Hi. I haven't done much work on my 4runner before. My alternator went out and I had to get it replaced. I'm taking an intro auto class at school and figured I'd try it myself. Sadly I didn't know what I was doing, and I removed the distributor to get to the alternator (it sits right above it). After replacing everything the truck will try to start as long as I try, but It never starts. I looked into it and I'm pretty sure I messed up the timing.

From what I read, the position of the distributor effects the timing, right?
I took it out a few times, rotating the shaft each time, but haven't had any success yet. Is there something else I should be doing, or do I just need to keep rotating the shaft a bit each try until it starts?

Thanks

 

What engine?

 

Sorry. automatic 3VZE v6

 

you have really jacked with the timing of the firing for the spark plugs. That is what you have done, now to fix it......I don't know. Timing has always been my weak spot. other than what you suggested, i wouldn't know where to start.

 

Take out the #1 spark plug, get a socket and a ratchet and turn the pully until you feel air pushing out of the #1 spark plug. When you feel it coming up, put a straw inside the sparkplug hole and watch until it gets at the highest place. Then not sure about the timing for a 3.0 but i would belive it would be on here somewhere that shows where the dist should be pointing.

 

rotor should be pointing at cylider 1 on the dist cap with the #1 cylinder on the top of the compression stroke. get a chiltons...

 

I have a 3vze and this is how I set the distributor ...others may do it differently

follow this link http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/1990-1995...e/distribu.pdf and I posted a pic of my marks painted in white for clarity

Then look at the distributor rotor tip, it should be pointing to the top straight up 90*....