Won't start...now what?

[thisolechevy]

I just rebuilt my 2.0 and it will not start, it has great compression in each cylinder, its getting fuel and spark, but the most I get out of it is a backfire. Whats wrong? I know when I reassembled the engine I talked to 2 mechanics around here and they told me how to setup the timing correctly. I am oing to pull off the timing cover and check that next but I am pretty sure its dead on!! Is there anyway that the ?cam positioning sensor? (the metal box on the end of the intake cam) is on upside down or backwards or something? Is there any other suggestions as to what is wrong?
Any help is apprecited

 

[project_tsi]

make sure everything is plugged in. i forgot to plug in my cam angle sensor and of course it wouldnt start. even if it looks plugged in, check them to be sure. also its possible the cas is on backwards but check the book on it, the cas has marks on it to adjust it.

 

[thisolechevy]

thanks for the quick reply!! I will check all of the plugs again, if anyone else has any suggestions please enlighten me!

 

[project_tsi]

also check, recheck, and check the cam timing again! I though mine were timed but mine wouldnt start either! The dowels were pointed up but the marks in the cam gears were slightly off. ended up both cam gears were off 1 tooth, thus making the valves stick ever so slightly open, thus causing mine to also backfire and not start. However it will still give you good compression readings since the engine is turning over multiple times. Sounds just like my problem was. good chance that is it.

 

[thisolechevy]

I am going out now to check the cam timing and the electrical plugs. Thank you so much for the help!! I will update a.s.a.p.

 

[Turbo Talon DL]

So, is it 'backfire' outta the intake, or just a 'pop' from the exhaust? I had something similar happen once, i had blown off an IC pipe and didnt have tools to fix it. It would crank, smoke, then pop. It was flooded i guess. I put the pipe on when i got home and fired right up.

 

[thisolechevy]

what is the IC pipe? it is a pop from the intake, I looked at the timing and the intake cam was upside down. I put the intake cam on correctly and now it is so so so so close to starting!! I think that the exhaust cam is off one tooth though so tomorrow I will take another look at it when its light outside. The question now is....if the intake cam was off 180 deg. am I going to need to get the valves on that side re-worked? or should they still work?

 

[thisolechevy]

anyone else? TTT

 

[project_tsi]

dude you most likely killed some valves. Both dowel pins need to point up on the cams, the #1 piston needs to be at TDC, and the grooves cut in the cams need to be very straigh across, if the intake cams dowel was down and the ex. cams dowel was up then for sure you F'ed up some valves. Thats probly why its trying to start but cant becuase more than one set of valves are open.

 

[thisolechevy]

DAMN that sucks!! I guess I'll just take it to a shop and have them look at it. Here goes another $400+ into this stupid POS.

 

[xcelr8n]

DAMN that sucks!! I guess I'll just take it to a shop and have them look at it. Here goes another $400+ into this stupid POS.

You cant really blame the car for youre mistake.

 

[Big Woo]

If you want to check for a bent valve, then do a compression check. That will verify wether or not something is bent, and therefore leaking.

 

[thisolechevy]

Yeah I know I cant blame the car, its just that so far with this car it is always something else...wether it was my fault or just the car being old and worn....so I was frustrated. Anyways the car is cranking and running good for about 3-5 seconds and then it dies, if I turn teh key off for about 1min. it will crank up again and do the same thing. I think I will just take the car to a friend of mine that owns a mechanics shop and see what they say. Maybe a comp. read-out or something. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

 

[project_tsi]

yes, do a compression test. i once had 160,160,0,160 due to bent ex. valves