89 metro won't start, Help!

[tygerfly]

Okay, I saw a few different threads concerning this, but they are not the same exactly, or they didn't help.

Problem:
1989 Geo Metro won't start. It turns over, but won't catch.

I've checked:
compression-good, fuel-good, fire-ok, not great, fuses-good, timing belt-good

I've replaced:
Plugs, wires, cap, roter, battery, ignition coil, distributor, hmmm, think that's it.

None of this has helped either. The fire is still weaker than it should be, but it's there. The fuel lines are fine, as is the filter and all else fuel related. Now, I have NO idea what else it could be. Is there anything else that causes the weak fire, or just turn over and not start?

Can anyone help me?

[pind]

The only thing i could suggest, other than what you have done, is a compression test. And check the position of the timing, it may be off by one tooth.

I have an 89 that was recently retired from race duty. I had the same problem with it about 8 years ago, crank and crank, no engine fault codes, everything where it should be, and still no start.

I went through every imaginable part on the thing, finding exactly nothing wrong, until one day i noticed the fuel in the throttle body. Way too much fuel. The problem on that one turned out to be the o-ring underneath the injector, swelling and pushing the injector up. Enough to let it leak by, and dump copious amounts of raw fuel into the throttle body. It was basically drowning the engine.

On a related note, when I finally discovered the problem, I changed the o-ring, then pulled the plugs to let the cylinders clean out a bit. Left the coil lead hooked up, and didn't really think about the plug leads resting on the exhaust manifold. Until cranking it over with oil in the cylinders, while purging the gas. 155psi compression pressures, without anything to hold them back, and a source of ignition for the gas vapours, make for a cool flame show. hah

[tygerfly]

Well, the compression came out fine, and we put a timin light on it, it's in time. But, I will check further on the fuel and o-ring just to see. I appreciate it!

[geozukigti]

could be a bad coil also. OK fire is sometimes not good enough. A new coil is about $20 at an auto parts store, or $40 for a nice MSD high output coil. You'll get smoother idle, better MPG, and a few more ponies with an MSD.

[tygerfly]

Changed the coil already. if it is the same one your talking about, it was $20. Well, I really thank y'all for the help. Got it running!

Seems it was the crank angle sensor. Found the geo book and checked the codes. The air gap was cruddy and not right. So, cleaned it up and readjusted the air gap for the crank angle sensor, cleared out the codes, and it's running! I just knew it had to be something simple. Well, this time it was. LOL

Thank you again for the suggestions!!

[SillyWilly]

Where do I find the Fuel Filter on an 89 geo metro???

[westsidex]

Mounted under the driver's rear of the car, just above the emergency brake cable.

[geojim]

tygerfly - Your orginial post didn't mention that you were getting a code, which would have been a key as to where to look first.

[crazyinkc]

Sounds like a bad ignitor. Try swapping with a known good one. I think it is mounted in the dissy on that model (please correct me if I'm wrong). I see you changed the dissy out but did you swap with another used one? I hope you find the problem but it sure sounds like an ignitor (ignition module) to me.