timing chain guides done, now car won't start!!

[fluidmotion]

Removed all the timing chain guides and the tensioner moved freely. After re-assembling, the car cranks but doesn't start.

The assembly of the distributor may not be correct. I installed the distributor according to the diagram in the "how to remove timing chain guides" on nico. Unfortunately, to start with, the first marking on the distributor was at TDC but the second marking may not have been because I already started to remove the distributor before I read to make the second marking.

Does the distributor have to be exactly correct? or should the car start even if the distributor is approximately in the right position?

Are there any other suggestions on how to start the car?

[TheOne]

put the car in TDC and then put the distributor how its supposed to be, if it doesn't start its probably 180 off.

[fluidmotion]

yup, I read on the forums that that could be a problem. but I didn't want to open up the valve cover again, so I tried setting it to TDC with the 2nd mark of those 6 marks and I tried doing that and starting the car 6 times now and the car hasn't started. Any other suggestions?

[Florida240sx]

Don't need too.Just take off your distirbuto and make sure it's set for tdc.Then crank your motor to TDC by using the marking on crank pulley.

[fluidmotion]

yup, that's what I did... and I tried it several times and it still doesn't work :-(. any other suggestions? I double checked all wires are plugged in...

Can I test to see if it is something else?

[fluidmotion]

how do I check for air, spark, and fuel?....

[cyrus240sx]

well you didnt mess with fuel since you dont have to unhook any fuel lines or anything like that to do the timing chain guides, and if you plugged in your maf and air intake temp sensor, then you know you have air, then all thats left is spark... you could unplug one of your spark plugs and have the plug wire next to valve cover or head or something metal and then crank... and if you see a spark you have spark... then just make sure timing is correct... and you should be good to go

[fluidmotion]

ok, so I know I have spark, because I saw sparks coming from the spark plugs when they werer taken out.

I have air because I can feel it come out when the engine is cranking.

and I can smell the fuel.

I also took the valve cover off and made sure I was at the correct TDC (with the lobes pointing away from each other), and I made sure the rotor of the distributor was at cylinder 1.

The car still does not start. There is a thumping noise when the engine is cranking now (not sure what that is) and right before I stop trying to start it, it whines (which I think is normal).

Anyone have any more ideas? getting desparate.

[sean8564]

when starting turn the CAS back and forth to see also you did not loose any tools in the motor did you.

[fluidmotion]

nope, I was very careful about not dropping anything in, was working on it with my dad too, and he didn't notice anything drop in either.

[sean8564]

check the oil pan for anything unusual what injectors do you have the SR 370cc's or the ones from the ka.

[fluidmotion]

car is pretty much a stock ka. So just KA injectors.

[sean8564]

check the teeth on the CAS caus you cight have stripped em. if that is not is take it apart agien and check every thing 2 times over also FYI trick of the trade you can leave the top and right giude off and the timing problem with the rattling is over you just need to replace the guide.

[fluidmotion]

I checked the teeth the first time I pulled the CAS out, but does the CAS usually break that easily? They looked very good when I first pulled it out. Maybe it is something else...

[fluidmotion]

I just checked the teeth on the CAS and they are fine.

I seafoamed the car about 2 weeks ago, would thiis have an effect on this?

also, when I'm looking inside the cylinders with the spark plugs out, it seems like there is a lot of carbon deposited inside, unfortunately I don't know what it is supposed to look like inside the cylinders, but could this be a problem?

Is there any chemical solution that can help to get the car started? I'm thinking it may be possible that the seafoam is hindering the ignition.

also, the car has a check engine light for egrc, crankshaft positiong sensor, and knock sensor. Could these be causing that?
Modified by fluidmotion at 1:48 PM 7/15/2005

[sean8564]

check the light on the ECU it should be flashing what code is being thrown.

[makeuw3t]

i just finished doing mine....god what a pain in the ssA!!! to start off with, my upper and lower tensioners were both screwed. the upper was stuck in a halfway position out and the lower was even worse becasue that piston was all the way in and that was it...i had to use a flat head and gently tap it out...then WD40ed that mother to death!. after 5 busted kuckles from pushing those things in and out, i finally put the thing back together....then one of the bolts on the value cover stripped the treads on the cam spocket cover....****ty man...but its fine for now...and then i set my distrubutor, and nothing...car wont even go if i give it gas...turns out, the part that spins and give the spark, it was too far above the #1 wire. i had to adjust it back down just a bit below #1 wire...and it fired up right away and runs smooth and silent!

take the valve cover off again (i know, it sucks) and set your motor to TDC with the timing pin at that long red mark. then the distributor should be facing the front of the car...that thing that spins and gives the spark. put the distributor cover back on without screwing it and slowly move it outward to make sure that the #1 wire and that spinning sparking part are aligned...not exactly in a line, but that spinning thing(whats it called?) is just under the #1 wire.

this worked for me. hope itll do the same for you. good luck. let me know if im not that clear on something...im hella tired now so i might not respond till tomorrow...youre probably not even working on it anymore, much like how i wanted to just quit and hunt for an SR

...ok im rambling which means im sleepy. good night.

[nka203]

"and set your motor to TDC with the timing pin at that long red mark."

eh im not really sure what you mean by the timing pin and the long red mark, can anyone tell me where this is after i open up the valve cover???? please?

[180fan]

what kind of engine you got?

[makeuw3t]

"and set your motor to TDC with the timing pin at that long red mark."

eh im not really sure what you mean by the timing pin and the long red mark, can anyone tell me where this is after i open up the valve cover???? please?

wow, this thread is old, but good search! anyways, i had a KA24DE and if you have the same, check this thread out. it should answer the question you had for me. in their pictures, its not a red mark, its more yellow but i think youll get the point.

file:///c:/Documents%20and%20Settings/eelekim/Desktop/zerothread.htm

good luck man.