuses after all, haha I appreciate the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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