Died and won't start

[therris]

88 lx
128k
carbed

Think that's everything. Need help. Drove my festy to work two days ago, less than a mile from my house, and the thing dies while I'm switching from 2nd to 3rd. Never happened before. I try to pop-gear start it while I'm rolling and nothing. I try to key start it after I've stopped. Turns over without any problem at all but won't start.

My dad suggested looking for fuel and fire. I disconnected the fuel line at the fuel filter, engine side, and fuel poured out so I'm thinking it's getting fuel. I disconnected 3 spark plug wires (one at a time), stuck in a screwdriver, made a gap and cranked it looking for a spark and saw none. I did the same thing for the coil and no spark. Bought a new coil hoping that was it, but alas. No start. I'm at my wit's end. I don't know where to go before the coil to look for a problem. Any ideas? Anyone? Anyone?

Thanks.

[GenevaDirt]

Check the fusable link on the drivers side in the engine compartment. On the inner fender by the battery. 3 wires there. I think the middle one broke on me...couldn't tell till you touched it though... reconnected it and all was fine.

[therris]

I'll check that out. What's there looks like a homemade job from a previous owner. I've got some I pulled from junked festy's I'll try out. Thanks.

[therris]

No go on the fusable link. I've had that happen before, but at that time the whole car was dead. With this one, all my lights and everything works, engine turns over but it doesn't start. Strange to me. I'm hoping it's not some electrical thing that I have no idea about.

[GenevaDirt]

Lights and all worked on mine when it went....just had no spark. Make sure that the wires on that fusable link are in good condition though, they can be decieving. I would replace them with a regular wire just to try it. Also check the fuse on the inside of the car.

[therris]

When you say fuse inside the car are you talking about the fuse panel?

[festivaWES]

yeah the one under the steering column. Might also want to try O2 sensor. I know it sounds weird, but when i was doing my swap my car wouldn't turn over but crank all day.

[therris]

Thanks. I'll try those out.

[25Horseplay]

Timing belt?

[therris]

I thought that, but I had one go out in the past and the car would start, but only with the gas all they way down and then it would barely get 750 rpm. My dad said that usually when the timing belt goes the car runs really bad, but not not at all. I guess it wouldn't run if the timing belt were gone instead of just off. I'm thinking I'll have to take it in somewhere. Hope not.

[bsirvine]

If the timing belt is broken; it absolutely positutely won't start.

[bsirvine]

If the timing belt is broken; it absolutely positutely won't start. How many miles since it was changed?

[roycehof]

Hey it is easy to check if the timing belt broke - Remove the distributor cap and crank the engine. If the rotor doesn't spin, it is broken.

[therris]

Don't know. Bought it with 124k on it and I'm sure it hadn't been changed before then. It is a possibility, I've just never done one before, myself, and the last festy I had it done on I think was $160 from the dealer. That was about 10 yrs ago, but does that sound about right for now? How could I check to see if the belt is bad?

And would that prevent a spark from the coil or plugs?

[therris]

Thanks, I'll check the belt as soon as I get home.