Won't start now...NEED HELP!

[1994MTX]

Recent Work:
-3 weeks ago, muffler blew, so i cut both off where they were welded

-car started missing occasionally 3-4 days ago

-found the belts were both worn literally in half

-swapped belts yesterday and started it up, i got misfires/backfires all the way home

-got home, shut off ignition, sat for 15 minutes, checked under the hood and found the one-wire clip on top of the alternater was almost disconnected (plastic clip holding in place is cracked)

-I reconnected clip and started engine, it idled fine, ran strong for about 3 miles then started missing again. Checked alt. everything connected.

-got home and it was idling between 500-800 rpm when it wasn't stalling, disconnected idle control and engine stalled followed by release of pressure (fuel?)

-when i gave throttle it would miss and backfire like crazy and not go any higher than 2500-3000 rpm

-today it'll turn over but no start
-never had CE light

 

[Bizzy]

What belts? If timing belt, I'd say check the install of that one first.

 

[1994MTX]

I changed the accessory belts.

also noticed fuel smell, if the purge valve is bad what kind of problems would that cause?

 

[1994MTX]

along those same lines, i had a new clutch put in back in january, when i got the car back the cruise wouldn't work.
a friend of mine said it could be a vacuum problem, can that gradually get worse to the point it would cause this new set of problems?

 

[Bizzy]

1994MTX:
I changed the accessory belts.

also noticed fuel smell, if the purge valve is bad what kind of problems would that cause?

Fuel smell can be cause by the purge valve or the canister. If the canister goes bad or the valve stays open it can add to your emissions, but I think it's an annoyance more than anything else.

 

[1994MTX]

Thanks

I've been doing some homework with the past postings here, and have read a lot about CPS sensors
what exactly are they responsible for, and could that be causing my problems?

 

[Bizzy]

1994MTX:
Thanks

I've been doing some homework with the past postings here, and have read a lot about CPS sensors
what exactly are they responsible for, and could that be causing my problems?

If your CPS is bad you're car will crank, but you won't have fire to the plugs. In other words, it won't start.

 

[BeatDaSHO]

first off. check your plug wells for oil. this can cause misfires a lot. next step would be to reset your idle. do a search on this forum for the correct idle procedure. SDPatt usually lists it. the cps will usually throw a code. check your codes with a paper clip. you can find the procedure on www.shotimes.com. a failing cps will register a 0 on the tach when you try and crank it.

Greg