[Whitestang88]

my car wont start now,when i took out the distributer i marked it and took it out, but when i put it back in i completely forgot and put it in a different spot..and i tried to turn it over a couple times and obviously it wont start,,my question is how do i set it back to where it was or to base timing? i have no timing light... i appreciate any help thank you!

[fogged306]

Number one cylinder needs to be at TDC on the compression stroke (should line up with the 0 mark on your balancer, but double check because balancers can spin) then drop the dizzy with the rotor pointing at or just before the number 1 cylinder on the cap. Should get you on the right tooth at least and then you can adjust advance from there.

[Whitestang88]

thank you thats exactly what i needed to hear

[Whitestang88]

ook so the only mark i could see on the balancer (seeing without the light) is a white line otheer then some marks in it,so i cranked till it faced cylinder 1 and placed the rotor on cylinder one on the top of the cap and still no luck its cranking just sounds like its mis firing ...

[69fastback]

Originally Posted by Whitestang88 ook so the only mark i could see on the balancer (seeing without the light) is a white line otheer then some marks in it,so i cranked till it faced cylinder 1 and placed the rotor on cylinder one on the top of the cap and still no luck its cranking just sounds like its mis firing ...

Are you sure it's on the compression stroke? sounds like its 180 out.

pull the #1 plug, stick your finger over the hole, and turn the engine until it blows air out. Then line up your timing marks for TDC, and restab.

[ryanw]

Clean your balancer, then do what fogged and 69fastback said. But regardless, you need a timming light. When when you set the timming, take some white out and mark 10 degrees btdc, thatmakes it easier to see with the light, make sure you pull the spout connector, when your setting it.

[ALEXLOPEZ62188]

Originally Posted by 69fastback pull the #1 plug, stick your finger over the hole, and turn the engine until it blows air out. Then line up your timing marks for TDC, and restab.

+1
This is the easiest way IMO.

[Whitestang88]

Ok so i pulled sparkplug#1, put my finger on thehole,manually cranked the engine till air was hissing from under my finger ,kept it there then pulled the distributer and put it back in ensuring the rotor is facing #1plug on the cap....no luck the car still cranks but doesnt start...tfi module???i never disconnected the spout connector during the whole thing..

[ryanw]

Do what you just did....turn the crank until you feel air pushing out... then stop......look at the balancer.......i doubt at this point its on zero, so keep turning until it hits zero, which you shouldnt have turn it much more. Once its on zero drop the dizzy in, making sure its pointed at cylinder #1.

You dont have to pull the spout connector until your ready to start the car up, and set it with a timming light

Also double check to make sure you know which one is #1 on the dizzy.

Once you have it all droped in correct, it may not start right up... you may have to turn it a quarter inch at a time while some one else cranks it over, once it starts, your in the ball park, at that point, with engine off pull the spout connector, start her up and set the timming with the light. When your done turn her off nd put the spout back in

[Whitestang88]

Ill try that in themorning thank u fogged ill let u know how it goes?)!!i wanna hear my baby PUrr again lol

[69fastback]

Pointing it at #1 is the most common procedure. I don't want to confuse you, but if that's not how it was installed before, that could be the problem.

Do like mentioned before, and and get the air blowing out, and then make sure your timing marks are lined up at 0* (TDC). When you stab your distributor, technically the bug can be pointing any direction, but most people point it at #1. Go ahead and point it at #1, but make sure that you're #1 plug wire is plugging into the post, directly over the bug. Then double check to make sure you're using the correct firing order, and go counterclockwise around the distributor cap.

I hope that isn't confusing, but you're rotor bug can be pointing the complete opposite direction when you stab the distributor, and as long as you put the #1 plug wire over it, and start the firing order from there, it will work.

It can be hard to tell if you're just one tooth off at times, so if you get it together, and it acts like it wants to run, but won't, just move all the plug wires over 1 spot and see if anything changes.

[fogged306]

Originally Posted by 69fastback Pointing it at #1 is the most common procedure. I don't want to confuse you, but if that's not how it was installed before, that could be the problem. Do like mentioned before, and and get the air blowing out, and then make sure your timing marks are lined up at 0* (TDC). When you stab your distributor, technically the bug can be pointing any direction, but most people point it at #1. Go ahead and point it at #1, but make sure that you're #1 plug wire is plugging into the post, directly over the bug. Then double check to make sure you're using the correct firing order, and go counterclockwise around the distributor cap. I hope that isn't confusing, but you're rotor bug can be pointing the complete opposite direction when you stab the distributor, and as long as you put the #1 plug wire over it, and start the firing order from there, it will work. It can be hard to tell if you're just one tooth off at times, so if you get it together, and it acts like it wants to run, but won't, just move all the plug wires over 1 spot and see if anything changes.

It's different with these EFI cars though because of the position of the reluctor wheel. If you don't put the rotor at the number one spot on the cap, the reluctor wheel won't be lined up with the pip and the ignition and injector timing will be off. Will still probably run that way though, but injector timing wont be right and you'll be getting fuel into the cylinders with less atomization.

[69fastback]

Originally Posted by fogged306 It's different with these EFI cars though because of the position of the reluctor wheel. If you don't put the rotor at the number one spot on the cap, the reluctor wheel won't be lined up with the pip and the ignition and injector timing will be off. Will still probably run that way though, but injector timing wont be right and you'll be getting fuel into the cylinders with less atomization.

Yeah good catch. Sorry. I forget about all of your efi junk

[86_Notch]

I might have overlooked where this was posted and might sound stupid but when you put the distributor in make sure the cap is off.

[Whitestang88]

ok guys,so i tried feeling the compression from plug #1 and setting the balancer at 0* then pointing the rotor to #1 on the cap and no luck...i tried with the screwdriver technique also where u put it in and turn the crank till it sinks and then backing off till its at its peak eetc...nothings working..but everytime i try it cranks differently wether slower or faster,anyone have any ideas??again i dont have a timing light and dont wanna order one online either i just need to get it to start!!!!thank you!

[69fastback]

After you stabbed the ditricpbutor, did you twist it any to change the timing while you were trying to start it?

[FastStang91Lx]

Order online??? You don't ever leave the house?

[Whitestang88]

no i was ddoing everything myself so i couldnt turn while cranking:p and i do leave my house..just dont konow anywhere that has them here i never bought one before

[fogged306]

If you're doing this alone, how are you feeling for compression on the spark plug hole while cranking? Do you have a pushbutton switch hooked up to the solenoid?

If you are changing the position of the distributor and the cranking slows down, it's because you're too far advanced. you are igniting the fuel on the compression stroke and it's stalling the starter.

That screwdriver trick can get you close, but isn't 100% accurate. The piston dwells at TDC for a few degrees so you may it may not be actually at TDC with that method. You want to find true TDC on the compression stroke, you have to use your finger on the spark plug hole while someone cranks the starter over. When it blows your finger off, put a piston stop in the spark plug hole and manually rotate the engine with a breaker bar on the crank bolt until the piston comes up and hits the stop. Mark your balancer where the timing pointer is pointed. Then rotate the crank backwards until the piston comes back around an hits the stop again. Mark that point on your balancer where the timing pointer is. Exactly halfway between those two marks is true TDC for the number 1 cylinder. ( you have to do this on the number one cylinder which is the passenger front cylinder) ... Do the finger on the spark plug trick again and when you feel it blow your finger off this time, hand turn the crank until you have the pointer aimed at that TDC mark you made. Then drop the distributor so the rotor ends up pointing at the number 1 spark plug wire on the cap.

You want your TFI facing about 45* away from the front of the car basically angled at the drivers headlight. I don't have a good pic of a TFI , but this is mine. I have mine set to 10* because I change my timing curve through my tuner, but this is the general area you want the TFI to be facing.

[Whitestang88]

i was manually cranking the engine with the crank bolt while my other hand was on the hole:p i will try what u just explained it sounds like u got alot of experience under ur belt, all i need to know now is where to get a piston stop from:s only places here are CAPS auto BENSON auto and like canadian tire and princess auto thats pretty much it i dont think theyd have one :s thank you