Help, Trying to get my engine to fire...
- Thread starter Caleb
- Start date
chevtech said:
I'm getting good pressure (haven't checked but I am positive I am)...I tried slowly rotating the distributor and it went from shooting fire out the throttle body to shooting fire out the cylinders...
Not insulting at all, yes I am for sure on the #1 cylinder (driver side forward most plug)
I jsut checked the plugs again and they ARE wet with fuel??? What could that mean (flooded?) what else?
I really do appreciate the help...
Supergper said:
I'm back
When you say shooting fire out the cylinders, what do you mean? Out of the exhaust????
Sometimes the plugs get so wet they just don't want to spark anymore. The spark will just follow the wet gas down the side of the porcelain and to the electrode without ever sparking. They will do this alot if they are used much at all (as in carbon deposits on the plug) and then wet with fuel. If the plugs are new just pull them out make sure they aren't black spray them off with a little carb cleaner or brake cleaner and let them dry (or air dry). If the plugs are used I might be tempted to just replace them. Disconnect the coil (very important! think fire!) and crank it over with the plugs out. Maybe you have just flooded it. This will blow out the excess fuel.
Now you say you have checked spark with your timing light but have you visibly watched the spark jump either the plug gap or the old screwdriver in the plug wire trick (let me know if you don't know what I am talking about)? Maybe the spark isn't strong enough.
No problem.
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
From what you're saying about the flames coming out of the Throttle Body, that would lead me to believe just one thing.... you're off by 180*. Experience talking, here.
I'd put the engine at TDC, pull the Dist Cap & see where it's sitting. Just for ****'s & giggles, I'd pull the Dist & put it in 180* from where it sits and try firing it. I've been in this exact situation a couple times, totally confused about an engine not firing... till I turned the Dist around & the engine usually fires right up.
Try it... it's only one bolt.
I'd put the engine at TDC, pull the Dist Cap & see where it's sitting. Just for ****'s & giggles, I'd pull the Dist & put it in 180* from where it sits and try firing it. I've been in this exact situation a couple times, totally confused about an engine not firing... till I turned the Dist around & the engine usually fires right up.
Try it... it's only one bolt.
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
Greg said:From what you're saying about the flames coming out of the Throttle Body, that would lead me to believe just one thing.... you're off by 180*.
I'd put the engine at TDC, pull the Dist Cap & see where it's sitting. Just for ****'s & giggles, I'd pull the Dist & put it in 180* from where it sits and try firing it. I've been in this exact situation a couple times, totally confused about an engine not firing... till I turned the Dist around & the engine usually fires right up.
Try it... it's only one bolt.
I'm not familiar with 4.3L dist, but I wonder if the rotor could be installed incorrectly. (180* out) I HATE taking dist. out, but sometimes you just have to.
James K
NO, I'm always like this
- Location
- Taylorsville, Ut
when you have put it a TDC when on #1. Have you pulled the cap to see that the rotor is facing the #1 cylinder?
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
mbryson said:
I doubt that the Cap could be put on backwards. I'm betting on 180* off...
James K
NO, I'm always like this
- Location
- Taylorsville, Ut
Greg said:I doubt that the Cap could be put on backwards. I'm betting on 180* off...
but could the rotor.................hmmm..................scratching chin :-\
on the 180* thing...the cap can only go on one way so the cap cant be on wrong, same with the rotor (its got an index slot thing on it)...I dont know how the whole distributor would get turned around since the first time the bolt has even been loosened was when Carl was over here. BUT, I will give it a try and see what happens (can't be worse than it already is ) I did try getting #1 at TDC on compression and the rotor was pointing at the #1 spot on the cap.
yeah, sorry, out the exhaust (right now the manifolds aren't on but they have been most the day, took them off so I could get to the plugs more easily)...the flames will shoot out the exhaust about 12"-18" (I'm sure its not good for the engine but its pretty cool)
) I did try getting #1 at TDC on compression and the rotor was pointing at the #1 spot on the cap. chevtech said:
yeah, sorry, out the exhaust (right now the manifolds aren't on but they have been most the day, took them off so I could get to the plugs more easily)...the flames will shoot out the exhaust about 12"-18" (I'm sure its not good for the engine but its pretty cool
)Supergper said:I'm gonna go pull the plugs and let stuff dry...I think me neighbors would kill me if I go start trying to crank it
If you haven't removed the distributor and the rotor really is pointing at one when on compression TDC it would be hard to imagine how you could be 180 out, but you ought to know!
Where did you get the firing order? Stamped on the intake? Or, out of Haynes? I seem to vaguely remember the order changing one year for no reason. If you got it out of Haynes it may be wrong.
Just a thought.
chevtech said:Where did you get the firing order? Stamped on the intake? Or, out of Haynes? I seem to vaguely remember the order changing one year for no reason. If you got it out of Haynes it may be wrong.
Just a thought.
hmm, interesting I did get it out of haynes and everything I have found ont eh net has confirmed it (but nothing specific to my year) I forgot about the manifold sometimes having the order, I will go check that out...
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
Still where my money is. That backfire through the carb/tbi just screams it.Greg said:I doubt that the Cap could be put on backwards. I'm betting on 180* off...
another thought I keep having (and JeeperG just brought it up again) is could it be getting too much fuel? I am using the normal E2000 fuel pump but it puts out max 95 PSI and TBIs only need like 15 PSI...could it be forcing too much out the injectors so its just auto flooding it? I know its supposed to return the unused fuel back through the return line, and being computer controlled could it still get too much?
