[Ariethekid]

Help!

I can’t figure this out.
I parked the car for the winter and when I put the battery back in the car last week it will crank but will not start. It ran perfect before I parked it.

I changed the cam and crank sensors. Reset the ECM. So far nothing. Fuel pump is priming. It just keeps cranking. I sprayed some starter fluid in there and it acts like it’s about to start but dies. I’m not sure what the problem is. I’m stuck on this one.

 

[Ariethekid]

UPDATES: So far I've taken the injectors out and tested each one and they are working fine. Coilpacks all work and give spark. I guess its time to check timing and see if its off. Injectors work during start up and there is spark. If timing is off that could stop it from starting...

This one is not easy. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[GaryPInAZ]

It does sound like a timing chain issue. It could be a bad tensioner that has allowed the timing chain to slip. I've experienced this exact same issue (different car). While in the Navy, I drove from San Francisco to Wichita Kansas. The car ran great over the entire trip. I parked in front of my parents house and the next day went to leave and it would only crank over and not start. The chain had slipped and I had no time to fix it because I had to be in Norfolk Virginia in three days to report to my ship. My next stop, the Gun Line off the coast of Vietnam.

 

[Ariethekid]

Yeah that’s what I was thinking too. It didn’t sound 100% the way I’d like when cranking. That’s the next step.

Also thank you for your service!

 

[Ariethekid]

It does sound like a timing chain issue. It could be a bad tensioner that has allowed the timing chain to slip. I've experienced this exact same issue (different car). While in the Navy, I drove from San Francisco to Wichita Kansas. The car ran great over the entire trip. I parked in front of my parents house and the next day went to leave and it would only crank over and not start. The chain had slipped and I had no time to fix it because I had to be in Norfolk Virginia in three days to report to my ship. My next stop, the Gun Line off the coast of Vietnam.

Well timing was off by one tooth but I don't think thats why it wasn't starting. I put on a new timing chain, tensioners, and sprockets. Put everything back together and Im still at square one. Not really sure what else to check.

 

[Ariethekid]

UPDATE: So there is a happy ending to this story. Turns out after sitting for the winter the alternator pulley decided to seize up. I figured this out because I put in a new starter, charged the battery and put a little oil in the cylinders to get the compression up. It would crank like its about to start for about 4-5 seconds and just die. I tried it a couple times and stopped. When I went to inspect the engine bay noticed a little smoke coming from the serpentine belt area. It was really hot. Took off the belt and checked all the pulleys. The alternator one was not turning at all!.

Changed out the alternator, fired right up...SMH. After changing a fuel pump, timing chain/tensioner, cam/crank sensors, problem is finally solved. Never had an alternator do that before. Figured I'd share it here for anyone else who had issues. Check all the pulleys if it isnt starting. Its easy to check and might save you hours of work.

tldr: Alternator seized. Changed it out and car runs fine.