littleone Posted September 6, 2023 Share Posted September 6, 2023 (edited) HI everyone new member here.So i just recently purchased a used smart fortwo passion hoping i could fix no start issue .The battery is charging it to try and start it again. Upon turning the key to the on position i hear what i believe is the fuel pump, because it comes from the rear of the car right where the fuel tank sits underneath the car. I check the undercarriage of the car at the rear where engine is and found a cable that has a connector on it that is cut and was wondering if anybody could help me identify where it is supposed to go. I have attached a picture if it. I'm just wondering if this could be causing the no start issuel. Any help would be appreciated !. Looking forward to any replies and if anyone else is having the same issue then this thread could potentially help them. Thank you and god bless! Edited September 8, 2023 by littleone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willys Posted September 6, 2023 Share Posted September 6, 2023 Welcome to the club/nuthouse......if you take that connector where can it reach and is there any plugs it can maybe fit into...? I'm not an owner of a 451 just a lowly 450 guy...lol. That would be my first try any way. I'm sure someone will be in to help soon.... Again welcome and good luck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjolinor Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 I can't work out the picture. Is it a diesel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 He is from Texas so its most likely gasoline. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleone Posted September 7, 2023 Author Share Posted September 7, 2023 (edited) it doesn't reach much further cant seem to find anything near it that it would go to. just did a compression test on it tho and it doesn't look good. cylinder 1. 60 cylinder 2. 60 cylinder 3. 120 yes the car is gasoline Edited September 8, 2023 by littleone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willys Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 Hmmmm....not good if that is actual compression numbers that's for sure....damn! Looking at the pic at the 2 o'clock location on what I am guessing is the head, the shiny part or piece, look at the end of it. It has what looks like a broken sensor or fitting. It has what looks like a brass threaded section that is directly against the shiny metal surface and then what looks to me like a broken sensor body. That wire looks like it should go that far...? Maybe? Also inside that plug or connector it looks like one of the pins has been fired or it is different than the others? Maybe it was yanked off the sensor and broke the pins? It's had to tell from the pic. I don't know if the gasoline engines had the heads stay shiny like that one is or maybe the previous owner tried to repair it without success and pawned it off to you? Does it look like the head gasket has been replaced? IF not disregard my last statements...lol. But look at that fitting on the side of what I am assuming is the head.... Motors aren't that expensive especially if you buy another parts car so to speak with accident damage, etc with a good engine...? IF you are at all interested in changing the engine...? Is the rest of the car worth the effort? I have found there are two types of owners of smart cars....one who loves the car and treats it as it should be treated then there is the other ...the ones who simply want a toy to beat on. Smart Cars imho do not take a beating well. Nor imho do they like very short trips just around the corner without allowing the engine to get a good heat cycle before shutting them off...either way the result is the same......similar to what you say bad compression numbers. Here's hoping you didn't pay much for the car if the above is true....Smart Cars are a fun car if you understand what they are and not a toy that likes being beaten....hope those numbers aren't correct...best of luck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleone Posted September 8, 2023 Author Share Posted September 8, 2023 (edited) I see what you mean about the connector, . How can the compression numbers be wrong?. i had a jump starter on battery when i took the readings. what other factors go into compression numbers. i know a weak battery throws numbers off but what else could throw the numbers off ? did i make a mistake by not investigating further ? did i get a false reading ? normally when two cylinders next to each other have low compression its usually head gasket or so ive read but not sure how true that is. how can someone with a car with a dip stick not check oil at least every 3 days. only women do that and it was a dude who sold it to me. Well i am sick to my stomach thinking compression numbers could be a false reading. Another thing i want to point out is engine was completely cold when i took compression but dont really think it matters that much.Thank you for all the replies by the way ! Edited September 8, 2023 by littleone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LooseLugNuts Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 id be suspicious of the red circle something doesnt look right ...i suspect that the connector contains part of a temp sensor or maybe a knock sensor (im not familiar with the gas smarts and am quickly losing my limited knowledge of the diesels) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleone Posted September 8, 2023 Author Share Posted September 8, 2023 (edited) Wow that definitely looks like a oil temp sensor or maybe a oil pressure or oil sender sensor but I don’t think that correlates with the no start and the low compression Edited September 8, 2023 by littleone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjolinor Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 What mileage does it have? Unusual for the Mitsubishi engine to have those sort of compression numbers. You could try removing the throttle body and doing the compression test again. I still can't work the picture out. Is the thing above and left of your connector the gearbox change unit? Picture taken from under the exhaust looking upwards? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willys Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 That is the fitting I was refering to also. What sort of money do you have tied up in this car? If you don't mind saying that is? IF it isn't much why not seriously investigating what and why it's not running and why you got the low numbers? I'm not saying that those aren't correct, just very low from what I have seen in the past. I have probably 50 plus engines under my belt but by no means an expert. I find tinkering with engines and cars sort of entertainment. Far better than the clubs/bars scene or buying booze(I gave that up decades ago, I'm a bad drunk) Plus when you get sick after one beer it's time so to speak....lol. As I said...if you don't have too much into this and can afford to play around with it, why not? Keep us informed .....and take pics. One man's hardship is another's entertainment as they/we say.....no offence intended...lol Plus we like to learn and well we're nosey....lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LooseLugNuts Posted September 11, 2023 Share Posted September 11, 2023 60 isnt good...time to check head gasket or timing belt if it has a belt make an adapter to or buy a leak tester to send compressed air into those low cylinders and see/hear where its leaking out of...thats the easiest way to tell if its transfering between cylinders thru a blown gasket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LooseLugNuts Posted September 11, 2023 Share Posted September 11, 2023 if its two wire...then im pretty sure its the engine coolant temp sensor...fairly important for starts ...but doesnt explain the low compression Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwight Posted September 13, 2023 Share Posted September 13, 2023 What year 451? How many miles? The low compression could be from burned valves in one or more cylinders - a known issue with some 451s/Mitsu engines. Our 2011 got a brand new head at around 32K miles due to burned valves. As to the no start, I'd scan the car for OBD codes and see what pops up - sound like the computer isn't seeing what it needs to allow the start. It's also worthwhile checking the connectors and cables to the starter just in case... You can try searching on https://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/ for similar threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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