DeZyn243

I changed my timing belt and my water pump on my 92 Lexus ls400. The timing is set and the timing marks all line up. My distributor rotors are set to the proper position according to the service manual and my spark plug wires are in the proper firing order. But when I go to start my car it won't start. There's no backfire and the engine is trying to turn over but i can't get the car to start. What could be the problem?

2GSKaizen

iTrader: (1)

Well, I'd start with the basics. 1 make sure you have spark and fuel. If you do, then pop out a couple of plugs and check for compression. That belt didn't break on you did it? I'm leaning towards a spark issue because if you had something goofed up with the timing itself and had spark and fuel , it would probably be backfiring and popping through the intake.

DeZyn243

The belt is fine. No breaks and no cracks. The spark plugs are new (maybe 6 months old). The spark plug wires in the other hand I believe are the original wires. I took out one of the wires to check for resistance and my ohm meter read.003 ohms. I am going to check the rest but could that low resistance be the issue? I ask because the car was running just fine until I took everything down and put everything back

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

it may be as simple as a forgotten cam sensor plug or wire. did you do a full two rotations and everything still lines up (not the belt markings, but the main markings on the cam gears and crank pulley)? double and triple check your work.

DeZyn243

All plugs are plugged and I rotated the engine two full rotations. Marks on the belt line up with the marks on the pulleys and the marks on the pulleys lined up with the marks on the block. I just went to the auto parts store and purchased a compression gauge and I'm going to check that and see what I get.

DeZyn243

checked the compression and it passed specs all across the board. for some reason i decided to test the alternator n my battery. alternator was in specs and the battery was reading about 6.4V so i charged it and it read around 12.6 so i put the alt/batt back on car and the car still won't start. There is still no backfire and the engine is also still trying to turn over but i can't get it to start.

LScowboyLS

have you scanned the ECU for codes?

the 4 most likely scenarios remain either:

1. you are still missing a connector not hooked up (cam sensor, crank sensor, MAF, ECTS, etc.)
2. you have made an error in the hookup of the plug wires, I know you think it is right but check again (diagram below)
3. the timing belt is not installed correctly, have you verified that when all marks are lined up that cylinder #1 piston is at TDC?
4. you didn't disconnect the negative battery cable before starting the job and accidentally blew a critical fuse or fuse link (i.e. EFI, fuel pump, etc.)

LScowboyLS

each wire's resistance should be in the 10,000 - 20,000 ohms range (depending on length) - are you sure you have the meter set correctly and are reading it correctly? - was the .003 in MOhms? (mega-ohms i.e. millions of ohms)

deanshark

Are you sure you're getting fuel? Were the plugs wet when you checked compression? Also, some members have put the rotors on backwards. (180* off) I'm not sure how that can happen, but it has. Maybe it was possible on the 90-92 b/c my 93 has a slot and tab so that doesn't happen. If your plug wires are original you might have broke the ends while pulling them off. If you get new ones check the Ohms before putting them on just to make sure they're all good. GL

DeZyn243

I purchased a new battery, serpentine belt and new rotors and she is running just fine now. Problem is I checked the spark plug wires, but I can't find the specs on them and what they should be putting out.
The kilo ohms read:

#1 - 4.86
#2 - 4.86
#3 - 14.73
#4 - 14.82
#5 - 16.10
#6 - 16.46
#7 - 10.48
#8 - 10.37

DeZyn243

Thanks for the suggestions too.

LScowboyLS

those readings are fine

DeZyn243

Thanks for the input