Mitsubishi Timing Problem

[Streettuner]

I have a 92 Turbo Eclipse and its having timing problems. I go to crank it up and all you hear is a click. I just want to know if anybody knows what that is and how to fix it. It will be appreciated. Thanks

[Krazykouki]

how do you know its just a timing problem? is the engine turning over at all??

[Streettuner]

i dont know for sure that that is the problem. I was just told that. No it dont even turn over. it just clicks one time when you turn the key.

[Benefit]

starter? alternator? battery?

[Krazykouki]

can you turn the crank at all by hand? well, with a socket and a wrench on the harmonic balancer..will it turn over at all?

if it does not turn over at all..the you have a serious problem. You may either have done one of the following:

A: Broken your timing belt
B: Broken your timing belt and bent valves
C: Somehow seized your engine

basically^

[Streettuner]

ok, i checked the crankshaft and it turns. thats not the problem. ok this guy i know said something dumb, and i dont think that is the problem. He said that a rocker arm broke loose and is blocking the camshaft from turning. I know thats not it cause i checked and it was fine, i know that timing can affect a car to start. Or the starter. Thats my guesses.

[Krazykouki]

from the sound of what you just said, the crank turns but when you try to start it..it does not do anything sounds like you have a bad starter..you can take it to autozone and they will check it for you for free.

[StraightSix]

The problem you're describing doen't sound like timing at all.

A single click after turning the key would indicate to me a not enough battery to turn the starter over. Here's what I would do:

1. Check and clean the bettery terminals.
2. Check the battery with a volt meter. The volt meter needs to read at least 12 volts.
3. If there's not enough battery voltage, try jump starting the car.
4. If the car doesn't start, i.e. you still get a click with a good, hot (by hot I mean charged) battery, then the starter might be bad.

Something that sometimes works with a bad starter is to hit the started with something. I've used a hammer and holding the head of the hammer, hit the starter with the butt end of the handle.

Timing issues will sometimes cause a car to not run, but the engine will usually still turn over when the starter engages. An out of time engine will sometimes run, but run really badly or won't rev right.

[Streettuner]

im new to this car do you know where the starter is located