timing problem

[Touchdown038]

Hi -

I just got done installing a new timing chain/tensioner on my 1989 240sx, and when I put it all back together it would not start. My guess is that it is the distributor timing, but I am not sure about that. However, when I crank it a few times and then go out to the hood, I can smell gas fairly strongly. I really don't wanna rip everything out again, anyone got any ideas? Thanks.

Dan

[leper421]

Check the distributer timing first, then worry about ripping it apart.

[Touchdown038]

Well... actually I think it might be more than the distributor... when I was taking the distributor out, the procedure said to make a line where the drive spindle was pointing. I put some paint on there to mark it, but I guess it got rubbed off somewhere during the replacement of the chain. So I put the distributor back on the best I remembered it to be at, but I guess it was wrong... so I think there is where I went wrong. Is there another way to align it back to how it was before?

Dan

[leper421]

rotate the engine untill its at TDC on the compression stroke, then put the dist in so that the rotor is pointing to the contact for the #1 spark on the dist cap. If it doesnt start right up, have someone turn the key while you twist the dist to get the timing right. Once it does start get a timing light and adjust the timing to 20-BTDC.

You DID line up the crank and cams correctly when you replaced the chains, right??

[Touchdown038]

OK... I got the engine running today and set the timing to 15 deg. BTDC. Works fine, except now I hear this high-pitched tapping sound, doesn't go away, and the volume will increase with higher revs. My oil light is also about halfway on, even though I checked the level with the engine warm and it looked ok. My seat belt light is also on for some reason also. Any advice on the noise?

Oh yeah, in response to the question about the crank and the cam, the person that owned the car before me must have done this job, because the guides were fairly new. But the alignment for the chain was off... when the dot on the cam sprocket was on the right, the dot on the crank sprocket was on the upper left... so I just counted the links on the right side of the chain and installed the new chain with the same amount of links.... is there any harm in doing that?

Dan

[leper421]

if the car runs then everything should be ok. You could have possibly messed up your oil pump when doing the chain. The oil light comes on when there is low oil pressure, not a low oil level (although a low oil level will cause low oil pressure). My guess is you dont have enough oil pressure to lube up your valve lifters causing them to tick. As far as the seatbelt light, I have no clue, but I've seen some weird things happen to one indicator light when something else is wrong. When my alternator was going in my galant, the brake light ws always half on. Your guess is as good as mine.

[Touchdown038]

So ok.... what can I do about low oil pressure.... new pump?

Dan

[bruinbear714]

Did you replace the gasket on the oil pump? The pump is driven by that distributor shaft, which, in turn is driven by the worm gear on the crank.

Did you replace the oil and coolant seals when you took off the timing cover? There 2 or 3 quarter size seals that you need to replace when the cover is off, and that should have came with your timing kit.

[leper421]

So ok.... what can I do about low oil pressure.... new pump?

First find out if that IS your problem. Replacing the pump requires almost all the same work you had to do for the timing chain, at least on a DE. I assume its similar on an E.

[Touchdown038]

Yes, when I had the front cover off there were 2 quarter-sized seals that I replaced, I also replaced the front crank seal. I didn't replace the oil pump gasket though... could that have anything do to with it?

*UPDATE*The oil light doesn't even come on anymore, although the seat belt light stays on still. It feels like I have lost a little bit of power though, and I still have the tapping sound. Also, when I was looking under the hood, I noticed that my hose that connects the stock air inlet pipe to the intake manifold somehow got ripped... could that be the cause of the lack of power?

Dan