89 240 won't start...Already did search

[GringoEJS]

OK, I picked this car up needing a headgasket. Fixed it once, ran perfect, but had to fix the timing guide. Took it apart again, fixed everything, and now the car won't start. I smell fuel, getting good spark, and compression is good on all cylinders. Getting power to the fuel pump, but I don't hear a whirring that I get on my other cars(Is this normal?). I do smell fuel and the plugs get wet. Swapped in new plugs. Timing is fine. What the hell? The car just turns over. Sometimes seems to try and start but no luck. Before, it would fire right up.

[GringoEJS]

Also, quick question...at TDC, where will the dist. rotor be positioned?

[Henry G]

Did you actually check the pump itself to see if it's getting power?

[GringoEJS]

Yeah, using my test light, one wire would light up for 5 seconds, and another wire had a constant current. Plus I can smell gas and plugs are wet when removed...Gonna buy some more gas and try grounding my engine differently. Just bewildered because I have fuel, spark, and compression, with no codes.

[hondahunter180]

check your ignition timing, if you have'nt already.

[benemorius]

At tdc, the rotor should be pointing at the wire for cylinder 1 on the cap. I forget where that is right now (about 4:30, I think...), but finding a diagram or something should be quite easy on the forums. I'd say you're on the right track. It does sound like timing.

The fuel pump thing has me curious. I could easily be wrong, but I seem to recall that one wire should have constant 12-14v, and the other wire should be ground for a few seconds after turning on the key. I realize something has to be working if you're getting fuel, but the pump has no business operating with two wires at 12v.....??

[GringoEJS]

The rotor does point at the #1 plug... Sadly I am ready to give up on it. The car fired right up after doing the head gasket, and after I fixed the timing guide and put everything back the same way, I am having this problem. The test light showed one wire giving a bright light for 5 seconds and another wire giving a constant dimmer light. Again...good compression, everything is plugged up, getting spark and fuel, and timing is on...???????

[benemorius]

This dim light you speak of could suggest a ground problem. Apparently the fuel pump still works ok somehow, but the voltage difference between chassis ground and the ground wire in the fuel pump harness shouldn't be enough to produce a light I think. Do you have a multimeter? If so, please measure the voltage on that wire that gave a dim light as compared to chassis ground. And while you're there, check all the engine ground connections, harness connectors, and any other connector you can think of.

[GringoEJS]

This is getting old...I have checked everything. I pulled off the intake manifold hoping to find a clue, but no luck. All connectors have been checked. Good compression, getting fuel and spark. Timing is perfect. What the hell? Started perfectly until I replaced the timing chain guide. I am about to send it to the shop...:-(