Need help, car won’t start
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,504
Likes: 73
From: Georgetown TX
Need help, car won’t start
1989 auto trans, stock
I remove my msd 6AL and reinstalled my original distributor the car started, but there was a scraping sound inside the distributor cap. At first I couldn’t tell what was making the noise, so I removed the distributor again I found the noise was from the rotor scraping against some areas inside of the cap where the plastic had not been trimmed after the cap was injected with what ever the cap is made of. In other words, terrible job of casting. I got rid of cap and bought new one. I re installed distributor at least 5 times, but engine won’t start. I have spark and I can smell the fuel, but it will not run. I’m sure I have the number one on top dead center. Af first I thought I might have distributor in 180 out, but I can’t believe I did it every time. Could it be the distributor is not seating completely and therefore is not engaging the oil pump to build up oil pressure and the oil pressure sensor is not letting engine fire?
I remove my msd 6AL and reinstalled my original distributor the car started, but there was a scraping sound inside the distributor cap. At first I couldn’t tell what was making the noise, so I removed the distributor again I found the noise was from the rotor scraping against some areas inside of the cap where the plastic had not been trimmed after the cap was injected with what ever the cap is made of. In other words, terrible job of casting. I got rid of cap and bought new one. I re installed distributor at least 5 times, but engine won’t start. I have spark and I can smell the fuel, but it will not run. I’m sure I have the number one on top dead center. Af first I thought I might have distributor in 180 out, but I can’t believe I did it every time. Could it be the distributor is not seating completely and therefore is not engaging the oil pump to build up oil pressure and the oil pressure sensor is not letting engine fire?
Last edited by mlm0; May 19, 2023 at 11:06 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 591
From: New Port Richey FL
It ran with the poorly made cap so now we have same Distributor but new cap. My question is did you bring over the Ground Bridge when installing the new or bring over coil from old cap.
You would be surprised how many times that little piece of stamped steel gets left behind
You would be surprised how many times that little piece of stamped steel gets left behind
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,504
Likes: 73
From: Georgetown TX
Rotor is in good shape. I installed a clear spark tester in the number one plug wire and it shows I’m getting good spark. I borrowed a brand new distributor and will be installing it on Monday to see what happens
Pro
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 647
Likes: 126
From: Liliha Bakery stuffing my face with coco puffs!
Well...you're getting spark but is the spark being delivered to the right cylinder at the right time??? Double, triple check firing order and as dumb as it sounds, it's not a Pontiac that rotates counter clockwise. Are you lining up the mark on the harmonic balancer with zero on the timing tab??? Without having #1 spark plug out and feeling for that pop on the compression stroke, then it's 50-50 of getting TDC. If you're unsure, easy enough to pull the distributor out enough to disengage the distributor gear, rotate 180 and drop back in.
BTW...we need to stop perpetuating that old wive's tale...you can have zero oil pressure/no oil in the oil pan and the engine will still start. Oil pressure switch is a backup that allows the fuel pump to energize in the event of the fuel pump relay failing.
BTW...we need to stop perpetuating that old wive's tale...you can have zero oil pressure/no oil in the oil pan and the engine will still start. Oil pressure switch is a backup that allows the fuel pump to energize in the event of the fuel pump relay failing.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,504
Likes: 73
From: Georgetown TX
Thanks for the responses. You are correct, I was under the assumption that there had to be a certain oil pressure before the engine would start.
I still believe that my timing is off , but I have checked it over and over again. I put my finger over the number one spark plug hole while my wife cranks engine. When my finger gets blown off of opening I figure I am at TDC. I was using a tool the whistles, but I felt it was not as accurate as finger over hole.
I still believe that my timing is off , but I have checked it over and over again. I put my finger over the number one spark plug hole while my wife cranks engine. When my finger gets blown off of opening I figure I am at TDC. I was using a tool the whistles, but I felt it was not as accurate as finger over hole.
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Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,365
Likes: 2,735
dont you need to be top dead center on compression stroke? not just have your finger get pushed off. That happens twice in 4 strokes but you need tdc at compression stroke
Tgen if you pulled the dizzy out its also really easy to be one tooth off due to the nature of the clockwise motion that the dizzy is turned as the drive gears mesh with the gears on the cam as its lowered into place
id say you are 180 off or a tooth off or both
Tgen if you pulled the dizzy out its also really easy to be one tooth off due to the nature of the clockwise motion that the dizzy is turned as the drive gears mesh with the gears on the cam as its lowered into place
id say you are 180 off or a tooth off or both
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,504
Likes: 73
From: Georgetown TX
thanks for responding. I think you are right about me not being on compression stroke. How can I tell if I am on compression stroke without removing valve covers?
Thanks for the responses. You are correct, I was under the assumption that there had to be a certain oil pressure before the engine would start.
I still believe that my timing is off , but I have checked it over and over again. I put my finger over the number one spark plug hole while my wife cranks engine. When my finger gets blown off of opening I figure I am at TDC. I was using a tool the whistles, but I felt it was not as accurate as finger over hole.
I still believe that my timing is off , but I have checked it over and over again. I put my finger over the number one spark plug hole while my wife cranks engine. When my finger gets blown off of opening I figure I am at TDC. I was using a tool the whistles, but I felt it was not as accurate as finger over hole.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Remove the spark plug from any cylinder and place your finger on the hole. Have someone crank the engine over (coil disconnected) and you'll feel the pressure from the compression stroke for that cylinder..
Last edited by Jud Chapin; May 21, 2023 at 12:48 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
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Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
[QUOTE=VikingTrad3r;1606649792]
"Good things come to those who wait, but only whats left by those who hustle"
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"Good things come to those who wait, but only whats left by those who hustle"
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Last edited by Jud Chapin; May 21, 2023 at 01:17 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 189
Likes: 73
From: Christiansburg Va
When you feel the pressure it means your on the compression stroke but you still need to turn the engine by hand to get the timing marks lined up for tdc. Balancer mark should be at 0 degrees for tdc.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,504
Likes: 73
From: Georgetown TX
I believe I just didn’t have my distributor cap properly lined up with the rotor so that the number 1 lug on the cap lined up with the rotor at top dead center. The last time i installed distributor, it still would not start, so i twisted the distributor main housing just a little advanced, and she started right up