Fuel, Spark but still won't start??

blkt72

New Member
Aug 14, 2005
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Dayton, Ohio
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OK, I'm mostly a turbo guy but I just bought an '89 Cressida as a daily driver and it won't start. I've only fooled with it for a short time and here's what I know so far:

Has spark at the plug
Has fuel
Has a code 14
Put another igniter/coil on from a junkyard
All connections look to be good

What the hell could cause this? Fuel and spark, but no fire! Next step was to look at timing while cranking and see if that's way off, but I killed the battery and it's recharging now. That's the only thing that makes any sense to me but again I don't know the NA that well. Wondering if anyone else has ever seen this or has any ideas. Will a bad igniter still spark?
 

mkiiSupraMan18

Needs a new username...
Apr 1, 2005
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^ Timing more than likely...

If it's a 5/6m take the valve covers off and find the little dowel holes on the cams and lock them into place. Set the crank to TDC, install the belt, tighten it all up, turn it over by hand a few times, check the timing to make sure it hasn't moved, go from there. Also, make sure the dist. is pointing to plug #1 with it at TDC.

Coil CAN make a spark and not make the car start, but the spark will be so weak that it'll be obvious it wont do anything. May want to check the ground wires under the intake to make sure they're still connected.
 

BlackDynamite

KTHXBIA
Feb 24, 2007
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It could be a few things....but i would check the timing first as you said...mine had jumped and it wouldn't start at all......but mine also had thrown a rod bearing....but it still did run with it knocking...then it jumped...then all downhill from there....:(
 

blkt72

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Aug 14, 2005
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jetjock said:
Define "has fuel".

It's not going to run as long as it has a code 14 even if it has spark .

Jumpered FP and +B and heard fuel run trough the regulator. When I checked spark I pulled plug #1 and had it grounded against the exhaust manifold. When I cranked it, I smelled fuel in the #1 cylinder. I'm not convinced the 14 is 100% legit. I found the igniter was unplugged when I started fighting with it initially. Didn't clear the codes before it was dark. With the battery charged we'll see if that code clears this afternoon/evening when I get a chance to mess with it again.
 

blkt72

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Aug 14, 2005
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Got it figured out, once I set it at TDC and pulled the top timing cover off:

p567277_1.jpg


Anyone see a problem? LOL! The code was phantom, timed it right and it purrs like a kitten. The timing belt was loose and the cams slipped every time it cranked.

Thanks for everyone's help!

-Nick
 

jetjock

creepy-ass cracka
Jul 11, 2005
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Redacted per Title 18 USC Section 798
Good job. The code 14 was from your CPS not being driven properly. "Phantom" or not (it's a computer you know) as long as the ECU sets a code 14 there can't be injection. The fuel you smelled was because injection isn't halted right away. It takes several missing IGf pulses before the injectors are shut down.