Sputtering- no start

[Hoopt]

1997 Sidekick sport -j18 engine.  Running great until a 4 weeks ago.  Trying to start and would sputter for 30-60 seconds then idle normal.  Then about 2 weeks ago it wouldn't start.  It sat for about week then started, normally.  now it will not start.  I let it sit for a few days and it started, sputtered for about 10 seconds and nothing.  It cranks, but not start!

OBDII does not give any codes but shows INC on EGR issues.  Also gives O2 sensor as INC.  Fuel reads OK?

I am attempting to clean EGR, but it not coming off.  Is there a trick to get it off?

What could be keeping it from starting?

Thanks.

[fixkick]

answering for cranks ok and fast but will not start. THE STARTING MOTOR CRANK MOTOR CRANKS FAST AND LOAD) EVEN SEE ENGINE CRANK SHAFT FRONT PULLEY SPIN ,YES STARTER MOTORS CAN SPIN AND ENGINE NOT. BAD STARTER.
TRUE no start, is easy to find cause.
there 3 + causes
lost spark we test for spark if sparks good , test fuel works.
does test fuel run engine or 1 second to 3 seconds as fuel spray has been consumed buy the engines
what does INC mean>? sorry.

1: bad engine,, compression TEST fails. or cat melted CLOSED and engine can not breath, or air cleaner packed in crap.. A VACUUM TOOL FINDS VACCUM CRANKED TO BE 0 PSI BINGO THAT IS THIS FAILURE LINE.
2: no spark 4 COP coils to test not just 1. ( ask how)
3:out of fuel or bad fuel. or fuel filter clogged or pump dead. or FPR stuck open causes full pressure to be super low. or 1 or more injectors clogged,caused by bad fuel. or to much fuel pressure and engine floods so do the unflood etst.

test fuel works of 1 and 2 are not bad.
always , ever starts a gas model air plane engine. it starts with test fuel. all gas and diesel both but diesel has no spark so we do 1 and 3.

now the scan tool, real tool do it all but cheap $20 tool is only a useless code reader.
The scan tool can be used like this. (fsm manual tricks on spark) factory service manual.
tool connected, 16 pin OBD2 port, USA car.
1; crank engine for 15 soconds no more release key
if cmp ,ckp or spark fails DTC P03xx sets tell you why.
the rule is 15 turns of crank but I cant see it cranking so I count seconds or potatoes.

answering for cranks ok and fast but will not start.



trick number 2 from owners guide (UNFLOOD process)
crank WOT wide open throttle,. means right foot slam pedal to the floor this clears out flooding , like injector leaks do./
and lots more but the tests above make finding the fail path 10x more easy.
this is all ASE 101 stuff.

[fixkick]

but shows INC on EGR issues.  Also gives O2 sensor as INC.  Fuel reads OK?

no that means Incomplete I only means the smag station  can not test the car, at all, due to not driving the car far enough after say battery died.
for get that  monitor status stuff please this. this is only for the smog man, ( not supported means car does not have this at all)
as you can see the cat test is not complete. and EVAP. and O2.  mean nothing to the repair man at all ,only that ECu was reset, no big deal that. now.

[fixkick]

leave the EGR alone if can strip bolts doing that. J18 DOHC EGR is pure electric valve, it has a motor inside and runs valve and yes it could stick wide open and starts fail. yes.
yes it can be cleaned but needs careful attention
YOUR egr monitor is NOT a failure.
only DTC errors are failures never the above. photo (OBD2 tech)

yes long cranking, can set the DTC error P0-3xx ( xx means them all with 3 in front)P0 means fed codes, that all cars use 1996 up
p1 up is factory only codes for only this year and engine, only FSM tells the truth on this range of DTC errors,. google will lie there every time,... they mix codes lame./

when the status monitor completes and no CEL glowing, the smog station can now pass the car, if not complete he says come back tomorrow and to some fast driving and stopping fast.
complete means most smog sensors were tested and CEL lamp out means they all passed, easy no:? one line rule. smog,.