EFI on 'roids?

Aside from the timing problems I'm still having (see previous posts) I have a question about the EFI. I have a 95 three cylinder. The car has always given me poorer than average mileage in the five years I've had it. I thought it was a result of my lead foot driving, but after reading the gas mileage poll, I see there are others who drive like me who get much better mileage. (I have got about 35 MPG for the last five years.)

I had the air cleaner body off, and when I tried starting it, I could see that there is a large mist of gas coming about 6 inches above the valve opening. All the mechanical parts look like they are functioning properly, and the electrical also seems to be fine. The car cranks, but won't turn over, likely a result of the timing being out.

Is it possible that the timing is ok, but the injector is flooding the engine too much for a spark to take? I pulled out the fuel pump fuse, and kept cranking and there wasn't any gas exploding at all. I took out the spark plugs, cranked out the extra gas and let it sit 24 hours and tried again with no luck. WTF!? This is starting to cost me money in lost work, and I'm not anxious to go to the garage to watch them cash in on my desperation! :evillol: Arrrghhh!

Come on metro gurus please, I need your unsurpased wisdom of all things small and economical!

Jai

What has been done, DieInterim?

Well, you could look in the post called died while driving to get the play by play, but here it is in a nutshell. The car crapped out on me while I was starting away from a stop light. Power dropped, and within 5 seconds it stalled. Wouldn't start again. Because I had an oil leak already, I suspected it ruined my timing belt. I checked, and it had. So, I replaced the timing belt and the cam seal and put it all back together again. It wouldn't even fire at all, so I think the timing is out. I think I used the wrong mark on the timing gear.

***Does anybody know which mark is the correct mark on the timing gear for a '95 3 cyl? ***

In the process of diagnosing, I noticed insane amounts of gas coming out of the TB. It's f#@kin old faithful! I have had this car for five year's and it has pretty much always givin' me 35 mpg. I thought it was low due to my stock car impression driving style. Too bad I never checked this before, but I've never had the air filter out and had somebody else cranking it.

There is so much gas that I wonder at first if it is possible that I am flooding the engine, and it won't build compression. I don't think that is true, cause when I went out today to monkey with it, I was turning the crank pulley with the rachet, and I could here lot's of air coming out the open spark plug hole. I keep going and I get the wheel that is off the ground turning. I also noticed a big difference while turning the pulley. It's hard to turn for a while as I crank, the feeling of air compressing, and then it get's really easy.

So, this is getting long. THE QUESTION! Is my problem more likely improper timing or is it flooded engine?

And once again, which mark on the timing chain should I use?

Also, when I bring the #1 cyl to top dead centre, how do I know if that is an intake stroke or outtake stroke? Does it matter?

By digging through old posts, I answered my own question. The extra fuel was only noticed because the engine was not turning over, therefore, the lack of vacuum meant the gas went up, not in.

I still don't know why my fuel efficiency is so bad. Next project I guess. I'll be paying attention to doctorbill's tb teardown.

The problem, if any of you are planning on doing your timing belt, is there are two marks on the timing gear (cam axle) One mark is 60a, and the other is 80c. My understanding is 60a is for the 4 cyl, and 80c is for the three cyl. I had mine backwards, putting the timing out by about 120 degrees.