Engine won't fire, help please

[steele_verus]

I'm just getting into cars, so I'm not extremely mechanically intelligent.

I have a 95 TSi in which one day a friend was driving, and the crankshaft sensor went apeshit and the car died and has not run for 2 months. We took it to his auto repair class to have work done for free. My friend and the instructor have diagnosed the problem differently many a times over the past couple months, and seems to be either I need to get a new engine, or something minor, like replacing the balance shaft belt.

We finally have towed it back to my garage because I was irritated with all the time I wasted with it there. They ended up replacing crankshaft and camshaft position sensors, the timing belt, oil sending unit, and the balance shaft belt. We had problems with the timing belt because the automatic tensioner was not functioning properly. Finally, we got it all back together and tried to start it up. The starter seemed to function, but the engine does not try to crank over and oddly, it backfired a few times while trying to start it.

I really have no idea what's wrong with it. The car started up at one point at the shop when they got the sensors in, but when they had problems with the timing belt tension, they couldn't get it started back up. Maybe my crank walked? What would the car do if I tried to start the engine if that was the case?

 

[ilco187]

if it backfired i would check the firing order it might be mixed up

edit= but you said the engine was not rotating during starting

 

[SBR Joe]

Ok well there is only three things an internal combustion engine needs to operate, and thats compression, spark, and fuel. Have you done a compression test yet? You said the engine doesnt turn over at all? If the engine is turning over, just not firing, check the firing order to make sure its correct (like stated above). It should be 4-1-2-3 from left to right on the coil pack (i think its even labeled there on the 2g coil packs). Cylinder one starts closest to the timing belt side, so looking at at from the front of the car, the cylinders on the engine would go in the order of 4-3-2-1 [timing belt side] . If that checks out, check compression, a good engine should be 140+ in all cylinders, but anything over 120 would still let the car start without any real problems. Finally, check fuel. You said its backfiring which tells me that it has compression, and spark and fuel, but it may not be sparking and fueling at the correct times. Check firing order and get back to us. I bet thats your problem.


Joe
SBR

 

[steele_verus]

I took off the timing belt and the crank gear to see that the crank trigger had beed damaged by what I think was the oil sending unit that flew off. The crank shaft had not walked because we manually turned the crank shaft and all the cylinders moved up and down. I ordered the part today, for a total of 90 dollars, and it should be here in a few days. I went through hell trying to get ahold of one of these, and it's just a little metal disc. Hopefully this will solve my talon issues, but luckily I got a '99 spyder to keep me occupied.

 

[steele_verus]

Well, got the trigger on, still doesn't start. Anyone know where to get a NEW engine?

 

[1SickAuto]

is the engine cranking over and just not firing

 

[steele_verus]

is the engine cranking over and just not firing

The crank is turning, timing belt is spinning. It's getting fuel and spark, but I'm not reading any compression while turning the key.

 

[1SickAuto]

you do have a compression checker on there right. make sure u dont try to start it with a compression checker on there. pull the fuel pump fuse and diconnect the coil and check compression. make sure u hold the throttle body open as well. it ## still not getting any compression, try a different checker because i had a bad one and pulled the head casue i thought it was that the valves were bent or the rings were gone and it was the checker all along. if the new one still reads the same i would say bent valve(s) or rings are shot. good luck.

jesse

 

[steele_verus]

Hole in cylinder #2. I'm tired of messing with this thing, I'm just having a rebuilt 4g63 put in.