I recently replaced the injectors on my stock 89, After the job I checked the fuel pressure -fine- and took the car for a spin. I drove around for a half hour and noticed the engine sounded different, wasn't a large concern but a buddy of mine told me I probably needed to adjust the timing which I could do from under the distributor cap. The next morning I looked into this removing the distributor cap and taking a look around in there. After deciding I was in over my head I reassembled everything and tried to turn the car back on. To my surprise it didn't work.

Now, typically what happens is the electrical will turn on but when I attempt to start the engine, nothing happens, occasionally I hear clicking, sometimes nothing. Eventually the whole thing just shuts off electrical too. It usually helps to turn the car off for 5-10secs and I can get the electrical going again but never for long.

I thought at first maybe this was merely a battery issue and when I jumped the car, after continual cranking it did run but had trouble staying on. I recharged the battery but this didn't change anything. I checked the fuel pressure and there is none.

Please help, I'm 19 and have little experience but I love this car, this was my inheritance from my grandfather and I really hope my cockiness didn't wreck it.

 

You took the distributor cap off to adjust the timing? Did I read that right?

If so, when you removed the cap you might have damaged some wiring that was in the area, or just knocked something loose. Go back to the area you were playing around with and make sure all electical connections are hooked up, that there are no broken wires or connectors either. Be sure to make sure connectors are in good shape on the ignition module that's at the base of the distributor under the cap. There is also a ground wire located on the firewall in that area if I remember correctly, check to see that that is ok as well. If the car ran ok before you played around with it, odds are its something that you did when you were poking around, and probably something really simple.

For the future, you don't take the distributor cap off to change the timing. There's a bolt that holds the distributor steady, you just loosen that bolt so you're able to turn the distributor one way or another to get the timing correct. That bolt is on the intake manifold under the base of the distributor. You will also need to disconnect a special connector (IST I think its called) before you can reset the timing correctly. I would suggest you purchase a Haynes repair manual for the simple stuff and be on the lookout for the factory service manual for your car if you plan to do anything major.

Good luck and remember, we're here for ya!

 

Buy a battery

 

That would be my guess.

 

did you take the distributor out and put it back wronge? or forget to put a wire in? Also sounds like you need a new battery first.

 

I took the battery to a shop and they said it is reading fully charged...should I still consider a new one?

and I've checked my wiring numerous times, i believe its all as it was before, but ill check once more. Thanks for the help, Ill keep u posted.

 

PROBLEM SOLVED! my neighbour, who is an automotive electrician came over and fixed a relay behind the battery and got things going in no time, thanks for trying though, I really appreciate it!