MK2 starting problem

[Jeffman9123]

I have a 1992 VW Jetta Gl 1.8 Standard and I'm not sure why it won't start. I've been having problems for the past week, hesitation when accelerating, so i replaced the ignition wires. I got the new ones on and started the car up, it worked alright. It was idleing weird so I looked under the hood and saw an arc on the distributor cap. I turned off the car and unplugged the center wire, and then put it back on, i thought it wasn't connected properly. And now it won't even start, it turns over but won't fire. I also replaced the distributor cap recently so it would be weird for it to already be broken.
But its confusing because there is gas going to the cilinders and there is spark as well. I dont think it could be a conpression problem because i haven't had any problems like that before. And i'm out of ideas, i've tried everything.

Its my only transportation so im kind of discouraged i dont want to have to go to a mechanic.

[apollo7879]

Hard to say what your problem might be, but since you just changed the
wires, go back and be sure you haven't crossed a wire.

[Jeffman9123]

No, there not crossed. As i took each wire off i replaced with the new one so i wouldnt mess up the fireing order. It doesnt make sense

[jetta4j]

check your rotor for proper function..

[Jeffman9123]

If i have spark, wouldn't the roter be working?

[Doug Tatham]

How did you verify the spark?
You may want to replace the distributer cap and rotor, there may not be a spark to all cylinders.
Make sure the notch on your cap is lined up correctly with the distributer. You can have the cap 180 off and be sending the spark to the wrong cylinders.
Did you rotate the distributer when you replaced your ignition wires? There is a bolt that holds a piece of metal that holds the distributer in place. You loosen the bolt and rotate the distributer to adjust the timing. You may have accidentally messed up the timing.

[Jeffman9123]

I had it towed to my uncles garage so i'll have him try that. It seems like a logical answer. But one thing i noticed was when it was getting on the truck there was gas coming out of the exhaust. So it makes me think it was just really flooded, but i'm not really sure any more. I checked the spark by taking each spark plug out one at a time and physically looking while my dad turned it over.

Do you think the timing could have gotten messed up by just taking the wire off and putting it back on? because i didn't move the distributor cap at all.

Thank You for the help

[Doug Tatham]

If you didn't remove the cap or move the distributer, the timing should be ok. Post a reply when you find out what's wrong.

[stev0442]

i have the same problem sorta.. i was behind my dash pulling out a broken spedometer cable, opened the hood finished with the cable , then just listened to the radio for about 10-15 minutes and now it just turns over 1.8l 5 speed, turns but no spark i've tried a new coil, wires, plugs, rotor and a cap timed it and ran great for about a month, now just will turn over i can not here my fuel pump click on, (but the fuse is ok!) and no spark any replies greatly apprieciated thx