Car won't start, again

Tiny
JOJORISIN
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 GEO STORM
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
I replaced my distributor like 3 times in a row. Cap & rotor too. But I didn't mark anything and I cranked the rotor quite a few times because I was having a hard as hell time getting the cap screwed on. So now the car won't start I can't set the timing, even with the dealer's big service manual. Is there a simple way to get my car started so I can drive it to the repair shot?




Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011 AT 7:27 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Is the can turning? And if I read this right, you've been cranking this with no distributor?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011 AT 8:41 AM
Tiny
JOJORISIN
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Yes it turns & no I have never cranked the car with no dist. What I am asking is, are there any short cuts to getting my car to start. I believe I messed up the timing pretty bad by removing & replacing the dist. & Rotor without marking anything.I need it running long enough to drive to the mechanics. I didn't mark the dist. Position on the engine nor did I mark the rotor position on the dist. Housing each time I removed the both of them. So am I correct in assuming that now the timing is so far off that the car won't start? And I wouldn't know how to time it even if I had a timing light & what not I've been advancing & retarding the dist. While completely assembled but I can't get a break. Can I do anything else shy of setting the timing?To get it started
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011 AT 4:30 AM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Remove number one plug, rotate engine by hand until piston is at top dead center and marrk on crank is at the pointer. Remove distributor and install it to fire number one plug
and yes you have cranked it without distributor if you had it placed wrong!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011 AT 10:55 AM
Tiny
JOJORISIN
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Thanks mrelin2021. Let me ask you this un related question if I can. Same car, it has 166,000 miles on it, 5 speed manual transmission. I'm guessing you know mine is the base model not the GSI. My question is:can I drop a 1.8 liter 93 Storm GSI engine into my car with my tranny?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, August 5th, 2011 AT 6:28 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
My guess would be yes with the ecm for it. But chevy or toyota service can tell you for sure.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, August 5th, 2011 AT 7:12 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Engine Not Running Content

Car Cranking but Not Starting? Try This
VIDEO
Car Cranking but Not Starting? Try This
Instructional repair video
Engine Not Starting
GUIDE
Engine Not Starting
Over the past 20 years at 2CarPros we have identified the top problems that are easily fixed. This guide can save you a trip to the repair garage or calling a tow truck and...
VIEW MORE