Engine still wont start.

[Bwayney]

So after i installed a new radiator in the festiva and took it for a drive, it was still overheating. Popped the hood to see coolant sprayed all over because of a hole in the heater bypass pipe or whatever. Tried to start it, it would turn over but not start.

So i waited a few days and everything dried, tried starting it again and it would turn over and sound like it really wants to start but it wont. We checked the distribution and everything and the car still has spark. Let me rephrase that. WE STILL GOT SPARK! We tried putting some gas down the carbuerator but nothing happened. We tried opening up the choke etc. Any ideas on what we could do and why it wont go? The battery is fine and everything and the car will turn over and almost start but wont. ITS SO CLOSE!

Its really pissing me off and im thinking about just selling the car as a parts car or something.

[Pu241]

You "STILL GOT SPARK" where?
At the primary or at all the spark plugs?
Coolant (ethylene glycol) isn't going to just dry out, at lot of the water will, but not the glycol.
How old are your plug wires?
They could be saturated with the coolant.
I had an old set of wires that every time it rained I damn near killed the battery trying to get it started.
Changed the wires and presto started first crank!

[Bwayney]

we checked all the wires with a brand new spark plug and they all had spark.

[batstiva]

^^+1. But I would add, carb cleaner. That coolant goes everywhere. The water content will evaporate, but the glycol will still be there. Don't know how long the car ran after it started leaking, but I wouldn't be surprised if it sucked some antifreeze into the carb. Hence the need for carb cleaner. Double check the spark issue. Verify that you have spark at all 4 plugs. Verify that there is no moisture under the cap. Did you get the new pipe yet?

[Bwayney]

we just verified that all 4 wires have spark, yesterday. Do you think i might need a new carbuerator? We didnt get the new pipe yet because if the car doesnt run i have no reason to buy the pipe and i will just sell the car or junk it if i cant get it running.

[Pu241]

If it was running well before radiator failure, there is no reason to believe hot coolant would ruin it.
It's something small, we just have to find it.
Have you tried using starter fluid instead of gasoline down the carb?
In fact, do you know if your getting fuel to the carb?

[Bwayney]

well we didnt try starting fluid because we didnt have any but we did try gasoline, wd40 etc. Eventually after we gave it some gas while trying to turn it over we started smelling gasoline(this was with the intake off so we could the top of the Carb) Everyone once in a while after giving it a lot of gas the carb would puff out a cloud of smoke.

All 5 of us were stumped on why the car would not start. We even tried pushing and putting it into gear and nothing.

[Pu241]

OK, this is going to sound stupid but here she goes.
Did you put the rotor back on correctly?
On the EFI distributors, some of the after market rotors will actually fit on the shaft three ways.
Obviously only one is correct.

[Bwayney]

Im not sure exactly what the rotor is, we didnt touch the carb or distributor untill the car would not start. The engine is a 1.3L 2 Barrel SOHC Carbuerated engine just in case you were wondering.

[Festiva Time]

If it cranks over so fast you feel it could break the motor mounts, then you probably blew a headgasket and maybe warped the head. Check your compression in each cylinder to find out. I hope I am wrong. Been There, Done That, NO FUN!!!

Kirk

[Bwayney]

I dont think it cranks over too fast, cranks like it always has when starting it. How do i do a compression test?

[Pu241]

Im not sure exactly what the rotor is, we didnt touch the carb or distributor untill the car would not start. The engine is a 1.3L 2 Barrel SOHC Carbuerated engine just in case you were wondering.

Rotor is under the distributor cap.

The wouldn't start because of the coolant on the wires under the cap etc.
Was the rotor removed to clean it up, if so, is it possible it was not put back on correctly?
Also in removing the distributor cap, were the wires removed and put back on in the correct order?
Just trying to cover all the simple stuff, and the problem will be simple.

Have you checked and cleaned/replaced the fusible links mounted on the driver-side strut tower behind the battery?

[FB71]

I'm guessing you've blown a head gasket. You have all the symptoms, and the appropriate cause (overheating).

[Tex Law]

PM'd you

[Bwayney]

We didnt remove the rotor or touch the distributor at all just checked the wires for spark and dinked around with the carb. The wires were put back to the correct order also. I really hope i didnt blow a headgasket. How can you tell if its blown or not.