1990 Truck Turns Over but Won't Start
06-30-2008, 01:49 PM
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1990 Truck Turns Over but Won't Start
This is dealing with a 1990 4wd 4cyl 22-RE.
I replaced my timing chain guides a couple weeks ago, but once I got every thing all buttoned back up, I ran into trouble dialing in the proper ignition timing ( 5 DBTDC). Took it to a mechanic who got it close at 8 degrees but the truck still ran sluggish in the lower gears. So I started mucking around again and somehow managed to make it not start at all. It turns over but it won't start.
I have the ignition timing set back to 8 degrees ( I know this because I set the crank pulley marker to 0 DTDC and set the distributor rotor directly at firing pin 1 - which is where my mechanic had it).
Tested plug 1 and it's still firing. I thought I might have flooded it so I took all the plugs out to let them dry. Nothing. Replaced the ignition coil (with a generic brand, not toyota and it's not in the manufacturer's specified ohm range) Nothing.
Even though plug one has a spark, a timing light attached to it won't flash. So I think my issue is that I just have a really weak spark - not enough to ignite.
Any suggestions at this point would be much appreciated. Starting to consider playing in traffic.
I replaced my timing chain guides a couple weeks ago, but once I got every thing all buttoned back up, I ran into trouble dialing in the proper ignition timing ( 5 DBTDC). Took it to a mechanic who got it close at 8 degrees but the truck still ran sluggish in the lower gears. So I started mucking around again and somehow managed to make it not start at all. It turns over but it won't start.
I have the ignition timing set back to 8 degrees ( I know this because I set the crank pulley marker to 0 DTDC and set the distributor rotor directly at firing pin 1 - which is where my mechanic had it).
Tested plug 1 and it's still firing. I thought I might have flooded it so I took all the plugs out to let them dry. Nothing. Replaced the ignition coil (with a generic brand, not toyota and it's not in the manufacturer's specified ohm range) Nothing.
Even though plug one has a spark, a timing light attached to it won't flash. So I think my issue is that I just have a really weak spark - not enough to ignite.
Any suggestions at this point would be much appreciated. Starting to consider playing in traffic.
06-30-2008, 02:26 PM
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it's possible that the distributor is 180 degrees out: the crankshaft turns 2 revolutions for every one revolution of the distibutor, 360 degrees in the distributor is 720 degrees to the crank.
so you have to make sure the #1 piston is on the compression stroke when the distributor is pointing at the #1 spark plug.
You can't simply rely on the crank being at 0- it has to be at 0 degrees at the top of the compression and beginning of the power strokes.
0 degrees crank could also be the end of the exhaust and beginning of the intake strokes.
so you have to make sure the #1 piston is on the compression stroke when the distributor is pointing at the #1 spark plug.
You can't simply rely on the crank being at 0- it has to be at 0 degrees at the top of the compression and beginning of the power strokes.
0 degrees crank could also be the end of the exhaust and beginning of the intake strokes.
Last edited by abecedarian; 06-30-2008 at 02:28 PM.
06-30-2008, 07:51 PM
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Kill me! That was exactly the problem - thanks abecedarian! I didn't realize the crank and dist. rotor didn't rotate in sync. I had it set to TDC on the exhaust cycle. Hmm wonder why it would ignite! Save me a buttload of trouble. Thanks again.
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