not starting?????

billison

I like tinted tail
15 Year Member
Feb 27, 2006
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ok, had to redo the fuel lines, and i also just did a timing chain cover swap, anyway, now it don't want to start, it started for like 5 seconds but sounded like a lawn mower, i can tell it was'nt hitting on all 8, i losened the dizzy and i had to stop cuz the batt died so i'm gonna wait for the wife so she can turn it over while i move the dizzy , what eles can i do, it has gas and spark???
 
rechecked the fuel line and it's fine, it gets gas, how do i get the timing right with it not started?, help????? anyone, the battery is on the charger and my solinoid is dieing
 
I can't let you keep talkin to yourself. :p

You'd check the timing while it cranks - just like you do when timing an engine that's idling. Dont forget to compensate for the SPOUT connector.

A likely issue: could the dizzy have been stabbed 180* out of phase? It would run just about like how yours is.

Otherwise, I'd double/triple check the firing order again (be sure it's HO).


Good luck.
 
how do i make sure the dizzy is in the right spot? if it's any help, befor i moved the dizzy when i would start the car, it whould back fire out the intake, it so weird, it started yesterday..........................

i'll keep this thread alive forever.......
 
Check to verify that it is indeed an HO engine. Remove the #1 & #3 spark plugs. Put your finger in #1 spark plug hole. Crank the engine over until you feel compression on #1 cylinder. Slowly turn the engine until the TDC mark and the timing pointer line up. Mark TDC on the balancer with chalk or paint. Put your finger in #3 spark plug hole and crank the engine 90 degrees. You should feel pressure trying to blow past your finger. If you do not feel pressure, repeat the process again. If you feel pressure, it is a HO engine.

No pressure the second time, remove spark plug #5. Put your finger in #1 spark plug hole. Crank the engine over until you feel compression on #1 cylinder. Put your finger in #5 spark plug hole and crank the engine 90 degrees. If you feel pressure now, the engine is not a HO model, no matter what it says on the engine.

Using a small carpenter or machinist square to mark the harmonic balancer off into 90 degree sections may be helpful here.

A 15/16 deep socket & breaker bar or ratchet may be used to turn the engine.

The HO firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8.
Non HO firing order is 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8

Cranks OK, but No Start Checklist for Fuel Injected Mustangs

Revised 21-June-2006 to include 94-95 specific information
All text applies to all models unless stated otherwise.

Note: 94-95 specific changes are in red

1.) Remove push on connector from starter solenoid and turn ignition switch on. Place car in neutral or Park and set the parking brake. Remove the coil wire from distributor & and hold it 3/8” away from the engine block. Jumper the screw to the big bolt on the starter solenoid that has the battery wire connected to it. You should get a nice fat blue spark.
Most of the items are electrical in nature, so a test light, or even better, a voltmeter, is helpful to be sure they have power to them.
No spark, possible failed items in order of their probability:
A.) MSD or Crane ignition box if so equipped
B.) Coil
C.) TFI module
D.) PIP sensor in distributor
E.) No ECC or computer power - ECC or computer relay failure
86-93 models only: ECC relay next to computer - look for 12 volts at the fuel injector red wires
94-95 models only: EEC or PCM power relay in the constant control relay module. Look for 12 volts at the fuel injector red wires.
F.) No ECC or computer power - fuse or fuse link failure
86-93 models only: Fuse links in wiring harness - look for 12 volts at the fuel injector red wires. All the fuse links live in a bundle up near the starter solenoid.
94-95 models only: 20 amp EEC fuse in the engine compartment fuse box. Look for 12 volts at the fuel injector red wires.
G.) Ignition switch - look for 12 volts at the ignition coil red/lt green wire.
H.) Computer

See the following links for wiring diagrams...

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiB..._us/0900823d/80/16/71/3c/0900823d8016713c.jsp for 79-88 model cars
Computer/fuel pump/ignition wiring diagram, 86 model http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/large/0900823d80167158.gif
Computer/fuel pump/ignition wiring diagram, 87 model http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/large/0900823d8016715e.gif
Computer/fuel pump/ignition wiring diagram, 88 model http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/large/0900823d80167162.gif

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiB..._us/0900823d/80/19/59/5a/0900823d8019595a.jsp for 89-93 model cars
Computer/fuel pump/ignition wiring diagram, 89-90 cars http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/large/0900823d8019595f.gif
Computer/fuel pump/ignition wiring diagram, 91-93 cars
http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/large/0900823d80195960.gif

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/1d/db/3c/0900823d801ddb3c.jsp for 94-98 model cars

2.) Spark at coil wire, pull #1 plug wire off at the spark plug and check to see spark. No spark, possible failed items in order of their probability:
A.) Moisture inside distributor – remove cap, dry off & spray with WD40
B.) Distributor cap
C.) Rotor
D.) Spark Plug wires
E.) Coil weak or intermittent - you should see 3/8" fat blue spark with a good coil

3.) Spark at spark plug, but no start.
Next, get a can of starting fluid (ether) from your local auto parts store: costs a $1.30 or so. Then pull the air duct off at the throttle body elbow, open the throttle, and spray the ether in it. Reconnect the air duct and try to start the car. Do not try to start the car without reconnecting the air duct.
Two reasons:
1.) If it backfires, the chance for a serious fire is increased.
2.) On Mass Air cars, the computer needs to measure the MAF flow once the engine starts.
If it starts then, you have a fuel management issue. Continue the checklist with emphasis of fuel related items that follow. If it doesn’t, then it is a computer or timing issue: see Step 4.

Clue – listen for the fuel pump to prime when you first turn the ignition switch on. It should run for 5-20 seconds and shut off. To trick the fuel pump into running, find the ECC test connector and jump the connector in the Upper RH corner to ground.
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If the relay & inertia switch are OK, you will have power to the pump. Check fuel pressure – remove the cap from the schrader valve behind the alternator and depress the core. Fuel should squirt out, catch it in a rag. Beware of fire hazard when you do this. In pinch you can use a tire pressure gauge to measure the fuel pressure. It may not be completely accurate, but you will have some clue as to how much pressure you have.

No fuel pressure, possible failed items in order of their probability:
A.) Tripped inertia switch – Coupe & hatch cars hide it under the plastic trim covering the driver's side taillight. Use the voltmeter or test light to make sure you have power to both sides of the switch
B.) Fuel pump power relay – located under the driver’s seat in most stangs built before 92. On 92 and later model cars it is located below the Mass Air Flow meter. Look for 12 volts at the Pink/Black wire on the fuel pump relay.
C.) Clogged fuel filter
D.) Failed fuel pump
E.) 86-93 models only: Blown fuse link in wiring harness. Look for 12 volts at the Orange/Lt Blue wire on the fuel pump relay. The fuse links live in the wiring harness near the starter solenoid.
94-95 models only: 20 amp fuel pump fuse in the engine compartment fuse box. Look for 12 volts at the Dark green/yellow wire on the constant control relay module.
F.) Fuel pressure regulator failed. Remove the vacuum line from the regulator and inspect for fuel escaping while the pump is running.

Fuel pressure OK, the injectors are not firing.

A.) A Noid light available from Autozone, is one way to test the injector wiring.
B.) I like to use an old injector with compressed air applied to the injector where the fuel rail would normally connect. I hook the whole thing up, apply compressed air to the injector and stick it in a paper cup of soapy water. When the engine cranks with the ignition switch on, if the injector fires, it makes bubbles. Cheap if you have the stuff laying around, and works good too.

a.) Pull an injector wire connector off and look for 12 volts on the red wire when the ignition switch is on.
b.) No power, then look for problems with the 10 pin connecter (salt & pepper shakers at the rear of the upper manifold).
c.) No power and the 10 pin connections are good: look for broken wiring between the orange/black wire on the ECC relay and the red wire for the 10 pin connectors.


4.) Spark & fuel pressure OK.

A.) Failed IAB (no airflow to start engine). Press the throttle ¼ way down and try to start the car.
B.) Failed computer (not very likely)
C.) Engine ignition or cam timing off: only likely if the engine has been worked on recently).
D.) Firing order off: HO & 351 use a different firing order from the non HO engines.
HO & 351W 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Non HO 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
E.) No start when hot - Press the throttle to the floor & try starting it if you get this far. If it starts, replace the ECT.
 
billison said:
if this helps, i used starting fluid and no help
That usually means that the spark is too weak to start the engine. Or the ignition timing is way off. Go back to the no spark part of the checklist and work from there.
 
it seams like i got a pritty good spark, and it tries to start and then does not, the more i turn the dizzy clockwise the more it tries, how do i make sure the dizzy is in the right spot, don't i check to see if #1 is at tdc on compression and check to see if the bug is facing #1?
 
Fig. 6: 5.0L HO (302 cu. in.) Engine. Engine Firing Order: 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8. Distributor Rotation: Counterclockwise


this is my order, just checked it

could i have at some point changed the fireing order to a ho and it just now not work? could that be? this sucks
 
ok last thing befor i go to bed for the night, the car was running, so it should not be off timing, unless somehow it jumped timing, the last thing i did befor it ran was i replaced the return line on the car, it leaked, and then i redid the hose going from the fuel tank threw the filter to the car, it gets gas, that's why used the starting fluid, it almost started but notta, what should i check in the fuel, or should i keep checking for spark, or do i need to check the timing, do i need to pull the timing chain cover back off to check the chain, how do i tell is the dizzy is in the right spot, help??????????????? the car has nver not started
 
ok, what the heck, i was going to change the fuel filter so i when to the car to get something and tried it start it and the solienoid final died, no biggie, key on, jump the solienoid and it fires right up, now it runs ruff but it runs and i gotta rechange the waterpump cuz its leaking, so im lost , would NOT run yesterday with starter fluid or anything, did nothing today and it fires right up no prob
 
nope, just changed the timing cover gasket, and then the return fuel line, then it did'nt start for 2 days and now it runs, but ruff, and it kinda shakes, i thought it would shake cuz the rear pass tire is off and its on a stand. also noted the hose coming out of the pass valve cover has smoke coming out, and for about a 1 min it came out of the oil dip stick, maybe cuz a little water got in the oil during the change, on friday i'm going to change the fuel filter,the oil, the plugs and wires and see where i am after that, in case i did not say, it's a 85 auto, cfi, once i get the parts it'll be swaped to a 4bbl setup