Car: 97 SE-R w/ BBDET

Installed JWT S4 cams and JWT adj. cam sprockets. And now car won't start.

Turning key makes the starter turn and i don't hear any bad noises, crank just turns but doesn't start.

Plugs are covered in gas which leads me to believe the car isn't getting spark. During cam install i didn't remove the distributor but I did turn the 'key' on the distributor a lil bit to align it and install the exhaust cam.

Perhaps i've skipped a tooth or two on the crank. But would it cause my car to not start? I would think that the car would start, it would just not run optimally.

I'm fairly certain that my problem is ignition related. What are some things i can do or check to see if this is my problem?

The distributor should only line up one way, but double check that you don't have them 180deg off. Did you unplug any of the connectors on the distributor? If both these check out, take the valve cover off, and double, or triple check the cam timing.

Distributor will only fit one way, you can't install it 180 degrees off.. i tried. I didn't disconnect any electrical connectors when I installed the cams.

I'm 90 percent sure you skipped a tooth on the chain. Either that or something minor. Did you re-connect the MAF sensor?

Fuck, i really dont' want to deal with having to remove the front cover to reset the chain.

Recconect MAF harness? i never disconnected it.

But would a skipped tooth on the chain really cause my car to NOT start at all?

You don't have to pull the front cover. Just put the crank at TDC and look at the srockets. If either of them needs to be moved, move it. The marks on the chain lining up is only important when you are putting the motor together. I assume you have a FSM or other service manual? If you skipped a tooth on both cams, yes that will cause it not to start.

Hey, Nollan! Where are you right now? I could come over and take a look after work. I have the JWT cam gears as well... I was thinking maybe those weren't installed correctly.

Steve

hey steve... i'm at home now, and my car is chillin in my dad's garage *** i gave up on it and wanted to do some research. But if you wanna come by and check it out... email me and i'll give you my number and directions to my house. About the cam gears, i'm starting to wonder if i did install them wrong. I mean there's no way to actually put the gear on the cam but i'm thinkin i didn't align the right marks.


Eric, I didn't see the 'silver' links that are supposed to be on the timing chain. Jeez, i probably forgot to put the crank at TDC when i installed the cams.. tip of the day: don't work on your car when you're tired, cranky and impatient.

It's really relieving that i don't have to pull the front cover... i'll take a look at it tonight again.

.

Hey Nollan.

This might sound really stupid, but are you sure all the plug wires are on correctly?

Dan, they are.

I got an idea of what went wrong. I let the chain drop on the exhaust cam side of the timing chain when i was installing the cams.

Didn't think anything of it, and i turned the crank after getting the tensioner back in.

Originally posted by SeattleSE R


Eric, I didn't see the 'silver' links that are supposed to be on the timing chain. Jeez, i probably forgot to put the crank at TDC when i installed the cams.. tip of the day: don't work on your car when you're tired, cranky and impatient.


The 'special' links aren't on the dotted parts of the sprockets on *every* revolution. Were the cam lobes at cylinder #1 pointed away from each other? If so, you were close enough to TDC. You could be off a tooth or 2 and your car would still start.
Pull the valve cover and count the rollers between the dots. If it is not 20, move the exhaust side so that it is 20. I say the exhaust side because you said:
I got an idea of what went wrong. I let the chain drop on the exhaust cam side of the timing chain when i was installing the cams.

Verify you are getting spark, then next time you try to start it, floor it while turning the key.

Originally posted by jacen99SE

If it is not 20, move the exhaust side so that it is 20.

it is 20, isn't it??? I don't have my FSM in front of me.

20 rollers is correct.

Yes, if you skipped a tooth the engine will crank but not turn over. I have witnessed this a few times.

If all else fails I'd suspect something with the JWT cam gears.

Originally posted by SeattleSE R
Car: 97 SE-R w/ BBDET

Installed JWT S4 cams and JWT adj. cam sprockets. And now car won't start.



Any luck yet?

Finally got a chance today to look at what I did wrong.

The cams are a few teeth off.

You know how when you set the motor to TDC and the cam lobes on 1 are suposed to face AWAY from eachother? Well, mine are pointed AT eachother.

To make things worse, i looked further down the chain on the exhaust side and saw a GOLD mark on the link. Obviously NOT on the alignment part of the crank.

Guess what, I get to pull the front cover off to reset the chain.

Has anyone left the motor in the car to do this? Space is very limited there so would it just be easier to pull the motor?

Also, the FSM shows pulling the head and oil pans to remove the front cover. Are those extra things or do i have to do that too?

you dont have to remove the front cover. you can simply remove both oil pans with the engine in the car. turn the crank until the crank mark lines up on the chain. you have to have someone hold tension on the chain fomr the top while you do this. at most i think you have to rotate the crank 22 times. then install the cams. it is also good to do it this way because there are two tabs on the front cover that hold the chain on the crank when you remove the cams. if you drop the chain and rotate the crank the tabs will break off anf you need a new front cover or just take off the oil pan everytime you adjust the cams to make sure it didnt move. if the tabs break off they fall to the bottom of the pan.

DON'T PULL THE FRONT COVER. Put the crank at TDC, then line the cams up. The key on the intake cam should be at 10:00 and the key on the exhaust cam should be at 12:00. The yellow mark only lines up with the crank ever few hundred turns. its mainly for when you are putting the motor together.

Excuse my ignorance, but say i set my timing to 15deg BTDC prior to installing the cams.

Would TDC on the crank be at the 15deg mark when piston 1 is all the way up? The FSM doesn't specify this.

BTW, thanks for you help guys.