dizzy help needed!

[bambam89lx]

I recently just replaced the distributor cap on my 89. I accidently through off the timing. Now my car just cranks but wont start. After about 10 seconds of cranking the starter, I just here a ping or a poof ,some sorta sound. i need some help here....does anyone know a DIY way to adjust ur timing? Is that ping sound really bad? any help is greatly needed here.

[91EF3ZC]

You might have put the spark plug wires in wrong. Check the fireing order, here is a pic for you to follow:

[mellowboy]

Yeh i was gonna say u might have it placed wrong. Did you mess around with your rotor? Check to see if its on right.

[tbk49]

throwing off the timing doesnt mean it wont start, just run rich/lean i think

[RedRacerCivic]

throwing off the timing on your distributer will not keep you from starting your car, you can have it fully advanced or retarded, it still will start. Check your rotor to see if it didnt come loose, my best bet is that you just simply didnt put the wires in the right places or the terminals are not touching good.

[Tony]

Yea, i was gonna say either the rotor or the firing order. I just replaced the dizzy cap and rotor and at first didn't have the rotor on there right, wasn't connecting with the cap, then i got on there too loose and came off while i was going down the road

So that is how you are supposed to read which cylinder is which. I always had it backwards, but still get them in the right firing order, don't know how, guess im just lucky

[Bleebdat]

Also there are plenty of wires in the dizzy that if come loose the car wont start, check spark wires first, then crack the dizzy open again, then just put it all back together carefully. BTW how can you throw your timing off messing with the rotor.