I was told by a friend that my timing could be 180 degrees off. He said this may be causing my no start problem since I have spark and fuel. Is this possible? The Timing belt looks like it was probably replaced by the PO. If it is possible how can I test to see if it is? my car is an 81. I would have posted this in my original topic (please help my 81 won't start) but I'm hoping to get a quick yes or no answer before I go work on the car.

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To check this, you need to determine when #1 cylinder is on Top Dead Center (TDC) compression, as opposed to being on TDC exhaust.

There are two standard ways of finding this:
A) Pull #1 plug (front plug on passenger side - car's right side)and partially block the plug hole with a dowel or similar wooden rod. Have an assistant operate the starter. When there is pressure in the cylinder, instantly stop the starter. If you are quick enough, the timing marks will still be approaching TDC. Use a socket to turn the engine (never turn it backwards!) to TDC.
B) Pull a cam cover and manually turn th engine until the intake valve opens and then closes. You should be approaching TDC - continue to TDC. This method is not too practical on a 928.

When you have found TDC compression (or TDC firing), pull the distributor cap and make certain that the rotor points at the wire going to #1 cylinder's spark plug.

 

Thanks Wally for the very helpful and timely response Thats twice this week. Your the man once again Truly much appreciation.

 

With the crank pulley mark, at 0/T (TDC), the #1 piston should be at TDC on compression stroke. The easiest way to tell is the rotor should be pointing (ready to fire) at the #1 cylinder spark plug wire and the marks on the cam sprockets should line up with the marks on the flange.

Remove the #1 spark plug, find a round piece of wood about 1\4” in diameter 15” long (home depot) while holding the wood insert it in the spark plug hole, have someone turn the crank shaft by hand C wise only (with a wrench) you will feel the piston pushing the wood up as soon as you feel the wood start to move down stop turning the crank. With a flashlight look in the cylinder you should see the top of the piston. The O\T on the crank pulley should line up or be very close to the red pointer,if not line the pointer to 0\T.
The distributor rotor should be pointing (ready to fire) at the #1 cylinder spark plug wire and the marks on the cam sprockets should line up with the marks on the flange. If any component is
off you’re out 180 or the crank pulley was installed wrong, 180 off (back wards) if you make any changes always turn the engine over by hand only, making sure the valves do not hit.

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Thanks Steve for adding more and going into even more detail than Wally (didn't know that could be done) Lord knows I could use all the details I can get. I really apreciate the help. This thing has me feeling really dumb. <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" /> One more question does anyone know the firing order for an 81? I can't seem to find it for that year. Is it 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8? Thanks much guys your the best.

 

Bucky,

There may be a legible brass tag on your radiator that shows the firing sequence.

 

The firing order is indeed 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8.

Cylinders are numbered 1-2-3-4 down the right (passenger side in the USA) and 5-6-7-8 down the left, starting from the front.

If you do discover that the timing is 180 deg out, the easy way to fix it is to first put the engine on TDC firing for #1 using the cam marks or actual compression on the cylinder to determine firing position. Then, simply put the plug wire that goes to #1 cylinder in the distributor cap location where the rotor is pointing, and insert the rest around the cap in firing order sequence.

 

Bucky, if it were my car I would first line up the crank to TDC. Then remove the passenger side upper timing belt cover. The mark on the cam gear should be lined up with the mark on the gear housing. If it is not lined up you have a problem. At this point you might want to remove the drivers side upper timing belt cover and see if the marks line up. Your timing belt has probably slipped if the marks do not line up. If it is lined up then remove your distributor cap. The rotor should be pointing to the #1 plug wire. If your at TDC, the cam gear marks line up and your distributor rotor is lined up with the #1 plug wire then everything is set correct. If any of these are not in order then you will have problems.

 

Thanks again Wally Thom and Curt. From seeing some of the stuff the PO's did to this car I wouldn't put it past them to do something like that. Thanks again. You guys are great without this board I would have givin up and parted it out by now.