1.8 Running Problems

[Mike Kunz]

Hey,

I am helping a friend in getting a just completed rebuild on a 1.8 to run properly and am having problems!

Here's what we did:

Engine has had complete mechanical tear down and rebuild.
Air flow meter is new.
Pertronx ignition installed (now back to points during diagnosis)
New spark plugs and wires
Visibly checked injectors for spray
Checked for obvious vacuum leak potentials


Here's the problem:
Engine starts and runs, but...

Run rough with noticeable clicking (ping) noise (not mechanical, sounds like misfire).
Marked the timing mark, but cannot time engine...mark does not appear with timing light (at idle or any rpm).

Any clues as to what to check or is there a good reference that anyone has written for troubeshooting..Haynes and Bosch books don't help much and I'm more familiar to KE (CIS-E)?

Thanks!

Mike

[Loan Dog]

Is your dwell angle set to spec?

If that's off you won't get timing correct.

[tracer]

Might want to check out your plug wire order so you didn't accidentally mix 1 and the other. That might be why you cant find the timing mark with the light? Also, did you remove the dist drive? If so is it installed correctly?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Re-verify the timing mark. Check it against the notch in the flywheel. (Hopefully one is there.) The flywheel notch is TDC, and can be viewed through the notches in the top and bottom of the tranny bellhousing.

--DD