After Repair, Engine Start and stop immediately

[tianjin]

Please help my first DIY to my car.
My 1994 corolla 1.8L stopped starting in the morning two weeks ago. battary was good. car could crank but never start. Before this happened, my car was running very well without any problem. I followed the procedure of troubleshooting and found out that either ignition coil(out of spc, 3kohm detected, but shoud be 9-18kohm) or igniter had problem because no spark at all in each troubleshooting step. I replaced them all. During repairing, I crank Engine to TDC and mark distributor to the engine block, and also mark rotor's postion. I am pretty sure I installed back correctly. This really took me more than a week to get into this point. Finially, I jump power from my other car which has very good battary condition. I sat into the car, turned ignition key to "ON" position to have car self-check though, as usual, I could hear a familiar sound after 4-5 second( don't know what it is but it was always like that). I turned key to start engine. however, engine started for 2 seconds and then stopped immediately. I try several times. It just did something. even I hold ignition key on start position after engine started, engine dead anyway. I also try press gas while I started engine, unlucy, It just did something, start 2 seconds and stop.

Any idea what went wrong with my repairing.

Thank advance guys

tianjin

[iToaster]

Sounds like your timing might be off. Ignition should be set to ~10 degrees BTDC.

[tianjin]

Thanks iToaster,

As mentioned, I marked distributor against engine block while I cranked engine to TDC and also marked the position of rotor at distributor cover. I am not sure even if I re-installed everything as I marked, it is still possible to get timing out? what kind of tool I should used to make the timing adjustment?

Because you pointed out that this is most likely timing problem. I will re-check if I get TDC setup correctly or maybe it set at exhaust stroke. Hopefully this is the reason. It is rainning now and dark. I will check it tomorrow.

Thank so much for your answer.

TianJin

[radsan]

have you check the fuel pump?

I think even the timing is way off it still able to start, you will know the timing is wrong when you drive the car it will knock/no lack power.

[tianjin]

I double checked the timing and it is correct. the qustion is if I installed back everyting exactly the same I marked on the distributor before removing it and I did not crank the engine after distibutor was removed, Is it still possible that timing will be changed by other factor?

My car broke down originally because distributor problem as there was not spark. now after replace coil and ignitor, spark shows up and engine looks like about to make happy running, but unfortunatly stopped. I just thought, Am I this much unlucky with fuel pump has problem at some time? hopefully not. otherwise that will means a lot of works, time and money. Anyway I have alreay started to study the fuel system and prepare to work on it if this is really a problem.

Anybody can give some light. I am almost there, but....

Thanks

tianjin

[radsan]

Originally Posted by tianjin

I double checked the timing and it is correct. the qustion is if I installed back everyting exactly the same I marked on the distributor before removing it and I did not crank the engine after distibutor was removed, Is it still possible that timing will be changed by other factor?

Other than distributor setting is only by piggyback that can change ignition timing

Originally Posted by tianjin

My car broke down originally because distributor problem as there was not spark. now after replace coil and ignitor, spark shows up and engine looks like about to make happy running, but unfortunatly stopped. I just thought, Am I this much unlucky with fuel pump has problem at some time? hopefully not. otherwise that will means a lot of works, time and money. Anyway I have alreay started to study the fuel system and prepare to work on it if this is really a problem.

is there's any gasoline fumes from the spark plug?

Ive encounter this problem 2 times,one is when my coil is died and the other time my ECU is died.

when my coil died there's no spark but my spark plug is wet because of gasoline.I change the distributor and the problem fixed.actually the coil died because of my fault.I having a idling problem and lack of power then I test for spark on each cable but I test it way to long which causing my coil to died.After I change the coil then I know my problem is on my MAP sensor.

the other time when my ECU died is no spark at all and no gasoline fumes but I check my fuel pump is still ok.and my "engine check light" is not on when I turn the ignition key just before I crank.other indication for died ECU is you got no power to coil but in my case I'm using piggyback even the ECU died I still got power to my coil.

Hope you can figure out whats your problem

[tianjin]

Hi rasdon,

Thank you for giving me so detailed information. It do help me for further inpection.

Here is what I just found out. Every time I start the Engine, It started and run for 2-3 seconds and stop. I wait for serval seconds and start again. the engine acts the same, run 2-3 sec and stop. I can repeat this as many time as I want. till this point, I probably can tell that at least at engine starting stage, the fuel and spark works OK. but right after engine started, either fuel is cut off or ignition failed to fire and cause engine to stopped. From my observation, It is most likely fuel system is cut off because I test spark while I started engine. the spark seems last until engine cease. This indicates fuel might go off first. If this is the fact, what might cause the problem?
am I damage new ignitor while i replace old one and this cause ignitor can not function properly to receive timing from ECM(timing goes off) or to send igition reference pulses to ECM(ECM will cut off fuel pump)? These are just learn from the book and inspection I did so far. Just try narrow down the problem and find where to go. I am a new and have not many tool and instrument to do the job. So I try specific as possible.

Appreciate for any suggestion.

tianjin

[radsan]

ever change your fuel filter?might get blockage & not enough pressure for injector...

[tianjin]

I will do it and let you know if it works

Thanks Radsan.