Engine Timing Trouble

anna808

Heres the full rundown. I was in a rush when I typed the first post. I made sure my crank shaft, cam shaft and distributer was all TDC and lined up to #1. Changed the timing belt and turned 2 full rotations (all was still lined up) then tried starting, it took a while and a lot of advancing and retarding on the distributer to get started but it ran rough and had no power. So I parked it for the night. When I went out to work the next day it wouldn't start. so I re checked EVERYTHING. It still wont start. I also changed oil, oil filter, air filter, plugs, wires, cap and rotor. It's been 3 days and I can't figure it out. But now it doesn't want to turn over. like it's sticking and won't make a full rotation. and yes the battery is on a charger so it won't die while trying to start. Please help???

anna808

And I have double and triple checked my work. even been using online book specs. Everything should be fine. But it's not

thecardoc3

So this is a 2.3l the same as a Ranger, correct? At least its a non interference engine so you don't have to worry about the valves colliding with the pistons if the timing belt is incorrect. The fact that it won't crank over correctly has me wondering if it is actually firing with the spark timing is over advanced.

Your going to need a helper for this. Remove the coil connector to shut spark down. Remove the #1 spark plug. Have your helper just bump the starter while you feel for compression in that cylinder with your finger. With the cylinder coming up under compression it will push your finger away from the spark plug hole. This way you'll be on the correct stroke of the engine. Now turn the crankshaft by hand the rest of the way to (TDC) top dead center. Next pull the distributor cap off and see if the rotor is pointing at the terminal for where the #1 plug wire is connected to or not. If it is not right at it, then the spark timing is incorrect. The distributor is driven by that third gear that the timing belt drives. Your choice will be to pull and reset the distributor and just leave the idle shaft where it is, or pull the belt back off and reset everything. At this point its not out of the question to consider that maybe someone else had this apart in the past and got it wrong and just moved the distributor to make it work and set a trap for you.