Need help starting the car after head reco

[VLC86]

Hey guys.

As a couple of you might know, I recently got the head reconditioned on my calais.
I took it off myself, and put it back together myself. I have folowed the instructions putting it all back together and it took me a while to do it. When I finally tried to start it, it wont turn over. I have checked and it is getting a spark and I can hear the fuel pump when I turn the car onto accessories. But it just wont start up.

Im guessing its possibly anything really.
But what can I check to eliminate possible causes. (fuel, ignition etc.)

Car hasnt been started in about 2 months but I repeated everything I did to remove the head and now it wont start

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks guys

[VLC86]

New discovery is that I have a very weak spark coming from the 6th spark plug. Spark plugs are relatively new Bosch iridium ones.
Not sure if this helps but I really need to work it out

[nasty1]

Iridium plugs are a waist. Having one week spark plug doesn't meen it won't run. Sounds like timings out 180 . How did you set up timing ?

[VLC86]

Iridium plugs are a waist. Having one week spark plug doesn't meen it won't run. Sounds like timings out 180 . How did you set up timing ?

I realised that I should have gotten copper plugs afterwards.
I think it could be possible the timing is out by 180 degrees. I followed the gregories manual. I rotated the top pulley 180 degrees before puting it all back together, so the mark on the top pulley was facing directly down. I have a feeling this might be the cause.

How can I adjust the timing back?

[nasty1]

i dunno without being there when you put it together.

did you put no1 piston to tdc and same with cam gear?
the cam gear has the notch at the top with the dowl pin type thing facing top.
you put your wite marke on timing belt think one notch back on the cam gear where that little pin mark is.

you then just set your rotor to the no one plug lead.......


to set tdc take of top timing cover.
get a mate to crank it until you line white line up with the little notch.once thats at the top thats tdc and then face rotor button to no1 plug

[detox_nath83]

the mark is ment to be straight up the top man so your out 180 judging by the manual.. with 53 grooves on the belt bottom one is 0 on the mark on crank
and 53 grooves up is mark on cam gear.

[VLC86]

Thanks Nath. Thats the picture I went on.
I have done it all again tonight. But while working all day I got a flat battery so im just waiting for the battery to charge

[detox_nath83]

." I rotated the top pulley 180 degrees before puting it all back together, so the mark on the top pulley was facing directly down."

U said above

Notch is facing up in pic

so 180 degrees out

[VLC86]

." I rotated the top pulley 180 degrees before puting it all back together, so the mark on the top pulley was facing directly down."

U said above

Notch is facing up in pic

so 180 degrees out

Yeah thats where I have gone wrong. Hopefully that works

Ill let you know

[detox_nath83]

haha thats exactly where u have gone wrong bud...
all good rookie mistake.
Goodluck man

[cracker]

timing, take the dizzy out and move it one tooth at a time untill it starts.

[VLC86]

Well I fixed the timing. But its still doing the exact same thing.
Its just not starting up. Im sure I have done the timing right this time.
I followed the diagram and gregories manual

I will try to get a video trying to start it up.

[cracker]

how do you know that the dizzy is in the correct location relative too the timing marks though, just because the camshaft and crank shaft are in phase doesnt mean that the timing is.
your dizzy has to fire at the correct time of it to run other wise no love.

[VLC86]

oh ok. Thanks cracker. How can I check/fix the dizzy?
The more detailed the description, the easier it will be for me.

Thanks again

[base308]

remember as well with your dizzy if u have a new cam or a worked cam in there to advance it a few degrees other wise it wont fire up properly i had this problem as well as when i done mine one of the injectors wasnt seated properly and car wouldnt start make sure you have all ur sensors hooked up as well

[VLC86]

thanks bro.. no new cam for me though

[jetboy]

To check your dizzy is in the right position , make sure engine is on top dead center i,e firing on number one . Remove the dizzy cap and make sure that the rotor button is pointing too number one lead ( theres a little tab inside the dizzy ) , if not take it out and turn it round till it does , just remember as u push the dizzy back in the rotor will turn slightly so it might take a few goes to get it right . Also check that you have the correct firing order , as in the way the dizzy spins to

[VLC86]

looks like i got the timing right this time. I moved the dizzy one tooth and it started up but it wont stay on unless im revving it a bit.

Also it seems to be running quite lumpy, when it does actually start up.
Any ideas?

[Nackerz]

have you set the timing with a timing light?

[VLC86]

no i didnt. Im considering towing it to the mechanics to get them to finish it off from here. Cos im stumped.

Another question, the new extractors I put on are getting realy really really really hot. Like actually smoking when I get the car running. Obviously there is no heatshied now cos it wont fit over the extractors but should it be getting this hot just from running the car for a minute or two?

[Nackerz]

Ok I just had a read through all the thread..

I think what you need to do is this...

remove harmonic balancer, remover timing belt covers, remove timing belt.

Then take your number 1 plug out, turn the motor over until the piston is dead at the top...Your mark on the cranck where balance goes, key way should be at top with timing mark to the bottom right (see pic above)

Then you need to turn your cam pulley so that the dot on the cam gear is at the top. When this is at the top, you need to check that the cam is in the right position by looking at the rockers/valves...Be carefull not to put it 180 out

now you need to put the timing belt on and make sure it is exactly 53 teeth from the bottom timing mark to the cam pulley mark.

Put all covers back on and re-fit harmonic balancer. DO NOT TURN YOUR MOTOR OVER. Remove dizzy and re-fit it with the rotor pointing to number 1.

Now it should start straight away providing you have the cam right an not 180 out.

Now put a timing light on it, and set the timing to 15 degrees. Middle mark on the harmonic balancer.

Hope this helps you mate.

[Nackerz]

no i didnt. Im considering towing it to the mechanics to get them to finish it off from here. Cos im stumped.

Another question, the new extractors I put on are getting realy really really really hot. Like actually smoking when I get the car running. Obviously there is no heatshied now cos it wont fit over the extractors but should it be getting this hot just from running the car for a minute or two?

This is due to the timing being out, or grease/grime on them from your hands when fitted

[VLC86]

Oh ok. I thought it could be burning off some of the gunk on it.

I might try to get the car down there tomoro

[Nackerz]

why dont you do what i said and re do the steps. It aint rocket science man. No offense tho buddy.

[Nackerz]

too bad your in bris. I would come and fix it for you and show you how to do it