will not crank

[yblock]

here's the story. my daily driver 1991 festiva 5 speed of 9 years an 3 week's. drove home from work last Monday an parked close to the door as i had to go in early the next morning.The next morning it would turn over fine but made no attempt to start. so i drove my spare festiva. I was sure it jumped time so that's where i began. lined up the timing mark's pulled the dist. cap an the rotor was pointing at #1 went around again an was 180 out, around again an pointing at #1. Ok so it's not out. Since i had #1 plug out anyway i pulled the rest of them did a compression check 180 psi or better on all cylinders. I was pleased considering it has 243,000 mile on it. Checked the spark an it's good an hot, but the plug's were wet. ODD! Well it should run. here's the part's I've swapped with the running car. ignition coil, ignition module, Vane airflow meter,computer, distributor cap rotor an wire's. Tore it down so i could see the gear on the crank to make sure it was right an it was. put a new belt on while i was there. Called a friend he said the catalytic converter was stopped up. Great idea. Dropped the exhaust pipe off the manifold still nothing. In desperation i squirted starter fluid in the intake it would not fire that stuff either. Unfrickin believable. An when i say it won't start i mean it's just like you left the coil wire off, there is no sign of life. pulled all 4 plug's grounded them an watched'em fire. It's kickin my butt! Any help would be great.

[FestYboy]

ok, so you have compression, spark, you can add fuel, and the timing is correct. i have one question: when you checked the timing, did you use the starter, or did you turn it by the cam bolt?

[yblock]

i turned it by the crankshaft bolt. i would never use the cam bolt for that. also reread the post. i took it all the way down an changed the belt. at that point you can see the gear on the crank lineup with it's pointer.

[FestYboy]

the reason i was asking was: IF you used the cam bolt, i would have had you inspect the crank snout to make sure it wasn't sheared in the oil pump housing.

so going over this again, it must be a fuel issue. you can verify spark and compression, there's only one thing left.

[yblock]

Ok. it's a real puzzle i'm reading the factory shop manuals now.hopin i'll find something i've overlooked.

[yblock]

i would have gone with fuel until i tried the starting fluid. but it should have sputtered backfired or something.

[JoDan]

Well, if your compression is good and your spraying starting fluid in there, then its not igniting it. Or there is a leak in the intake that is letting air in. Just giving suggestions.

[yblock]

Hey good one. i wonder if the idle air bypass could be it?

[JoDan]

When my dad first gave me my festiva it wouldn't start but the starter was trying to turn it over, and it turned out to be the throttle body gasket. Maybe try spraying some starting fluid around the throttle body and see if it gets sucked in when trying to start.

[yblock]

I'll check it i replaced once years ago when i removed the throttle body for cleaning.

[econoaddict]

I would just take a break, clear my mind and go back to it starting back at square one.

You have to be overlooking or missing something very obvious.
IF you have compression, the t-belt and dist timing is correct, you have good spark and you have fuel there is no reason at all it shouldn't at least try to run or explode or something.

Might check the inertia switch just for giggles.

If your absolutely sure it is all in time and has a good hot spark I would then
make sure the battery has a good charge, have a helper spray starting fluid into a vac port in the intake while you crank it over and hold the throttle plate open a bit.

If it still doesn't try to run call a preist, it needs an exorcism :sad11:




I would guess at a fuel pump, fuel filter or inertia switch tripped being the problem as per info you have given in the original post.

[lessersivad]

I had basically the same problem on an '85 S10. It died on my way home from work on night. Got it towed home and put in the garage. Next day checked for compression, timing, fuel, spark, the whole deal. Had all the makings of a running engine but wouldn't start. After messing with it for about a month someone suggested a spark tester. Told them it had good spark cuz I grounded the plugs and it showed good. They let me borrow their tester and no spark. Turned out the the coil went bad or was weak. Replaced it and it fired right up. I bought one of the testers. Pretty simple device that looks like a sparkplug with a spring clip welded to it. There is one for HEI and one for small engines/points ignition. Hope this helps.

Just re-read the original post. You already swapped the coil...DOH. Never mind.

[Levitan]

I'd still purchase the spark tester. I had a Festy that had spark to plugs, reassemble, nothing. Purchased the tester and realized it wasn't getting spark every time. Ended up being the distributor.

HEY!? If that's not it, could his ignition switch be going bad? I've been seeing more and more switches going bad. I'm not sure what all the symptoms are of a bad ignition switch.

It'd be nice if the Moderator of this forum would give some advice instead of just busting people for stupid minor infractions and complaining about things.

[mechanicaldj]

infractions??????

i have never posted an infraction on anyone

now Yblock: have you checked all of your fuses? and fusible links?????

then check your main relay
then fuel pump relay
then the VAF ( vane air flow meter)
then the fuel pump


and besides thought FB71 was going to beat me to this one too

[yblock]

Thanks, guy's I've printed your suggestions an headin out to the garage. an i agree with alot of them. i'll try runnin a hotwire to the coil to.