94 Trouble starting...

[monkguru]

Im net very experienced, but Ill hope for some help and try to detail my problem.
My car died while driving it, I had the same problem weeks ago, and it was the timeing belt. worked good since. When I crank it, it turns over, but sometimes hear a clicking sound while its cranking. I tried to jump but that did nothing. I cleaned the battery terminals, and pulled the spark plugs. Im not sure yet if I have spark, but will be checking that shortly. Im questioning why my plugs look wet. No oil, just looks and smells of fresh gas. I guess thats why im wondering if their not working. Ofcourse im very new to all this car repair stuff, so im not sure where to turn. Any advice would be appreciated. As im trying to skip the garage this round

[Jet-Lee]

make sure your timing is right. You may have even blown a gasket, be it the head gasket, intake, or exhaust.

[monkguru]

with taking into consideration that it could be a gasket problem, is there anything else I could look for first before thinking the worst?

[Jet-Lee]

your timing, make sure your marks line up PERFECT

[monkguru]

I dont know much about the timeing, but I had that done just a few short weeks ago.
I did check for spark, and the plugs spark, should I check for fuel next? and what is the easiest way of doing so?

[monkguru]

I was really hopeing on some advice here guys. My car is just sitting, and I am unsure what to check. I had the timing belt changed at a garage just 2-3 weeks prior. I havnt really driven it since, as it was awaiting inspection. How does one know if its a gasket problem? or valves? would the car not still start, but just run poorly?

[Jet-Lee]

have your alternator and battery checked.

[monkguru]

Thx for the reply Jet. Well here is that situation. Battery is dead from all the cranking, so I have to use a jump box to turn it over. Alt. was replaced bout 1 1/2 yrs ago. Guess it could be alt. But wouldent the car still turn over? What is the simplest was for me to tell if the engine is getting fuel? Thx. again.

[Jet-Lee]

Take ur alternator to AutoZone to have it tested, it may not be charging your battery. To check if ur gettin fuel, turn your key to on (dont start) and listen for a buzz coming from the gas tank. If it sounds like a good healthy buzz, ur prolly ok, if not, ur fuel pump could be goin out. Aside from that, I think the only way to really check your fuel system is with a pressure guage, although I can't remember at this moment, where on the 1.9L you would hook it to.

[Jet-Lee]

I just re-read your original post, have you checked over your distributor? Make sure your cap and bug are good and tight, and you've got the right wires run to right plugs from the cap. Make sure your cap is on straight, and not advancing or retarding your firing. Check your plugs for spark, is it white spark or blue? Let me know. I had a case like this with an Acura 2.5TL....all it needed was a new battery.

[monkguru]

hmm. Thx again. The plugs fire white. Also when the car cranks, the engine turns unusually slow. I have had so much trouble with this car. Here's the worst bit of info I left out. The car did seem to over heat, well...actually...it may have leaked All the water out. and was steaming like hell when the car stalled. I left this info out for two reasons.... 1. I only mad it maby 3 miles with the car. (straight highway stretch too) 2. when you mention this, ppl imeadiately say head or valves. But last time this happend to me months ago, I had several ppl look at the car, and it was the guy towing it in the end who said, nah it just needs a timing belt. That was the fix, and worked fine for a while.
I am really hoping to discover a more simpler problem like that.

[Jet-Lee]

that may not have been the only thing wrong with it. It does sound like your head gasket now, you prolly blew all the water out and it boiled on the hot block, causing the steam. When they replaced your timing belt, sure it ran, but a lot of cars can still run with half compression in one cylinder. Now, the white spark is what I was getting in the Acura, replaced the battery and it was blue, and it ran again. How old is your battery?

[monkguru]

prehistoric looking. lol In fact ive been jumping the hell out of it for 2 yrs now. heh. Still was holding charge to start though. provided i didnt leave the lights on overnight. heh But should that matter as long as its jumped, it has the juice. not?

[Jet-Lee]

It mattered for me. We replaced ALL fuses, the COMPLETE distributor (cap, bug, etc.), ALL spark plugs and wires, all it needed from the get-go was a new battery. It died while running and never started again till we got the new battery. Take one out of another car and try it, a battery that you KNOW is good.

[tfoti]

if its the 1.9l, it doesnt have a distributor... i would also try new plugs and wires. 2 plugs went bad after only 8 months for myself one time