Why can't I figure out my ignition problem? I replaced my starter a fewe weeks ago(finally), and got the car started kinda rough, but not tooo bad. Now, nothing. My brain is just not working when it comes to figuring this out. I know to chekc from point A to PointB, but its killing me. I can;t get it to start. I need the simplistic version of ignition talk 1-2. Help me...before the wife sends the car to the mechanic...
Probably lots of folks more qualified than me to answer this question, but...first, how do you know it's an ignition problem? Does the engine turn over (crank)? If it does, use a timing light to check for a spark. If you don't have one, take out a sparkplug, hold it against a ground, and see if you get a spark when somebody cranks the engine over (wives are GOOD for this kind of stuff). If you get a spark, check the timing. Turn the engine 'till the timing mark is at 10 deg. BTDC (right-most point of timing mark is Top Dead Center. Each point is 5 deg. advanced). Then pull the cap off the distributor and see if the rotor is pointing at #1. That's a ballpark timing check. If not, rotate the engine one turn and check again. If that looks OK, you may have fuel problems, or worse. If the engine doesn't turn over, then forget everything I just said and we'll go from there.
check your battery. got power? check your ground.
If it started kinda rough and died or you shut it off before it warmed up there's a chance the spark plugs got wetted with gas. Sometimes when that happens they'll fire out in the open air, but not under compression. This is in addition to what Vern and Evan had to say.
Kenny, you didn't mention if you have electronic ignition or not. I battled this a few weeks ago..even thought I had messed up the timing chain replacement, but it turned out to be a bad condensor and or points. I must have cooked them hooking up wires or something.. Read and follow the Haynes book in the ignition chapter, worked for me. Good luck!
Had a problem like this that was aggravated by a change in the weather... (rainy vs. cold & dry)
New spark plugs and cap & rotor cured the problem
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