Having problems starting engine
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Little Rock AR
Having problems starting engine
first of all its a 86 corvette L98 TPI engine. Its been sitting outside my brothers old house for about 8 years in all sorts of weather save for snow. these are all the things i've done to it so far, new distributor module, new distributor cap, new spark plugs, new spark wires, oil change, new fuel filter, new fuel pump,cleaned out fuel lines, cleaned out fuel rails, new fuel injectors, and a new battery. The engine cranks, makes sputtering noises, blows out exhaust, and emits a strong exhaust smell near the engine ( i don't know if this is because its in the garage with the door close), but the car wont start. Anybody got any ideas of what i can do to fix it or get it to start ?s
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
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From: Dublin CA
Could you have the distriutor 180 degrees off?
Pull out spark plug #1 (front plug on drivers side). Turn the engine by hand with a finger or thumb in the #1 hole as you turn it. You are checking for compression in #1. As you feel the compression building, line up the timing mark to 0 or 6 degrees. Now check an see where the rotor on the distributor is pointing. Is it pointing to #1 plug wire? If not, you need to pull out the distributor and drop it back in so the rotor is pointing to #1.
Also check to be sure that you actually have spark at the plugs.
Pull out spark plug #1 (front plug on drivers side). Turn the engine by hand with a finger or thumb in the #1 hole as you turn it. You are checking for compression in #1. As you feel the compression building, line up the timing mark to 0 or 6 degrees. Now check an see where the rotor on the distributor is pointing. Is it pointing to #1 plug wire? If not, you need to pull out the distributor and drop it back in so the rotor is pointing to #1.
Also check to be sure that you actually have spark at the plugs.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Little Rock AR
Could you have the distriutor 180 degrees off?
Pull out spark plug #1 (front plug on drivers side). Turn the engine by hand with a finger or thumb in the #1 hole as you turn it. You are checking for compression in #1. As you feel the compression building, line up the timing mark to 0 or 6 degrees. Now check an see where the rotor on the distributor is pointing. Is it pointing to #1 plug wire? If not, you need to pull out the distributor and drop it back in so the rotor is pointing to #1.
Also check to be sure that you actually have spark at the plugs.
Pull out spark plug #1 (front plug on drivers side). Turn the engine by hand with a finger or thumb in the #1 hole as you turn it. You are checking for compression in #1. As you feel the compression building, line up the timing mark to 0 or 6 degrees. Now check an see where the rotor on the distributor is pointing. Is it pointing to #1 plug wire? If not, you need to pull out the distributor and drop it back in so the rotor is pointing to #1.
Also check to be sure that you actually have spark at the plugs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
I would still check to see where the rotor is pointing when your timing marks are lined up. Rotor should be pointing to #1 plug wire. Could you have moved the wires one off when you switched caps?
A freind got a FREE 18 foot Bayliner boat only 4-5 years old because it would not run and the seller could not sell a non-running boat. Put a timing light on it and nothing lined up! When they replaced the wires and cap, it was off enough that it NEVER even coughed. Turned the distributor enough to get it started, but it was so far off it was easier to just move the wires back one all the way around. So the distributor ended up in close to the original position and it ran like a top.
A freind got a FREE 18 foot Bayliner boat only 4-5 years old because it would not run and the seller could not sell a non-running boat. Put a timing light on it and nothing lined up! When they replaced the wires and cap, it was off enough that it NEVER even coughed. Turned the distributor enough to get it started, but it was so far off it was easier to just move the wires back one all the way around. So the distributor ended up in close to the original position and it ran like a top.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 5
From: Charlotte NC
I still don't see how the distributor could be off if it wasn't removed, but then we don't know the history of the car. Maybe your brother was playing around?
UNLESS...you did say you put in new wires. Are you sure you've got them correctly matched? You might want to revisit that first.
UNLESS...you did say you put in new wires. Are you sure you've got them correctly matched? You might want to revisit that first.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Little Rock AR
I still don't see how the distributor could be off if it wasn't removed, but then we don't know the history of the car. Maybe your brother was playing around?
UNLESS...you did say you put in new wires. Are you sure you've got them correctly matched? You might want to revisit that first.
UNLESS...you did say you put in new wires. Are you sure you've got them correctly matched? You might want to revisit that first.
Last edited by sceptor98; Feb 9, 2009 at 05:27 PM.
Team Owner
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Little Rock AR
well turns out my distributor is off by one. Number one spark is where number 2 spark is at so i moved all my spark plug wires one backwards all the way around counter clockwise. It works, my engine starts now but soon dies. I start it up again but after a few seconds dies again. The only way i can keep the engine running is if i hold the gas. Anybody got an idea??? i supect its not enough fuel but there could be other possibilities. One more thing the display guages, the only way i can see them is from the light from the sun shinning on it, so i know my gauges work but at night or with the garage door closed with the lights on i cant see them its dark.
