Car does not start after resetting the timing

[JamesC89]

In an attempt to remove the timing chain guides (upper ones) I have messed something up so that my car (93) will not start.

Let me start from the beginning. I started out by taking off everything needed to remove the timing chain guides, made an attempt at marking the distributor and proceeded to attempt to remove the guides. Well, to make a long story short the top guide was already removed and it became too cold out to fuss with the upper timing chain cover anymore (because it felt like it was stuck).

Anyways, after reassembling everything back together and starting it up, the car ran poorly, and I was stupidly unaware of the fact that all I needed to do was get a timing light and adjust the idle. Well I took the distributor out and fiddled around with things and now it won't start at all.

I set the main crank pulley back to TDC with the rotor sitting on the #1 cylinder. Still wouldn't start.

I then proceeded to the Nissan dealer to consult with a mechanic who informed me that sometimes when they do timing chain jobs that the spark plugs can become "flooded.” He then told me how to remedy the situation by removing the spark plugs then starting it a few times to evaporate the gas.

After trying that and figuring out that I am almost certainly getting sparks (thanks to my friend being shocked and a new set of NGKs) I am still up in arms about what is wrong.

The motor shakes and vibrates but will not start. It seems like, to me, that the motor is not getting the spark when it needs it or that it is not sparking at all but I’m not sure. Is there a step that I am missing or could the distributor still not be set right? If I happen to not be getting a spark then what could be wrong that would cause no sparking (I have a new set of plugs and it started fine before this happened.) Any ideas?

[misnomer]

Cylinders become flooded, not spark plugs :P

Anyhow, to "un-flood" the cylinder, you could remove the plugs and just let her sit for a while. . . Or leave em in and let her sit for a while longer. . .

Do you have a timing light? That could really help you determine where the trouble is (one person tries to start, the other checks the timing). Not how you perfect it, but how you get it going at least.

My car did have the same problem at first, the timing was way too retarded for it to start (hehe, funny). When I set it up, I put #1 at tdc, set to spark #1 cylinder, hit the starter, she wiggled and wobbled and sputtered and died. Try advancing the timing significantly and see what you get. I pulled the distributor out and move the rotor forward two notches on it's pinion. Slid it back in and she fired up. Once you get an idle, be sure to set the timing to 20 degrees twisting the distributor (orange notch is zero, from there each notch represents five degrees).

[JamesC89]

Ok, so I should try pulling the whole distributor unit out and turning the center part with the gear on the end of it slightly clockwise (2 notches?) and reinserting it, then attempt to start it? I guess it just comes down to more trial and error. I'll just have to wait till tomorrow, its way to cold out right now!

Yes I was able to locate a timing light. But, doesn't the engine have to be running in order for it to be used?

[misnomer]

you just need to have spark to have the timing light work. Thus it will run when you just use the starter, but you ahve to be quick.

[turbo240sx]

remember at TDC number one already fired, 20 BTDC is what its fireing at, TDC set it before number 3 cylinder then it should run, not well but run so you can adjust the timing from there.

[JamesC89]

remember at TDC number one already fired, 20 BTDC is what its fireing at, TDC set it before number 3 cylinder then it should run, not well but run so you can adjust the timing from there.

So what your saying is that I should set the engine to TDC and then place the rotor so that it is firing the #3 cylinder and not the #1?

[turbo240sx]

yes, i had the same problem i was setting it at the number one when it was at tdc set the rotor on number 3 then start it then do the settings

[JamesC89]

Thanks for the help guys. I basically got it started the way turbo240sx said, after some more trial and error with reinserting the distributor so that the rotor was slightly in front of the #1 cylinder (in between 1 & 3, but closer to 3.) However, I would be lost without you misnomer, thanks again guys.

Now to find someone with a working timing light...

[turbo240sx]

glad its alive again.