92 Loyale starting problem, need help.

[begacjj]

I am having a starting issue with my 92 Loyale, it has the 1.8L in it. What happens is it turns over nice and strong but will not start. I am getting spark on all 4 plugs and there is gas in the tank, although I do not smell it when trying to start. I also added some heet to the gas. This issue has happened before intermittently usually in cold weather. In the past I would sometimes wait 30 minutes or so and it would start. I changed the plugs, wires and distributor cap about a year ago and the problem had not resurfaced until last week. I bought a new rotor but was unable to get to the screw to get the old one out so I did not swap it out.

So after the problem resurfaced during our recent cold spell I thought maybe the old rotor was to blame and after struggling to get it unscrewed I decided to pull the whole distributor in order to get to the rotor screw, I was worried I would strip the screw on the rotor. So I pull the distributor and then I am able to easily get the screw off and install the new rotor. I went to reinstall the distributor when I realized I may have made a big mistake because I didn't mark what position the distributor and rotor were in My rig still won't start but now I am wondering if I created a new problem by removing the distributor without marking it's position? If the rotor is not lined up correctly would the car start at all or just start and run like crap? What is the easiest way to get the distributor into the correct position?

 

Thanks,

 

Chris in Olympia, WA.

[sea#3]

To regain the correct rotor position you can take #1 sparkplug out and turn the motor over by hand with your finger over the plug hole you will start to feel the compression build . With the spare tire removed from the engine compartment you should see a rubber plug at the 12.00 position at the bell housing of the transmission, remove it and you should see timing marks on the flywheel. Set the flywheel to the 0" mark ,find the #1 lead and follow it back to the distributor , mark the outside of the distributor housing at the #1 position . Pull the cap off and have a look , if it's not lined up pull the distributor out and adjust the rotor to the mark . Now the two bolts that hold the ditributor in should have marks where the original position was ,align those up an d tighten

After all this you should reset the timing with a timing light

Here is a link for the firing order http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/1c/59/9c/0900823d801c599c.jsp

Temp sensor can cause your start problem aswell as the engine harness can have broken wires in it

 

Hope this helps

SEA#3

[begacjj]

Ok, I was able to get the Loyale running after setting the Flywheel position to 0, pulling the distributor and adjusting the rotor to the mark on the distributor housing. The car started but ran very rough and would stall if I did not give it gas, I then tried rotating the distributor and was able to get it a little better by twisting the distributor all the way to the farthest position. I did not remove the spark plug to feel for compression since I was able to find the 0 mark on the flywheel. Is it possible for the mark on the flywheel to be at 0 but the #1 piston not be in the right position therefore causing the timing to be off even if I lined up the rotor and distributor while the flywheel mark is at 0? I feel like I am so close but must not have done something right?

 

Thanks,

Chris in Olympia, WA

 

To regain the correct rotor position you can take #1 sparkplug out and turn the motor over by hand with your finger over the plug hole you will start to feel the compression build . With the spare tire removed from the engine compartment you should see a rubber plug at the 12.00 position at the bell housing of the transmission, remove it and you should see timing marks on the flywheel. Set the flywheel to the 0" mark ,find the #1 lead and follow it back to the distributor , mark the outside of the distributor housing at the #1 position . Pull the cap off and have a look , if it's not lined up pull the distributor out and adjust the rotor to the mark . Now the two bolts that hold the ditributor in should have marks where the original position was ,align those up an d tighten

After all this you should reset the timing with a timing light

Here is a link for the firing order http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/1c/59/9c/0900823d801c599c.jsp

Temp sensor can cause your start problem aswell as the engine harness can have broken wires in it

 

Hope this helps

SEA#3

[dxrflyboy]

Ok, I was able to get the Loyale running after setting the Flywheel position to 0, pulling the distributor and adjusting the rotor to the mark on the distributor housing. The car started but ran very rough and would stall if I did not give it gas, I then tried rotating the distributor and was able to get it a little better by twisting the distributor all the way to the farthest position. I did not remove the spark plug to feel for compression since I was able to find the 0 mark on the flywheel. Is it possible for the mark on the flywheel to be at 0 but the #1 piston not be in the right position therefore causing the timing to be off even if I lined up the rotor and distributor while the flywheel mark is at 0? I feel like I am so close but must not have done something right?

 

Thanks,

Chris in Olympia, WA

It's possible to get the distributor installed 180 degrees out of position if you're only referencing the crankshaft. But the engine would not run at all if this was the case. You still may have the dist misaligned by a tooth or two. You now need to set the timing with a timing light. If you can't get the timing where it's supposed to be, you will need to remove the dist. and advance/retard it a tooth in the right direction until you can get the timing set.

[Subarian]

The problem with installing a distributor in the Loyale is that the range of adjustment for timing is pretty small. So I would do what sea#3 suggests, but instead of stopping at 0 degrees, stop at 20 degrees BTDC, which is what your factory timing should be. Now line up your rotor with the mark you made on the housing of the distributor. You should be really close to the correct timing.

 

And pull the number one plug to find TDC on the compression stroke. Since it's a 4 cycle engine, it makes two complete revolutions for each firing cycle.