Hey folks!

I researched the forum, couldn't find a good departure point.

Perhaps I'm missing something, anxious to hear your experiences.

Car died on the way home. Wouldn't start.
Checked fuel pressure to the rail. Turned key and it spurted plenty.
Tested spark at the end of the boots. No spark, so:

-replaced coil and ICM, got spark
-won't start! Almost, but nope
-replaced main relay, no luck
-fuses fine

What should I check now?

 

Check if the timing belt has skipped.

 

Thank you! How do I know if the belt had skipped? I did take the covers off to eyeball it and to push on it. But how do I know if it has skipped?

 

I'm no expert but I would think you would need to pull the timing cover and put the number one cylinder at TDC and make sure the timing marks on the crankshaft and the camshaft line up perfectly.

If the timing belt has skipped one or the other will be off it's mark at TDC.

 

There will be a mark on the crank pulley and a mark on the block itself that you will have to line up, this will put the motor at TDC. There is also a way using a coat hanger but if you already have the timing covers off just line up the marks.

Then look at the cam pulley, there will be two arrows on two of the spokes then the word "UP" on a 3rd, the two arrows should be lined up with the block, the UP spoke should be perfectly vertical.

Also if the timing belt did slip you should be able to see some damage on the teeth. It would have to slip a couple teeth to prevent the motor from even running.

 

Wait, assuming that the spark was the issue, and my timing is correct,

Isn't it relevant that I took the distributor housing off completely to get at some stripped screws?

This must've altered the ignition timing from the distributor! Isn't it a matter of twisting the distributor? How do I line that thing up?

 

Im so impressed with your quick responses. I hope my input can help someone in the near future.

So, I twisted the distributor and jumped my tired battery and mashed the gas and she's purring again!

For future benefit of the forum:

Car died in transit
Tested squirt from fuel pump to rail
Tested for spark. None.
Changed ignition coil and Ignition Control Module (Ignitor)?
Found soft screws that stripped, took distributor housing off.
Put distributor back on. Grumbled and brooded and researched.
Main relay replaced.
Twisted the distributor, mashed pedal. Success!

Thank you folks!

 

Setting distributor near the center should allow it to start. Set the timing with a timing light now for best performance.

 

Make sure you hook a timing light to that thing just to make sure it is spot on. I know on my '95 it's supposed to be at operating temp and you have to jump your plug for the computer to set the timing.

 

Im so impressed with your quick responses. I hope my input can help someone in the near future.

So, I twisted the distributor and jumped my tired battery and mashed the gas and she's purring again!

For future benefit of the forum:

Car died in transit
Tested squirt from fuel pump to rail
Tested for spark. None.
Changed ignition coil and Ignition Control Module (Ignitor)?
Found soft screws that stripped, took distributor housing off.
Put distributor back on. Grumbled and brooded and researched.
Main relay replaced.
Twisted the distributor, mashed pedal. Success!

Thank you folks!