Strange problem when trying to start rebuilt engine.

**lundgren420** · 10-26-09, 22:00

So i just installed a rebuilt engine in my 1988 DX. I am getting fuel, air and spark. The car still wont start. I get 70psi of compression cold, this engine has not run yet. I have checked to coil for all specs in the wsm and it is fine.

The problem.

The car wants to fire up, but only on the first two cylinders, after that it just spins. If i turn the car off and try it again it does the same thing.The timing light shows that my ign timing is a 10°btdc. It is also apparent that i am getting spark throughout the cranking process, thanks to the timing light and a spark plug ground test. Why would it only want to combust on the first two sparkes?

**ademan** · 10-27-09, 18:43

timing is 180degree off
/.removed the timing cover, turn crank till the knob facing exactly vertical. piston 1 on tdc, remove the timing belt on the camshaft pulley. turn the cam pulley and reinstall the belt. crank the engine up.

**lundgren420** · 10-27-09, 22:04

So, your saying that the timing on the crank is off. I set the timing mark on the crank pointing straight up at the indicator. Then aligned the cam exactly as the wsm describes.

One other thing might help. When i take out the fuel pump relay and crank the engine it startes to sound more like it combusting and is going to fire up. I start to get smoke out of the exhaust and it soudls a little like it wants to backfire.

I think i should also mention that the previous engine was over heated and cracked the block or head. Filling each cylinder including the exhaust with coolant. I dont know if this would have caused any adverse reactions to the starting cycle. I think that the O2 sensor is [fizzle]ed.

**zlyricist** · 10-28-09, 18:46

sounds to me like the cam timing is off. triple check all of your work. you might have a crank pulley on there that has slipped in the past.....

granted the rings arent set in the cyl walls. 70psi is probably still much too low, and would only be that low if the cam timing is off, or you had a rebuild fail

**lundgren420** · 10-29-09, 9:21

I think that i have her figured out. The exhaust cam is opening just after the intake cam. This is backwards. I believe the peg on the cam was put in the wrong slot on the intake cam gear. I will check both cams tonight and let you know.

**lundgren420** · 10-29-09, 9:24

I believe you both to be right, Must spread on both of you.

**matt89glturbo** · 10-29-09, 23:43

If it's the fe3, the instake came like to kick off a tooth, depending on how it settles at tdc, it almost looks right, still. retard it a tooth, then try it...I had this problem with mine when I had to change HLA's once...

**lundgren420** · 10-30-09, 9:10

Intake cam was off on the cam gear. The dowel pin was facing the "E". Engine is up and running. Thanks for all of the help guys.

**ademan** · 10-31-09, 7:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by lundgren420

So, your saying that the timing on the crank is off. I set the timing mark on the crank pointing straight up at the indicator. Then aligned the cam exactly as the wsm describes.

One other thing might help. When i take out the fuel pump relay and crank the engine it startes to sound more like it combusting and is going to fire up. I start to get smoke out of the exhaust and it soudls a little like it wants to backfire.

I think i should also mention that the previous engine was over heated and cracked the block or head. Filling each cylinder including the exhaust with coolant. I dont know if this would have caused any adverse reactions to the starting cycle. I think that the O2 sensor is [fizzle]ed.

im saying the timing on cam is off, you can just leave the crank alone with #1 at tdc and turn the cam gear to align it