What else should i check?

[travisl_2727]

Cylinder 1 on the far left and cylinder 4 on the far right being closest to the distributer

[vacustode03]

So if you're standing in front of the car facing the engine, cylinder 1 is on the far left and cylinder 4 is on far right?

[travisl_2727]

Now with that out of the way, the plugs are brand new, in the plug wires are going to the right plugs with number 1 being on the right side of the motor if you're standing in front of the car and number 4 being on the left side of the motor

The front of your engine is the side with the pulleys, and the back is the side hooked up to the tranny, so in a festiva, the front of the motor is on the left and the #1cylinder starting there

[vacustode03]

When I say I hear clicking, I am meaning that it is making the same noise that any other vehicle would make a right before it actually turns over. But instead of doing it just a few times and turning over like a working engine, it just keeps "cranking" (may be a better word) and wont actually turn over. Now with that out of the way, the plugs are brand new, in the plug wires are going to the right plugs with number 1 being on the right side of the motor if you're standing in front of the car and number 4 being on the left side of the motor. I have not checked compression , but I tested How much park I had at the end of the spark plugs by using a screwdriver near a ground and I gotta say I was happy with the spark I was getting. I did notice something odd though. I don't know what this part is called, but I will put a picture of it in my profile picture since I cannot upload 1 from my phone.

[Movin]

Just re read this again, It looks like battery, ignition and fuel have been covered, they
are okay. time to look at cam timing and compression. Pull the spark plugs and make
sure they look good, if not try some other plugs. With the plugs out check engine
compression.

[koRnhead]

Put a good battery in it!! Using jumpers is not enough if the battery in it has completely drained.

[perucho]

What do you mean by "clicking"? You say it's only clicking but then also say the timing belt is turning and that you are getting spark. That doesn't make any sense. Usually when people say clicking, it's the sound the starter makes instead of turning the flywheel when the battery is low. Nothing would rotate and you would not be able to confirm spark or see the "gears" moving.
Could you be a bit more specific?
Also, the firing order may be correct on the dizzy cap but are they going to the correct plugs? Meaning, where is your plug #1 on the head? You may have started at the wrong end. Happens regularly.

[georgeb]

Yes that is the correct order. Counter clockwise. When you look through the opening do you see teeth or do you see a belt? Maybe the timing belt is broken. Edit: Oops, the cam must be turning if there is spark.

[Movin]

That is correct, this clicking you hear, is it the spark from the coil
going somewhere besides to the spark plug?? For instance if the
ignition rotor were left out it would make a hollow clicking noise
while cranking, is this what you hear?

[vacustode03]

Can anyone confirm 1-3-4-2 as the correct firing order?

[vacustode03]

If your getting fire from the plug wires then the engine is ROTATING like its suppost

I set the firing order as 1-3-4-2 like i seen on many websites as the proper way to set timing. There is no backfiring only clicking. I made sure i put the #1 plug wire on the dizzy spot labled #1 then went counterclockwise with #3 next, then #4 following, then #2 ending.

[vacustode03]

the timing cover on my festy is seperated from the engine, not but much like less than a 1/4 of an inch, but you can actually see down in there enough to see the "gears" (or whatever they are called, maybe crank pully, or cam gear, anyway its on the left side of the engine and looks like some sort of sprocket) so i had my dad watch for it to turn as it was clicking and he said it was so i took that as a sign as it wasn't locked up. i could upload a pic of what im talking about if needed.

[Movin]

Dont worry about stuff, pick one of the ways suggested to
bar the engine over. If you don't have an assistant make
a mark on a pulley so you will know if the engine actually
turned over.Or leave your phone on video looking at
the engine.

[zoom zoom]

Do it, as long as the power and ground cables will stretch to the terminals on the battery it should work fine. The good thing about aspires (and probably festys) is that the cables will stretch a pretty decent distance, my mazda 626 cables only go where the stock battery terminals were so I have to watch what battery I buy for it. What your looking for is cold cranking amps (CCA)..the more the better.


Also, if that works to start the car, unhook the battery while it's running, and hook your old battery up and let it run for a bit. That way it will charge the old battery by itself. I'm sure someone might have something to say about this procedure, but I've done it quite a few times in my life and never blown a gasket or shocked myself in the process.

[vacustode03]

Hopefully its just a battery, i can get the battery charged, you guys are scaring me about the motor being seized. Like i said, i hope its not and i believe its not but if the newly charged battery doesnt do the trick, i might have to be done with it and that sucks because i havent even got to experience the greatness of the festiva. i hope its just the battery. I even wonder if i could take the battery out of my fiancee's 2002 ford focus just to see if i could get it to turn over?