New Head - Car won't start.

[mach4g63t]

Here's the background (mods in profile) . . .

I just put a new head on my car when my other one crapped out. Got new ARP's and a Cometic gasket sealing it all together. Compression tested the engine and it's running 130's across the board (not really happy about that). Everything is torqued right and triple checked. My buddy, who is very experienced with DSM's help me do my timing, and everything is back on as it should be.

Now, when I start my car it turns and I get a few sputters like the cylinders are trying to fire but then it's as if the starter encounters some hesitation and something is keeping it form turning the motor over.

Sort of like this (excuse my improvisions on sound)

Dun-dun-dun-skip-dun-dun-skip-dun-dun-dun-skip.

It has plenty of juice, as I've drained almost two batteries of life now. The weirdest thing also is if I take out the plugs then try to crank the motor is just turns over fine without the skipping in the start.

I just don't understand what it's doing. Is my timing off? I don't know what's wrong and I can't figure out why the car won't start.

 

[mach4g63t]

Good to go! I will definitely try that. I was thinking that too when we kept thinking my timing was off, 'cause I would get sputters of combustion while cranking and my buddy thought it was because of I was firing early and against the starter. I will test that and then check out my starter. Good thing my buddy has started taking his motor out and I'll have access to a new starter with less than 20 miles on it. I'll give all that a 'crank' () and see how it goes. Thanks for all the advice, Bulk! Your suggestions are keeping me sane and with some direction to look, 'cause I'm utterly stumped.

 

[DarthBulk]

No problem, hopefully this will narrow down the problem so it can be solved

 

[mach4g63t]

Swapped in a new starter, put in gas, check everything over and the best I got was yet another hopeless sputter of what seems like the engine wanting to start. It's really annoying because every so often I'm getting a sputter but it's rare and useless. The new starter is doing the same as my old one... just crank crank stall crank crank stall kind of thing. Any more ideas before this weekend? I'm going to try swapping my CAS with another one and see if that helps. If not, I'm ripping it all back apart and starting from square one.

Some Wiseman help would be superb...

 

[DarthBulk]

Did you try spinning it over with the spark plugs installed, but the plug wires unplugged?

 

[mach4g63t]

Yes, same results. Is there anyway to mess up the electrical timing while swapping the head? I'm getting spark but I don't know if it's at the right time because I'm getting puffs of smoke from my exhaust and my manifold (small leak, 'cause I didn't replace the gasket for the turbo/manifold due to taking it off so many times previously). I'm gonna try some Starter Fluid later today, I guess. See how the engine responds to that maybe.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Spray some ether in it

 

[mach4g63t]

I will try that too. I was thinking about that as well. One of my buddies, and a once reputable DSMer in this area who was associated with a moderator for this forums, told me that maybe I should remove the cyclone and put on a stock IM. I took the cyclone apart and cleaned it out. Did a heck of a job too. But because I replaced the gasket with that autozone DIY stuff he's saying that it's probably leaking. He said he had the same problem before as well and swapped IM and it went away. Anyone have any input on this? Could an IM leak 'cause my motor to drag and not want to start?

 

[srumel]

I'm personally running a Cyclone intake manifold without any issues (knock on wood.) This may sound stupid, but have you checked your fuses, specifically the ones on the positive battery terminal or the fuse block on the passenger fender well? If those are good it might be an issue with the Cam Angle Sensor, like the plug not being seated all the way, or a loose wire. Oh, also check your coil pack and power transistor module connections.

 

[srumel]

Nevermind, I read that you had previously checked for spark. Scratch that then.

 

[mach4g63t]

Yea, checked that. Even the CAS is good. Spun it by hand and the injectors fired as did the plugs. GOnna check the fuses. I took out the cyclone and put in a stock 1g IM to just get over it. Gonna try and kick it over tomorrow when the sun is back out. I'll look over my fuses and see if anything is wrong there.

 

[mach4g63t]

Are there any particular fuses I should be looking at?

 

[mach4g63t]

Yea, got it started. Freakin' the Haynes manual says that 2.0 coil packs run 3214, but I read in a thread someoen stated 4123, so I tried that and the bastard fired right over. No hesitation what so ever. Appreciate all the help, guys. And I'll definitely beat that firing order into my head. Good to go guys. Thanks.

 

[srumel]

Haha, that's great to hear! With a problem like this, 90% of the time it's something simple.

 

[Blindsey]

Damn it i am having this exact same issue as of last night. i have checked just about all of this stuff. Still nothing. i pulled out my charcoal canister could this have to do with anything?