1999 Pathfinder not starting

[90awdturbo]

Hey guys,

So over the last couple weeks I've replaced the valve cover gaskets, intake manifold gasket, spark plugs, PCV valve, throttle body gasket and EGR gasket. After putting everything back together I went to fire the truck up and it started, then ran really rough and stalled. I tried turning it over again for a couple seconds and it wouldn't start again...

At this point I'm kinda panicked because I really don't know where to start... I'm by no means an experienced mechanic and was wondering if someone here could advise me in the right steps to proceed.

Notes:
-I never gapped the platinum spark plugs I got from Advance Auto, should I have?

[veery]

Check the TB and its gasket first. Make sure nothing is loose or obstructing it.

[veery]

Also check any wires you may have disturbed, especially grounds you may have removed and replaced.

Spark plugs are not your issue. Spark MAY be.

[90awdturbo]

I looked it over for about an hour today and didn't find any plugs or grounds disconnected. The only two grounds I recall removing originally were the ones on the top left of the intake manifold(looking into the engine bay). I was able to view the connectors in the back of the intake manifold with a mirror and they looked good. I had the cap off the distributor for a while when working on it, could that have caused problems? When I turn it over it sounds like it wants to start, but just sputters.

Should I check it with an obdII reader?

[90awdturbo]

I was watching a video earlier and the guy noted that the screws that mount the wiring and grounds to the intake manifold were different, even though they are both 10mm. Would using the wrong screw not allow the truck to ground correctly?

[90awdturbo]

Anyone?

[4xq]

Might want to briefly tell us what problem you were having that resulted in this work just in case it is related.

First, I guess I would carefully check engine related fuses and the fuel pump fuse.

Next, give it a good snort of starting fluid. It should start and run pretty smoothly for a brief period of time. That means your ignition should be good enough to get going.

If that works, start checking connections on the air intake. Make sure they are all tight. It is remotely possible you cracked the air intake tube while removing / installing.

Then start checking all your vacuum lines and connections. They all need to be tight, and look for cracks in hoses. If an engine will start, but then it gets rough and stops, it usually means it ran out of fuel or there is a vacuum leak.

That should be a pretty good start. Good luck!

[4xq]

One other thing - I assume you had plug wires off during this - you will need to make sure you got them back on in the correct order. Messed up firing order will give you hard start problems.

[90awdturbo]

The job was more of a maintenance thing as I wanted to change the plugs, which lead to discovering the intake manifold gasket was leaking. Then I realized if I took the intake manifold off I'd have access to the left valve cover, and figured I should knock out both valve cover gaskets too. She was running great before i went and tinkered... Now she won't even start, just turns over and sputters every couple seconds.

So far things I've done:
-I checked the fuses and relays to anything fuel and engine related.
-Checked all the connectors and hoses I could see.
-Connected the two grounds on the top of the intake manifold with the proper screws(come to find out there are two unique 10mm screws for them... not sure if it matters though)
-Listened for the fuel pump, in which i heard
-Had a buddy look it over
-Pulled a spark plug and it got spark brightly once, and then had a couple dimmer sparks, i turned it over for about 3 seconds, is that normal?

Questions:
-I left the cap off my distributor for a week or so, could that have jacked something up?
-I ordered a code reader which will be here tomorrow, do you think it's likely it's throwing a code?
-I did tear the elbow on the air intake that connects to the throttle body. I put rtv sealant around it, and I'm pretty sure it's sealed, but could this be causing the truck not to start?

I really appreciate the input

[4xq]

Go ahead and try the starting fluid thing and lets see what happens.

- don't think the distributor cap is a problem unless it is wet inside. Make sure the coil wire
is in tight.
- I don't think you have had it running long enough to set obd codes. It might set a code
for electrical type things that aren't working at all. Worth checking I guess.
- An air leak past the MAF sensor will let unmetered air into the engine, making it lean and
a hard or no start. As long as it is not leaking it is ok.

[90awdturbo]

I ended up taking it to a mechanic and he confirmed it had both spark and fuel. He then did a compression test, which turned out to be 10, 10, 25. He said that it must have jumped timing, and most likely bent the valves. He hasn't checked the timing however, but he did start to pull the radiator to get to it. Do you think there is any chance that if the timing is corrected the valves won't be bent?

When I first put it back together and started the truck it bucked a few times and then stalled. After inspecting it afterwords I realized I had missed attaching a hose that went onto the front of the right valve cover... I would imagine that may have caused the bucking, thus the timing belt jumping?

[4xq]

Wow, that is really unfortunate. I don't see anything in the list of things you worked on that should cause your timing belt to jump. Maybe the mechanic can get an idea of what happened as he is checking it. I don't think the hose had any thing to do with it.

If the timing belt jumped one or two teeth the valves may close before the piston comes up in the cylinder and hits them.

If the belt jumped more than a couple of teeth,or broke, the pistons wil hit the valves. Those compression numbers are not good.

I see your other post about the engine - I post an answer there about that.