SBOX is dead in the water

[Crankworm]

Ok not really in the water but shes a no go. I haven't posted much because the search button has been my friend. here goes my problem and everything I've got so far. My little blue festiva has lovingly earn the name SBOX.

SBOX is a 92 with 126,000 miles on the od. I bought it to commute in but shes been nothing but trouble. After replacing the front end and brakes i started driving her. she got 1 new hla, new cap, rotor, plugs and wires, and air filter. On my way home the other day I exited the expressway and stop at a light where the car stalled and wouldn't restart. I had a buddy haul me home and cannot get her to restart. I am getting spark at the plugs and am getting fuel. I am stumped.

[Pu241]

When you crank it, can you confirm the rotor under the distributor cap turns?

[doylerl]

When you crank it, can you confirm the rotor under the distributor cap turns?

If he is getting spark, doesn't that mean that it is turning?

When you say that you are getting fuel, how did you check this? Did you pull an injector, or just a fuel line? You may have fuel going to the rail, but maybe the injectors aren't getting the signal to let fuel into the cylinder. I believe you can check this with a noid light on one of the injector harness wires. Someone else can explain exactly how to do this, as I have never had to. I just thought I would throw the idea out there, and hopefully someone else can explain it in more detail.

[Safety Guy]

I covered Noid Lights in my thread here:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31934

I also was getting fuel to the rail and spark, but no start. Turned out the original fuel pump would run a B3 but not a B6! Gotta have enough fuel pressure to start engines! You may want to read through my build thread to see what all I did that didn't work, and how I finally just swapped fuel pumps for a known good/nearly new one.

Actually, the right thread was linked from my main build thread. Here is the direct link with pics for using Noid Lights and a few other things:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33517

Good luck!

Karl

[Pu241]

If he is getting spark, doesn't that mean that it is turning?

My error, he did say "at the plugs"!

Find it hard to believe that all four injectors would just fail.
But, better to check than to just swap parts!

[doylerl]

My error, he did say "at the plugs"!

Find it hard to believe that all four injectors would just fail.
But, better to check than to just swap parts!

I was wondering if maybe the computer failed that tells the injectors to spray, not just the injectors failing. I guess I should have clarified that.

[Safety Guy]

If the Noids say you're getting signals to the injectors, then you should probably check fuel pressure next. Nate swears by the Harbor Freight fuel pressure kit. If the fuel pressure is up to spec, then I don't know what to check next. Like John, I doubt all four injectors would fail at once.

Karl

[nitrofarm]

Some good advice has been mentioned above Crankworm.Please let us know how you determined you are getting fuel? If you are getting spark to all 4 plugs thats good and means your timing belt isnt broken & the rotor is turning. You can try clamping the fuel RETURN line & see if she starts. This will show if the fp reg has failed and bleading Fuel back to the tank...But you say you have fuel.

[Crankworm]

Thank you for the input, I say I'm getting fuel because the plugs are getting wet with gas after cranking the motor. Just for giggles I tried swapping the vaf with a known good one from a 1.6 miata that I had sitting around that didn't do anything. I will keep plugging along but my little brain is baffled right now. I have swapped the fusible links with new spares. I am ready to try anything. If someone tells me I need to stick a banana in the tailpipe push the car down a hill while hopping on my right foot I think I would give it a go

[hotfordcat]

If the plugs are wet, then you're getting fuel. You also are not getting fire or the thing would run. HOW DO YOU KNOW you're getting spark at the plugs?? Sounds to me like NO SPARK. Dry the plugs and then try grounding one plug to the engine and see if you get spark.

[Crankworm]

If the plugs are wet, then you're getting fuel. You also are not getting fire or the thing would run. HOW DO YOU KNOW you're getting spark at the plugs?? Sounds to me like NO SPARK. Dry the plugs and then try grounding one plug to the engine and see if you get spark.

That is how I figured out that I had spark

[mckabe]

Timing skipped? Anyone agree that could do it?

[nitrofarm]

Thank you for the input, I say I'm getting fuel because the plugs are getting wet with gas after cranking the motor. Just for giggles I tried swapping the vaf with a known good one from a 1.6 miata that I had sitting around that didn't do anything. I will keep plugging along but my little brain is baffled right now. I have swapped the fusible links with new spares. I am ready to try anything. If someone tells me I need to stick a banana in the tailpipe push the car down a hill while hopping on my right foot I think I would give it a go

LOL Love the attidude !

Timing skipped? Anyone agree that could do it?

Yes I agree its a good place to start. And it dont cost money. Crankworm you know how to verify mecahnical timing? Its free & will eliminate that variable.

MCKABE you a pm...

[nitrofarm]

^ Should read- MCKABE in West Bend you a pm

[Mike McKown]

If you really gas fouled those plugs they may have to be replaced. Sometimes, plugs will fire outside the engine but not in the combustion chamber.