CAR WONT START????

[dodgeaspenrookie]

I dont understand all plugs are sparking, its getting gas, and it wont start.
It will sputter and act like its trying to start but wont, almost like somethings holding it back. Whats wrong?

[CAT-TECH]

Unfortunatly a no start situation can be any number of things. Lets try and get a baseline here, what engine is it? what work have you done to it? how many miles?

[440roadrunner]

Could be a number of things.

Did you pull a couple of plugs and see if they are fouled?

(Getting too much fuel)

How do you know it's getting fuel?

How good is the spark?

Take a "solid core" wire and replace the distributor / coil wire, then crank over with the temporary wire and see if you get a good fat spark at least 3/8"

How about time? Is it possible that the timing chain slipped? Do you have a timing light? Can you crank the engine and see if you can time it while cranking?

If not, answer back, and I'll tell you how to "static" time the engine to check


Also, if it's trying to fire, but blubbering and smoking, find something like a screwdriver, and block the choke open.

[CAT-TECH]

Yea if its a really tired engine then the timing chain could be FUBAR and slipped. How did you check to make sure you are getting fuel?

[dodgeaspenrookie]

Its a 318 with a 4bbl and headers and a few performance ignition items. One way i know its getting gas is cause the carb is already set to high, also iv pulled off the plugs and checked them and they were wet (there not flooded though). Iv cleaned the plugs and checked each one for spark and there all getting it. Some are a little weak (two) but it should still fire. Iv had the engine start with only three cylinders firing so i cant see whats wrong. Its possible the timing chain skipped and that would probably be the most sensible thing. I'm going to try timing it and see what happens.

[440roadrunner]

Before you play with the timing, think a little.

What do you mean, "cause the carb is already set to high"

If the plugs are wet, you have probably found the problem--You are probably flooding it. If only three are fireing, it probably shows you that either you are flooding the engine, or your spark is really weak.

Have you checked the spark as I asked?

Get some dry plugs in there.

[dodgeaspenrookie]

I mean the carburetor is giving too much gas but iv checked the plugs and there wet but not flooded. My neighbor is a mechanical engineer and he says its got spark and its not flooded but it still wont start.The thing that gets me is that we had it running and driving well then all the sudden it lost a lot of power and would barely go and then when we got it back to the shop it wouldn't start.

[440roadrunner]

I'm not entirely convinced you are not flooding the engine, especially since you elude to have had carb trouble earlier.

However, you might want to try and check the timing.

With a points system, this is easy. Get the timing mark "up" about TDC and put either a test light or multimeter (voltage) across the points. With the key on, slowly wrench the engine forward, until the lamp lights or the voltmeter shows voltage. At the instant this happens, stop with the wrench, and look at the marks. You should be somewhere close to the timing mark.

Also, if you suspect the cam timing "slipped" --almost ALWAYS due to a fiber top drive sprocket-- also 'wrench' the engine CW and CCW and see how much "play" there is before you see more resistance, which shows slop in the chain.

[dodgeaspenrookie]

Well im almost positive its not flooded cause iv tried a lot of things with that and none seem to work and this engine has a lot of miles on it so it is very possible that the timing chain skipped, ill try those things.

[ef8340]

maybe even weak valve springs

[Doc]

Are you able to check a few cylinders for compression ?

[challenger]

If i were you and didn't find out the problem yet ? I would check to make sure you have the plug wires in the right order and if they are i would ( make sure you have a air cleaner on ) turn the engine over and turn the distributer clock wise to advance it just a bit and see if that fires her and if so and you have to go to much then what 440 said about the chain is correct but i think i would really check the wires first most of the time if it sounds like you have the plugs out when turning it over that sometimes means the wires/chain are wrong ,,,this is a old question so hopefully you have allready solved the problem