Car not starting

[Jay eS Iye]

I recently got my 93 LE from my gf's uncle; he works at a towing company that has cars signed over to them and I got it for 400 bucks.. good deal, except one thing. They got it and it was running really really rough, and then wouldn't run very much at all. They ran the codes and all he told me was it was something with the number 1 cylinder.

Well I have it now and have started working on it. It will crank and sound like its trying to start but won't catch a spark. I was out on it today and installed some new stuff. I have a new Platimum battery (the car alarm ran down the old one) and installed Bosch Platinum 2 spark plugs with the regular spark plug wires at Autozone. It started to fire better and would almost start but wouldn't. At one point it did and it was running really rough and only with the gas pedal all the way down to the ground and then it just stopped suddenly, almost like it locked up. After that I cranked it a bit more and it sounded about like it was before, but wouldn't get as close to firing.

Does anyone have any ideas? I need to get this running ASAP and I may have to resort to taking it to a shop to get fixed. Thanks.

[nort0188]

Were you sure to check for spark in every cylinder? Not just replacing the plugs & wires, but to actually make sure it's making a spark. Otherwise, could be timing, could be fuel. Fuel pump, injectors, etc...

[Jay eS Iye]

I actually didn't try that. Now dumb question but its been a while since I've had to do this, but how do I check for spark. I know I pull each plug individually but how do i (safely) check for the spark?

If I'm getting bad spark, what could be wrong, the dizzy?

And if I'm getting good spark, how do I find out if the fuel injectors or pump are bad? And lastly I've never checked timing before, how do I go about doing that, once i get a timing light.

[95camguy]

make sure you didnt put diesel in.... j/k.

i would check fuel deivery systems. i.e. fuel pump(a haynes manual is good for this procedure)

[Jay eS Iye]

don't have a haynes yet,i'm gona get one soon. someone wanna scan how to check the fuel for me?

[nort0188]

Originally Posted by Jay eS Iye

I actually didn't try that. Now dumb question but its been a while since I've had to do this, but how do I check for spark. I know I pull each plug individually but how do i (safely) check for the spark?

If I'm getting bad spark, what could be wrong, the dizzy?

And if I'm getting good spark, how do I find out if the fuel injectors or pump are bad? And lastly I've never checked timing before, how do I go about doing that, once i get a timing light.

Hold the rubber boot on the wire, then touch the end of the spark plug to the block and crank the engine. Be sure not to be touching the spark plug with your fingers at all, just the rubber boot. If there's no spark, it could be the distributor as you said.

To check the fuel pump, I don't really know... rip out the backseat and listen for it working? I would suggest running some of that fuel system cleaner for the injectors, but I suppose that only works if the engine runs, eh? And, I've got absolutely no idea how to check timing... sorry.