Frustration, please help....

[psychocoder]

OK, I've rebuilt the 7AFE engine in our 93 Toyota Corolla, set the #1 to top dead center, lined up the installation and timing marks on the cams, tightened everything down according to specs. Went to start it and it just turns over. I'm getting spark & fuel but its not starting, just turns over. Does anyone have any ideas on what to do next?? Please help.

[punter]

You 100% sure your cam timing is correct? If you getting fuel and spark theres not alot else.

[toyomoho]

Remove the distributor cap; see if the rotor lines up with the number one cylinder (number 1 cap electrode) when the engine is at TDC.

[psychocoder]

Punter,

At first I wasnt sure about that, so I pulled the cams, turned the crank to make sure #1 was at top dead center, made 100% sure the installation & timing marks were lined up, then bolted everything down again, still no starting, just turning over.

[toyomoho]

Does the rotor line up with the number 1 distributor electrode when the crank is at TDC? Did you turn the engine a few times by hand, and then see if the cam/crank alignment was still correct? You didn’t pull a wire off the MAP sensor, idle control valve, etc? Do you have spark at the spark plugs? All ignition wires connected to the right distributor cap location and cylinder?

[psychocoder]

I didnt turn the engine a few times by hand but I did check the distributor to make sure it was lined up with #1. Also, last time I went out and pulled the cams to once again make sure they were set correctly I noticed quite a bit of fuel on top of all the pistons, first how do I get rid of this fuel and second Ive never seen this before so what could be causing it?

[punter]

extra fuel could it just be from cranking and not firing?

What did you do to check the spark?

Did you change anything else when doing the rebuild, you double checked all the loom is pluged in properly?

If your fuel air spark and timing are good I can't see why it wouldn't at least try to start. Its a strange one, but will probably end up deing something simple.

Give us a bit of backround on what you've done.

[diver9000]

Shit man, thats too many things to investigate without eyes on. Toyomoho and Punter are both right about the timing and about the spark. Go back through your harness and make sure everything is plugged in. Make sure all your grounds are grounded and you have all your fuses. You didnt disconnect the ECU did you? It sounds like one of your cams is off. Did you set your timing on the power or exhaust stroke?
Good Luck

[psychocoder]

Well Ive pulled the cams (for the 4th time) and made 100% that the timing marks were perfectly lined up, set #1 to TDC, turned the engine a few times manually to make sure everything was corrent and still no go. All it does it turn over and keep dumping fuel into the cylinders (had to unhook the fuel relay and turn it over to get the excess fuel out of the cylinders).


Someone asked what I did to the engine:

• Changed Pistons
• Changed Rings
• Changed Rods
• Changed Valves
• Changed Valve Seals
• Changed Oil Pump
• Changed Water Pump
• New Gaskets all around
• Changed Timing Belt & Tensioner

Basically a complete rebuild. When I pulled the engine I did nothing with the ECU, labeled everything as I unhooked it so I knew where it went back, had RAM engine here in Spokane work the head and valves. Have spoken with their engine specialist several times and they are also stumped as to what the problem is. Ive never experienced anything like this with any engine Ive rebuilt in my life, and I'm at my wits ends with this damn thing. Anyone have any other ideas, something I might have missed?

PS: I'm getting fuel & spark.

Thank you so much

[punter]

Got a compression tester, that will at least tell you if there is anything major wrong. (ie cam timing)
But other than that i'm strugling.

[psychocoder]

Well it seems that a some point in time I didnt have the timing set right and I bent the valves, that is why the car isnt starting. They will be running a test tomorrow to tell me how many valves are bent. It was a costly mistake but at least now I know what the problem is. When doing a compression check the compresson was next to nothing, from there we decided it was the valves. Granted theres always a chance that the rings are washed out from all the fuel in the cylinders, but we're pretty positive that its the valves.

[punter]

Thats a real shame, hope its not to bad.

Yea, you'd be struggling to wreck the rings without even starting the motor.

[psychocoder]

Well,

I know its been a while but I havent had a chance to work on it for a while but here goes:

I have it finally running! It took a couple tries to get the cam timing exact but it finally runs, and runs better than it has in YEARS, I have a problem though. Before I pulled and rebuilt the engine it had a problem with blowing oil out of the engine and I couldnt find out where at the time. I rebuilt it, started it and its still blowing oil out of the engine, it looks like its coming from where the head meets the block but I wont be sure until this evening and pull the exhaust manifold. Anyone have any ideas on what could be causing this?

Thanks

[punter]

Just one question I have after re-reading all this.
Aren't 7afe's non interferance motors? I know 4afe's are.

[psychocoder]

Originally Posted by punter

Just one question I have after re-reading all this.
Aren't 7afe's non interferance motors? I know 4afe's are.

Punter,

I have sinec found out that yes 7AFE are non-interference motonrs, but I was shown my valves as they came out and they were indeed bent, not to mention 3 broken ones. Something bad happened inside this engine, 3 broken valves, 2 cracked pistons yet it still ran. In fact, it ran the day I decided to rebuild it.