98 tsi with 1g 7 bolt wont start

[1gcrazy]

Ok fellas, i've been dealing with dsm's all effin weekend.
I have a 98 tsi with a 1g 7 bolt. I JUST did a head gasket on it a few days ago. I finished it up this morning, drove it, parked it and tried starting it up tonight and all it does is crank.
Here's what i've done:
new plugs
rewired CTS
checked physical timing and its where I left it
verified spark
verified fuel by pulling the return line and cranking, finding fuel everywhere...
all the plugs I can see are secure...


Very lost.

Ecu?

 

[Alex7747]

You said you just did the headgasket? Have you checked for compression on the motor?. How about the fuel injectors? Did you make sure theyre firing?

 

[1gcrazy]

Havent done either, i'm sure there is compression because when I checked timing it was noticable.

I haven't checked injectors but when I changed the plugs they were all drenched in fuel.

I waited a little bit, about 2 hours or so and it'll stumble for one single crank and then straight to dead cranking.

So this morning, I went out, pulled the brand new plugs, wet as usual. Then I decided to crank it without the plugs in to get some of the fuel out. Put the plugs back in and unclipped the injectors and it stumbled a lot more.
Then clipped the injectors back in and viola!

Started. It was flooded to shit on startup but what would cause that? Bad CTS?

 

[1gcrazy]

So I swapped out the coolant temperature sensor with one from another car, what are the chances TWO are bad? Still doesn't start without unclipping the injectors.

What happens if I touch both wires at the coolant temp sensor together? Or if they ground on the block or head?

Will it take out a trace at the ecu?

Anyone have any suggestions?

I'm also finding it starts normal in HOT weather, when its cool, like below 80 it wont start on the first try.

 

[1gcrazy]

Cmon guys, This is a huge inconvenience.

I think its got a walbro hp255 with no regulator because it was running e85.... would that have anything to do with it?

 

[1gcrazy]

You guys are sooo helpful!! THANKS!