No clue where to start this off, so let's just get into it. I've got two fox body mustangs, a 90 GT and a 91 LX. The GT was factory original when I bought it last year; and this winter I decided to tear it down and give it more power. I'm not new to this sort of thing, and I've done several mustangs in the past few years.
My issue is this, I can't get the car to start/run. When I initially got the motor back together with all of the new parts, it wouldn't start at all. I assumed that I had the distributor 180 out, or that one of the components that I bought was just defective out of the box. It wouldn't be the first time that something like this had happened to me. I pulled the distributor (MSD pro billet, brand new) and replaced it with the stock distributor that was previously in the car; and it started right up. Ran without any issue, so I naturally assumed that the MSD distributor was defective and sent it back for a replacement. I drove the car for around 30 miles with the stock distributor and had no issues what-so-ever.
When I installed a second new distributor from MSD however, the no-start condition returned. It just cranks without firing up. Nothing was changed, I literally drove the car into the garage, pulled the distributor and dropped the new one in; and it will not start. So my initial reaction was "ok another defective distributor, the odds are low but fine stranger things have happened". So I pulled the distributor and put the stock one back in; expecting the car to start back up...Only it didn't.
So I decided to see if the new distributor was good, I put it into my 91 LX. It started right up with the new MSD distributor. Ok, so this distributor is good, what about the stock one I was using before? I put that into the 91 LX, and it also started the car fine. Both distributors are confirmed good, as they operate my 91 LX without any problems. Considering that I'm able to put 3 distributors into my LX and have them all work on the first try, I think it's safe to say that I'm not installing them 180 out in the GT.
Now I've been working on this issue for the last few weeks, following no-start check lists and re-tracing my steps double checking things and eliminating potential sources for the problem, but I'm running out of tests and check-lists at this point.
As I said, the car was factory original in stock form when I started working on it. Nothing was missing, all of the accessories are still there. I didn't remove anything, (AC, EGR, smog etc). It remains as it was in regards to that. I take my hobby seriously, and I have an appreciation for my vehicles that most people wouldn't understand. I didn't take any shortcuts when I assembled the motor; and I was very careful at every step of the way to keep from damaging anything; especially wiring harnesses etc.
Below are some noteworthy components that I've upgraded.
Factory 302 block
Comp stage 3 cam
AFR 165 heads
1.7 rockers
Cobra intake (ported by tmoss)
Adjustable fuel regulator
70mm throttle body
Walbro 190 fuel pump
As I previously stated, I've done numerous no-start check lists, but here are some of the things that I've tested or ruled out thus far (as far as I know anyway).
-I checked each cylinder for compression. The motor is averaging 165 on all cylinders, with none being below 160.
-I checked the brand new coil for voltage, it tested normal. (I even tried pulling the coil and putting the old one in; with no change.)
-I checked for spark with nothing out of the ordinary.
-I tried starting the car by spraying starter fluid into the throttle body, nothing.
-I checked to see if the car was getting fuel, it is. (Even though starter fluid should rule out fuel related issues)
-I checked for injector pulse with a noid light, the engine is getting pulse.
-I replaced the ignition switch, so it's brand new. Problem persists.
-I removed the car's computer and put it into my 91 LX; and the computer fired the LX right up. So the computer cannot be bad as it runs my other mustang without any issue.
-I swapped the fuel relay with the relay from my 91 LX to no effect.
-I tested the number 4 wire on the TFI harness (it has 12 volts with key on so the computer is sending signal correctly)
-I tested the number 6 pin on the TFI harness (it has 12 volts, so it has solid ground)
I've checked and re-checked most of these things several times by now. I'm not a master mechanic by trade, but I've done major engine work on 4 mustangs in the last 2 years and they've all come out with very positive results. The only other things I can think of mentioning are that after I finished the compression test, I thought what the hell let's see if it starts. I turned the key, and the damn thing actually started. However, after about 30 seconds I turned it off and tried to start it again to see if it would; only it didn't. It randomly just decided to start seemingly one time, and then back to nothing but cranking.
At this point the only thing I have left on my mind as a culprit would be a wiring issue that I haven't found, or the factory ford alarm that is still on the car is preventing the motor from firing. I don't know much about the alarm system, as it was an option that not many people paid for so my research hasn't turned up much yet; so I'm not sure if it's wise to start cutting into it.
Any help that anyone here can provide would be greatly appreciated.
My issue is this, I can't get the car to start/run. When I initially got the motor back together with all of the new parts, it wouldn't start at all. I assumed that I had the distributor 180 out, or that one of the components that I bought was just defective out of the box. It wouldn't be the first time that something like this had happened to me. I pulled the distributor (MSD pro billet, brand new) and replaced it with the stock distributor that was previously in the car; and it started right up. Ran without any issue, so I naturally assumed that the MSD distributor was defective and sent it back for a replacement. I drove the car for around 30 miles with the stock distributor and had no issues what-so-ever.
When I installed a second new distributor from MSD however, the no-start condition returned. It just cranks without firing up. Nothing was changed, I literally drove the car into the garage, pulled the distributor and dropped the new one in; and it will not start. So my initial reaction was "ok another defective distributor, the odds are low but fine stranger things have happened". So I pulled the distributor and put the stock one back in; expecting the car to start back up...Only it didn't.
So I decided to see if the new distributor was good, I put it into my 91 LX. It started right up with the new MSD distributor. Ok, so this distributor is good, what about the stock one I was using before? I put that into the 91 LX, and it also started the car fine. Both distributors are confirmed good, as they operate my 91 LX without any problems. Considering that I'm able to put 3 distributors into my LX and have them all work on the first try, I think it's safe to say that I'm not installing them 180 out in the GT.
Now I've been working on this issue for the last few weeks, following no-start check lists and re-tracing my steps double checking things and eliminating potential sources for the problem, but I'm running out of tests and check-lists at this point.
As I said, the car was factory original in stock form when I started working on it. Nothing was missing, all of the accessories are still there. I didn't remove anything, (AC, EGR, smog etc). It remains as it was in regards to that. I take my hobby seriously, and I have an appreciation for my vehicles that most people wouldn't understand. I didn't take any shortcuts when I assembled the motor; and I was very careful at every step of the way to keep from damaging anything; especially wiring harnesses etc.
Below are some noteworthy components that I've upgraded.
Factory 302 block
Comp stage 3 cam
AFR 165 heads
1.7 rockers
Cobra intake (ported by tmoss)
Adjustable fuel regulator
70mm throttle body
Walbro 190 fuel pump
As I previously stated, I've done numerous no-start check lists, but here are some of the things that I've tested or ruled out thus far (as far as I know anyway).
-I checked each cylinder for compression. The motor is averaging 165 on all cylinders, with none being below 160.
-I checked the brand new coil for voltage, it tested normal. (I even tried pulling the coil and putting the old one in; with no change.)
-I checked for spark with nothing out of the ordinary.
-I tried starting the car by spraying starter fluid into the throttle body, nothing.
-I checked to see if the car was getting fuel, it is. (Even though starter fluid should rule out fuel related issues)
-I checked for injector pulse with a noid light, the engine is getting pulse.
-I replaced the ignition switch, so it's brand new. Problem persists.
-I removed the car's computer and put it into my 91 LX; and the computer fired the LX right up. So the computer cannot be bad as it runs my other mustang without any issue.
-I swapped the fuel relay with the relay from my 91 LX to no effect.
-I tested the number 4 wire on the TFI harness (it has 12 volts with key on so the computer is sending signal correctly)
-I tested the number 6 pin on the TFI harness (it has 12 volts, so it has solid ground)
I've checked and re-checked most of these things several times by now. I'm not a master mechanic by trade, but I've done major engine work on 4 mustangs in the last 2 years and they've all come out with very positive results. The only other things I can think of mentioning are that after I finished the compression test, I thought what the hell let's see if it starts. I turned the key, and the damn thing actually started. However, after about 30 seconds I turned it off and tried to start it again to see if it would; only it didn't. It randomly just decided to start seemingly one time, and then back to nothing but cranking.
At this point the only thing I have left on my mind as a culprit would be a wiring issue that I haven't found, or the factory ford alarm that is still on the car is preventing the motor from firing. I don't know much about the alarm system, as it was an option that not many people paid for so my research hasn't turned up much yet; so I'm not sure if it's wise to start cutting into it.
Any help that anyone here can provide would be greatly appreciated.