engine turning but nothing else

[914am]

The car (1976 814 2.0L FI) started hesitantly with backfiring and no power. I've had a small moisture problem in the distributor cap but a little drying made the car run perfect. So I checked that and that wasn't the problem. I tried to start the car this time and the engine would turn but never complete cranking. Someone suggested to file the points and then check the rotor button. So I did, and it had no effect. What's causing this? Thanks

[Bob's944]

I'm not sure how your timing goes, but make sure all belts are working first.... then

1- are you getting spark? pull a plug, reattach the wire, ground it on the engine and and crank and see. No spark? back track to the coil, could be wires, ditributer, rotor or coil. But for total shutdown, most likely coil, distributor or rotor.

2- are you getting fuel? sometimes harder to determine depending on the FI system u have, but since you have a plug out you should be able to tell if it's flooded. Fuel filters can be clogged also. Bad pump can cause total shutdown. It's doubtful the injectors are causing a total shutdown, one bad runs rough.

3- are you getting air? 944's have a snorkle that can get a plastic bag stuck up inside.

[drew1]

Hi 914,

Make sure ground strap on transmission is good.

I'll go along with Bob & say check for firing to the plugs. I've got a little thing that you clip to ground, put the plug wire on it & see if a spark jumps the gap. If no fire, check the point gap. It seems that the four side distributor lobes wear the little block where the points ride on the lobe. Filing might have opened them more. Besides not letting the coil charge good, this changes the timing. Some Porsche rotors have a little black place in the top of the rotor, but I don't think I've seen them on a 914 except a 050 distributor. If yours has this, ohm the rotor to make sure you have continuity. Measure the voltage at terminal 15, + terminal, on the coil while cranking. It should be close to 12v. If not your switch is bad, I think 75 & 76 914 is same as 924 & early 944 & they go bad. To check the condenser (lead off points), put your meter on ohms and put on lead to the terminal on condeser lead, the other to conderser body. You should see the reading change as the condenser charges & go bak when you reverse the leads. A lot of people never change them because they don't go bad. They do & popping back & running rough is a symptom.

If you're getting fire, check the timing mark on the fan when the rotor points to #1 plug wire. The distributor could have moved.

Let's go simple to check injection. Open the throttle body & spay some ether in it. With fire you should crank up. If it does, you're not getting gas. If your pump is running & you have clean filter, you can check the injector firing with a noid light. If your pump isn't running because of no 12V, it could be a fuse or either fuel pump or power relays. I don't think the flapper sensor is involved in cranking & the head temp sensors usually fail cold, so they wouldn't affect cold cranking. Hope I helped, will have to get my Haynes book to find more info.

drew1

edit: Just noticed you have a 2.0. Could be injection points in bottom of distributor.