Stuck in Long Beach

[Andrew 4square]

Well, the curse of the jackass strikes again....I have broken my own car. I was pretty bummed to hear about the donut meet and found out I wouldnt be able to attend blah blah... later found out I could and was real excited. So like any excited new 914 owner going to meet a bunch of 914 veterens I though lets get this thing tip top so I look like a decent car at least.

(que the bad ideas music here....)

So since I had a little miss in the running I checked the plug wires since it was recently running fine until my tune up. What do you know a loose plug wire on the distributor. I take it off and kindof meddle with the connector and get a good seal/fit and I feel good about that so I say hey lets go around and start checking all the plug wires and they are ok but could be a little tighter. I "adjust" those and then say hey let me check out this distributor thing here and fiddle with that. After all the checking and fiddling around I spy a slightly loose hose tighten it down and then start screwing around with the injectors ....didnt take them out just checking the connectors and such.

I feel now that I have made a few positive moves on the maintenance on my car(GOD I hate to think what you guys must be thinking of me now-what a damn newbie- and-this is maintenance ??) so I go to start it up.



Que the sucky situation music now.

Well turns out all my adjusting makes the car not start somehow. I have no idea how this can be when all i did was tighten down connectors and such but either way it wont start up....

-A few key notes-
-it does turn over-

It does have power to the pump I can hear it-

-When I press the gas a bunch of times it will almost start and then just go back to cranking again-

-not starting isnt caused by me flooding it because I have been trying it for a couple of days one day trying without pumping the gas and a couple of day later with pumping the gas-

-I have usually gone to OTTO'S for maintenance but they gone for the weekend and I dont know any reputable shops in Long Beach-

Any suggestions would be appreciated, I dont even know where to tow this thing to.....!!!!!


Im so pissed that I even screwed around with the car UGGGHHHH


I know there a bunch of guys in Long Beach any body here have an idea or can suggest a place to go. Although by now it is a little late to go get a repair for tomarrow but I guess I could try.

Thanks Guys!!!!

[Jim Chambers]

My guess is that you accidently moved the distributor and it is out of time. See if you can rotate the distributor (if you can, the adjusting clamp is loose). If it rotates easily (do this gently and only move it as little as possible) have a friend try to start the car while you rotate the distributor one way, then the other. You should be able to find a point where it will start. Leave it at a spot where it is running reasonably well until you can get to Otto.
If the distributor is tight and will not rotate, I have made the wrong guess.

[Andrew 4square]

Thanks for the tip I am gonna try this out.

[Zeke]

FI or carbs? If injected, you might have bumped another wire somewhere. Go back where you were "fiddling" around and double check all wires. FI can be nasty if everything isn't hooked up including the brown ground wires. Check all of them too. There's a bundle on the case and a bundle on the side engine compartment wall-driver's side.

Maybe someone can stop by on the way in. What part of town are you in?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Most especially check the wire to the Head Temp Sensor, near the #3 spark plug. If it is unplugged, the car will not start. Also if the connector to the manifold pressure sensor is unplugged. Ditto on the wires that plug into the coil.

I'd check every wire I could find.

--DD