How do the injectors work?

[GEMINEMESIS]

Does the distributor tell the injectors when to fire via the ECU? Or are the injectors pumped by the valves? My concern is the timing. I read a few articles here including the one about rotating the distributor 180 degrees. I did that because mine wouldn't line up to #1. So I lined it up to #4. Anotrher questions is whether I Should still connect #1 to sparkplug #1 or #4. Because of the way the valves are placed. I'm confusing myself. My Pistons and valves are at TDC but I can't get my distributor to align to 1. So can I align it to any other and plug that one to #1 then 3, 4, 2?

[ShaunakaRichard]

I haven't worked on any sohc's but one thing I know for a fact you can't just decide to make a certain cylinder number 1. Even if by some miracle you could get all the valves to open at the right time and right order the engine would be completely unbalanced. Theres a reason they have the cylinders fire in a certain order, it creates a stable motor. And the ECU tells the injectors when to fire. And keep all the spark plug wires right where they are. The whole point of turning your distributor 180 degrees is to put the correct cylinder on the firing order when the motor is at top dead center. So did you just replace a timing chain or something? Most of the time you run into the problem of not having the right cylinder at top dead center when you change a timing chain and get it wrong.

[GEMINEMESIS]

Okay. I paused my project because I had school and other issues. But I'm back on it again. I replaced my timing chain guide. Also decided to pull out my engine and clean it all up part for part. I also decided to go all motor. So everything is put back together. No emissions. Got the vacuum lines plugged and the egr hole blocked. #1 TDC, valves seem to be okay (#1 valves open intake and exhaust), the oil pump stem thing and the distributor trips me out bacause I can't get it accordingly. Sometimes I feel like I have the wrong distributor. Don't know much about the history of the vehicle. It cranks but wont start; I smell gas; it makes a thump sound between cranks. It's gotta be the timing. I hope I didn't bend a valve stem. I'll get pictures of what I see tomorrow. If anybody has any pointers, including discussion pages. I have looked through them here with no luck of what i might neeeed. I ran out of keywords to search.

[s13wrencher]

so you changed the timing guide cause it's s***y plastic and you can't get the distributor right with your crankshaft........i had the same problem try turning the crank clock wise well having the distrubutor a little after #1 point on the cap it should click then turn the engine back and it should line up if not you might have put the distrubutor gear on the crank backwards common mistake i did it :P it's a pain i know trying to keep the oil pump and gear pole together try puting the gear pole in first line every thing and then turn the oil pump to the right place good luck

[GEMINEMESIS]

so I can put the distributor gear pole thing in and turn the crank while it's inside? Then the rotor will turn at the right place? Did I understand correctly?And after that is done I'll turn the pump gear to the right place and install it.

[Airmanspecial]

to answer your main question no, you distributor doesnt tell your injectors to fire, you distributer tells the ecu timing information(with a couple other inputs like your crank postion sensor on the distributor) for the ecu to tell the coil to collapse and send that spark down to the rotor, with all that info it insructs your injectors on how much fuel is required during engine operation..hope this helps

[Cone Junky]

If you had it all apart, re-check all your timing marks. Also, the oil pump needs to be put in properly while at TDC, since this is what drives the distributor.

Set your crank and cam timing to TDC. Then remove the oil pump, align the oil pump hole with the punch mark on the oil pump shaft. Now when you put the dist in, the rotor should line up with TDC.

I strongly suggest that you buy a service manual. All of the timing procedures are explained and illustrated. Besides, wouldn't it be nice to assemble a motor without asking anonymous internet shmucks how to do it?

[GEMINEMESIS]

Yeah I have the service manual. I do it just like it says. The oil pump is set to the puch marked spot. But I do geet confused on which way the half moon should be facing, since the little shaft can be placed in opposite directions. I'm going to try one more time, if I cant get it, I guess I'll have to pay some one to do it.