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2G Need Help Diagnosing Timing Belt/No Start

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Force Fed 4g63

10+ Year Contributor
196
5
Feb 27, 2009
Aiken, South_Carolina
So this past weekend I was driving to a meet around 45mph and the car died. At first it just lost all power, was barely holding an idle, but the Tachometer showed zero. I pulled the car over and tried to start it again but no luck. It would crank but wouldn't turn over. All the fuses and connectors look good, etc.

I did start to pull the spark plug wires and the one to cylinder 4 basically disintegrated when I pulled it out. Got it towed and took the timing belt cover off, check out the pictures below. That would be one tooth off right? If so the head is probably still ok I would think. I haven't checked the compression yet, I'll do that soon. The crankshaft timing mark appears to be to the right of the T, but it's really hard to tell from the angle I can see it from.

Any thoughts? I'm assuming if my compression is all good I can just do a timing belt change? Are there any other shortcuts I can do to get the timing correct? I have seen the VFAQ and articles on how to, so no need to point those out, just looking for some confirmation and advice, thanks guys!

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I don't think the t on the timing cover is to be used for determining top dead center. Seems it could have some misalignment with all those loose fitting bolt holes.
I would pull the cover and use the mark on the case or pull #1 plug and find TDC on the piston. Hard to tell in the pic but doesn't look like either cam gear mark is parallel with the head.

The car idling but the tach not working sounds like you have an electrical problem.
 
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From what I'm seeing none of the marks are lined up. if you line up the timing mark on the harmonic balancer to the T (which is top dead center) on the timing cover I think the cam gears will line up. But in the pics it looks like the harmonic balancer is a bit more clockwise than it should be which puts your cam gears where they sit now. Take off the drivers side wheel and make sure it's lined up. and the dowells on the cam gears are pointing up as well. Your story sounds similar to what happened to me a couple years ago. I did a pull though and then my car shut off, all power and electronics too. turns out my connector to my PTU shook loose. I'd say check the PTU after you check timing.
 
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This is good advice, I'll try and line them up again, I think you may be right. I'll also check the PTU, thanks for the tip!
 
Did the timing belt check again and they do line up so I'm good there. The PTU plug was tight but I pulled it out and plugged it back in. Putting in new plugs and wires and I'll see if that works!
 
Did the timing belt check again and they do line up so I'm good there. The PTU plug was tight but I pulled it out and plugged it back in. Putting in new plugs and wires and I'll see if that works!

I didn't necessarily mean check the plug only. the PTU itself might be bad as well. after you throw fresh plugs check for spark. (Diconnect the fuel injector clips before doing this check spark)
 
Put new plugs and wires in and still no start. It'll crank but won't fire at all. Are you able to hear the factory fuel pump prime before you start the car? The last one I had had a 255 in it so I don't remember how loud the factory pump is, I can't hear it at all on startup. I guess I'll start checking for fuel issues.
 
Put new plugs and wires in and still no start. It'll crank but won't fire at all. Are you able to hear the factory fuel pump prime before you start the car? The last one I had had a 255 in it so I don't remember how loud the factory pump is, I can't hear it at all on startup. I guess I'll start checking for fuel issues.
can always try starting fluid. if it starts you know it's fuel related LOL
 
Guess I'll start checking as much as I can. The crank sensor looks like a huge pain in the ass...
 
Just a final update to this thread. Even though I had double checked the fuses, I decided to triple check all the small things before I started tearing into the car. So glad I did, turned out it was the main motor fuse. It looked ok at a glance but upon further inspection it was no bueno. All good now, just serves as a reminder to always check the small things first!
 
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