3.2 rebuild not firing

[jhugh]

Last night I got my 3.2 back in the car. Finally! I haven't yet hooked up the clutch or installed the axles. The engine turns over just fine, and I'm getting oil pressure. I smell gas, so I think that's flowing. But it won't fire up. It's not even thinking of catching.

It was 10 pm when I tried last night and now I'm at work, so I haven't had time yet to troubleshoot the ignition. But I've briefly checked all connections visually and everything seems to be in place. I also switched the speed & position sensor connections just to eliminate that possibility. Didn't change.

I would appreciate some help in getting a troubleshooting procedure together for tonight. First, I'll check for spark. If I don't have that, I'll check for voltage at the coil. I'm not sure where to go if I don't have that. There are enough sensors involved that my path forward isn't easily intuitive. Can anyone offer tips? Any common situations on first startup?

Thanks!

[Tim L]

Assuming you have fuel? First check for spark, if yes, timing, make sure the distributer isn't 180 out and your getting fuel. If no, then check all electrical connections, all sensor connections. If the crank reference sensor is not working or connected wrong you will have no spark.

Tim

[Jadams1]

What effect would the transmission ground strap not being installed have?

[88911coupe]

When I had a no spark condition it turned out to be a hairline solder crack in the DME computer. Not sure if this is relevent to your situation though but it may be worth a look. My car would turn over fine and you could smell fuel but no spark.
Good Luck

[rfix'n]

I'm with John, if you have not hooked up the tranny have you done anything to ground the motor?

[jhugh]

Thanks guys. The rebuilt tranny is completely hooked up to the engine and the car.. just the clutch lever & cable are not attached yet. The ground strap is clean and firmly bolted to the car. I'm about to dive into the forensics. I'll report back.

Cheers,

[yelcab1]

hugh

When I did my 84-911, it came up with the first try. This is how it is with DME electronics. So, there must be something wrong with the way this went back together (especially if it was running before).

1. DId your car run before you pulled the engine?
2. How did you do the timing?
3. Go over all the electronic connection again

Engine connector at front left hand side of engine
Engine connector at the rear left hand side
Ground straps at the tranny and at the rear left hand side (multi connections)
3 connectors for the Head temp sensor, TDC, and RPM
3 connectors for the idle valve, air flow meter and one more ...
Check all the vaccuum connections, hose connections, fuel connections. There are numerous connections (oil hose at the front of engine, breather at the back of the air box)

Check compression
Timing of the engine, the distributor, rotor, and wirings
Engine spark plugs cleaned and regapped again

I can swing by this weekend if you still need some help.

M

[rcwaldo]

my vote would be the dizzy is 180deg out. Check it out. Usually these type of problems are easy to find...

Good luck and let us know when you get it fired up..

Chris

[jabb]

If the dizzy is off you will usally get all kinds of popping and backfires. The dizzy can still be off but it sounds like no spark
because the lack of popping or attempt to start

[jhugh]

Well, I only had 10 minutes to devote to this last night (m'lady HAD to go to the movies). But I did establish that I'm getting a regular, healthy-looking, bright blue spark. I can feel the injector working and I'm smelling gas after cranking it for a while. Is there a better way (short of pulling an injector) to confirm fuel delivery?

So tonight I'll try the distributor orientation first thing.

yelcab1, thanks for the offer of help! If this doesn't turn out tonight I may take you up on it - weekend after next, though (traveling this weekend). But yes, the engine ran quite well before I pulled it apart. And I did the distro timing by bringing the crank to TDC and installing the shaft so that the rotor was pointing at the reference mark, as directed by Bentley manual. I set and reset it a couple times and it was damn close. But I was not thinking about the 1:2 ratio of turns for the disto:crank. So I could easily be 180 degrees off! Still, no popping or even an attempt to start.

Thanks again! update to follow.

Cheers,

[jhugh]

It WAS the distributor. I reinstalled 180 degrees away from the original position and she fired up IMMEDIATELY. Motronic really is amazing. She sounds smooth and strong. Last night was a big deal - it'd been 7 months.

Thanks very much, guys. Now all I need to do is figure out this #(@#*( clutch!

Cheers,

[yelcab1]

Hugh.

Congrats. Great job!!!!

[Jadams1]

It's a great feeling to see your engine come to life. Congratulations!