Car turns over real easy, have been thinking the timing is off. When I line up the crank mark and the cam mark at tdc, the distributor button sits on #2. How do I get it to line up on #1 or does it matter? At any rate the car will not start. I am gettting fuel and a spark at the #1 plug. Are there any other timing things that I should be looking at?
I don't have the repair manuals here at my house I will upload diagrams in the morning showing the timing marks. Did it die suddenly or has it been sitting a while?
Danny
It died suddenly and sat for about 3 months before I decided to get it back on the road. The timing belt didn't break or anything, I drove it to work and that afternoon had to have it towed because it wouldn't start. I initially thought it was the starter, thinking it did not engage because of how fast it was turning.
Wait so the engine cranks abnormally fast? The timing belts don't actually break they just strip teeth off, it sounds like the belt skipped when you cranked the engine over I'd run a compression test. It might not have damaged anything yet but could be off enough to cause a lack of compression.
No teeth are missing, I looked at the belt and the car is in time currently. But still little compression as it turns over. Does the rotor button need to line up at #1 when everything in at tdc?
Yes definitely it should be pointing at #1, all cars are like that. If it isn't that means it isn't in time. If you're lacking compression and the rotor doesn't lineup then I think your camshafts are out of time.
To clarify the distributor is driven by the camshaft which has the timing belt attached to it. So if it isn't pointing at the right plug wire then the camshaft isn't in time.
How does the cam get out of time if it and the distributor are on the same rotation? If I set the cam to tdc why wouldn't the distributor be at #1? That is what I have been struggling with. I understand that if it is out of time I will not have compression nor will the car start.
I've seen camshafts lockup and the cam gear shears the woodruff key off the camshaft before.
Basically I'm pretty sure you aren't setting the cam gear isn't in the right position. Setting a 16v at TDC isn't the same as most motors. Here's some pictures from the factory manual.
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v374/mechsoldier/16vtiming.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v374/mechsoldier/th_16vtiming.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>
This post contains the solution to the original quesiton, '1991 GTI 16V that will not start. Turns really easy, how do I know if the timing is off?'
Are you interested in this topic? You can view this answer for $3
Register now with Best Web Mechanic! It's free!