Car cranks, but won't start

[vienster]

First of all, the car ran before I, replaced the valve cover gaskets, plug well gaskets, plugs and wires, and the right timing chain tensioner.I finally put everything back together,after dropping the oil pan twice to get cam gear bolts that I dropped. When I go to start I can hear the fuel pump prime, it's getting spark. I even put another set of new sparks in it after cranking, because I thought they were fouled. Every once in a while when i'm cranking I hear a burp that's about it coming out of the exhaust. I know I have the correct firing order, and everything is connected back up. PLEASE HELP

 

[stevetatro]

You say you're SURE you got everything connected properly, but double-check again. This is almost always the cause for no-starts after doing any top-end work.

Did you check your timing belt to make sure it's lined up properly? If you do a search for posts by SDPATT on this subject you'll find numerous posts illustrating and describing exactly how to do this.

Good luck.

 

[vienster]

Why should I check the timing belt, if I didn't don anything to screw up the timing, it ran before I took it apart.

 

[Jake Korinek]

check the wiring harness that runs behind the pulleys, its for the CPS. Mine rubbed on the pulleys and shorted itself out. the car would crank and crank and crank but nothing happend. it had fuel and it had spark.

 

[Doug Waschenko]

There are generally two reasons why an engine won't start if it turns over.
1) is no spark at the plugs
2) is no fuel in the combustion chamber

You must be certain which problem this is first.