944 wont start, turns over but doesnt fire up

[ryancolindres]

I have a 944 I have recently done a waterpump replacement. She ran great for a day, but on the way home she cut out on a corner and i coasted to the shoulder. Shut her off, waited a second, and tried to start it up but she just wouldnt fire up. I towed it home and started checking everything out. Theres spark, fuel, air. I checked all the required sensors and fuel injectors, and they all seemed fine. I replaced worn spark cables, and got new battery wire and terminals, as well as new fuses. Im stumped Please give me any insight you have.

Much thanks
Ryan E. Colindres

[ssschaib]

Reference Sensor? Does the tach bounce a bit when you turn the key?

[kfanazini]

What worries me about this post is that you just did a wp/timing belt and it ran well for a day and it suddenly cut out. Check your timing belt.

[Guest765]

I agree turn it over to TDC and check your timing hasn't slipped. Another thing is, the tach will not always bounce especially if your cluster isnt the best, mine never bounced ever the whole time I owned the car. So don't trust the tach bounce as a real test.

Another thing, OP would not be getting spark if the sensor wasnt working.

Best to check that belt asap before turning the key again at all.

[ryancolindres]

It doesnt fire at all, just turns over a bunch.

[ryancolindres]

Yeah I had the thought that it might be a timing issue but ill have to check the TDC. The crank sensors are new, and theres a spark so im confident they are functioning.

[Grandad#3]

Hello, you say that you have fuel. Can you hear the Fuel Pump running? If the Fuel Pump is running the DME Relay must be good. If not replace the DME Relay with a new one or make a jumper as per Clark's Garage.

http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/fuel-05.htm

Cheers,
Larry

[Gawernator]

Hope it's just a DME relay or fuel pump

[AKCJ]

What year is your car?

Things to do: 1) check timing like the others said - may be able to just look through the inspection hole on the cam sprocket cover, 2) spray something flamable into the intake while you're trying to start it - if it fires then you know it's a fuel problem, 3) check the fuel pressure in the fuel rail - on mine I just remove the nut on the end and use an adapter to my fuel pressure gauge (not expensive tools), 4) remove spare DME relay from glove box and install.

[rhett]

Originally Posted by fwayfarer

I agree turn it over to TDC and check your timing hasn't slipped.

Best to check that belt asap before turning the key again at all.

This has the classic syptoms of a belt problem - I know from bitter experience. Was the belt replaced when the WP was replaced, did you tension the belt using a gauge or other proven method (twist, etc)? If you reused the belt...it could have failed.

Sound advice above, but if the belt has slipped or dropped a tooth then damage may already have been done.

But, I really do hope it is something else...!

[Guest765]

You've got two and a half teeth of clearance either way if I remember right. If it slipped that far and that far only you might have hit the powerball and it is enough out of time to not run, but hasn't crashed the valves yet.

No way to say any more without more info from the OP

[AKCJ]

Check the compression . . . .

[ryancolindres]

I found the issue, the timing was good, it ended up being the distributor rotor bolt came out so the rotor would spin but not in time. Got a new bolt and she started right up. Thank you everyone for your help and posts.

Ryan E. Colindres

[Gawernator]

Nice.

[rhett]

Excellent outcome...

[Timmay!]

I hope u put blue loctite on the 3mm bolt that holds the rotor on.

[jamdofal]

Same exact thing on my 944 Turbo. Put in the cap screw and it started right up. Thanks all for the info.

[Timmay!]

Funny story. We had a 944 Spec race car in the shop. The rotor had come loose and so the spark was happening at the wrong time.....in this case, it happened while the exhaust valve was open. Unspent fuel in the exhaust system. Exhaust valve open when the spark happened. then,........KA - frickin'- BOOM!!! Howizter out the tail pipe! Scared the crap out of all the guys in the huge warehouse my shop was in at the time. Even the guys way up in the front office came out to see what that was. Good times with the 944 Spec guys....

[DannoXYZ]

Why would the rotor position change ignition-timing???

[Timmay!]

???? If rotor is loose.....