No start after valve cover job

[EZ56]

I spent the last 2 days replacing VC gaskets, plugs and wires. i did everything according to the SHO phoenix project website, and double/triple checked to make sure everything was plugged in when I was finished. I went to start her up and she just cranks but doesn't start. I'm beyond frustrated at this point, and have no idea where to start. Any thoughts?

 

[91PDXmocha]

Go back and re-check the ground going to the rear passenger side of the intake. Both plugs going into the DIS module . All the wires going off the + battery terminal . Coilpack plug .

Verify no spark by pulling a wire and seeing if it will arc with someone cranking it over.

Is the fuel pump priming ?

 

[EZ56]

The fuel pump primes, DIS plugged in , coil pack plugged in, all battery cables plugged in. I pulled wire #4 while someone cranked and got nothing. It sounded kind of weird cranking. I'm gonna double check to make sure I put the wires going to the correct cylinder tomorrow. On the rear passenger side I couldn't get the intake bracket to line up correctly, so i put the 19mmbolt in, attached the ground strap then bolted the 12mm bolt to secure it, not sure if that could cause a problem?

 

[zblackbeast]

Put and extra wire going from one of the DIS module bolts to a body ground.. It could not be grounding correctly.

 

[TwistedMunky]

Just wondering. You know the mass airflow sensor and the coil pack has the same connection. Another member switched the two on accident. Just an idea.

 

[hawkeye18]

90% of the time, a no-start-after-top-end-work condition is caused by not grounding correctly. Either the intake-to-firewall ground, or the EEC-to-battery ground. Make sure the ground wire going to the battery is intact and well connected. Did you tighten all the bolts for the crossover tube? The DIS grounds through it, so tight connections are paramount. Especially the bottom two bolts on the DIS itself.

The other 10% of the time, a battery terminal got broken. I don't think this is what your problem is.

 

[EZ56]

All bolts and everything are tightened, and the ground strap is securely on the back of the manifold. I noticed that i mixed up a couple plug wires to the coilpack, fixed that and still no result. i did however notice a smell of fuel after trying to start this time. Heres a vid of what it sounds like if it helps:

http://s447.photobucket.com/albums/qq197/ejh5069/?action=view&current=VID_20110616_164741.mp4

 

[kevinspann]

Did you do any cleaning of the intake?

Hold the throttle open and try to start it.

 

[EZ56]

I cleaned the intake with that berryman b-12 stuff. I've tried holding the pedal down with no result

 

[SHOspazz92]

I still think it's a Ignition issue. Double check that all the bolts and brackets on the crossover tube are nice and tight. Then, make sure all 4 bolts on the DIS are also in there good.

-Sam

 

[sperold]

If you had oil in the plug wells, it takes awhile for it to start as the oil ends up in the cylinders.
My 90 wouldn't start until I really cranked in the bolt in that knot of wires on the passenger side firewall that has a plastic cover over it (the grounds).

 

[EZ56]

Well, good news. I double checked all connections, grounds, etc and all were good. I cranked her a couple times, tested it to make sure it was getting fuel, cranked her again and she started. She ran like crap with a misfire, so I re-ran the plug wires and boom she started up and ran normal. I'm still clueless as to what the **** caused this. Too much fuel or air in the fuel lines? Some oil definitely fell into the cylinders but I don't think a few drops would cause something this drastic. Either way i appreciate the help from everyone

 

[hawkeye18]

You used the Chilton's manual to run the spark plug wires, didn't you.

The chilton's is wrong. Yes, I know, how could it get it wrong, but note that it also instructs you to replace your supercharger oil at 12,000 miles!

Obviously you have the correct order now, but for future reference the correct order is (from the front of the car) -

On the engine:

1 2 3
6 5 4

On the coil pack:

6 1
4 2
5 3

Note that 4 and 5 are reversed on the coil pack. That is the correct order.

Glad you got your car running. They are temperamental a lot.

 

[EZ56]

To be honest, I didn't use chilton's. However, i did mix cylinders 4 and 5 because I most likely wasn't paying attention when running the wires originally. She runs better than she ever did though

 

[SHOspazz92]

I'm glad it worked out for you. I imagine it was a huge relief when it actually started and ran properly. I've been there a few times myself.

-Sam

 

[sperold]

Having the wires mis-matched didn't help, but it was probably the oil that kept it from starting. In my case, it took some time to get it to start, then it ran awful when it did start...... and that is with the plug wires routed correctly.
It rolled over a long time with the throttle fully open, with the throttle closed, it would have taken even longer.

 

[dohcsable]

To be honest, I didn't use chilton's. However, i did mix cylinders 4 and 5 because I most likely wasn't paying attention when running the wires originally. She runs better than she ever did though

I learned always do wires one at a time after a mixup similar to yours.....