1997 Sunfire Stopped & Won't Start

[rockitman101]

Hi all. This is about my daughter's 1997 Sunfire 2.2L OHV (96K miles, reasonably well maintained). It stopped running on her & wouldn't start. Checked fuel (OK); checked starter (OK); checked spark (OK).

Haynes manual says the next thing to check is the timing chain. 10 hours, several bruised knuckles, numerous scrapes and a significantly enriched vocabulary later, turns out they were right. Timing chain had a couple of broken links; no way the timing marks would align so apparently it had jumped timing, and the tensioner was almost fully extended.

Replaced said chain; after several hours of rehearsing my new vocabulary everything was back together with all the timing marks aligned and everything all torqued right. Got in, sat down, turned the key and - no change, still wouldn't start. It cranks but won't start.

I rechecked fuel, spark, starter - still OK. So, hoping to draw upon this forum's collective expertise, two questions:

1) Is it possible to put the timing chain & sprockets on - with the timing marks aligned - and be 180 degrees out of phase?

2) Is there anything else I should be chasing here?

Thanks in advance for any and all help ...

[zdc323]

Uhhhh....battery?

[GTP Dad]

Check the compression! There is a good possibility that the valves are bent due to the broken chain. If the valves are bent then you will not get enough compression to let it start.

Check the car to see if you are getting spark. If not I would also change the crank position sensor. If there is no spark then it could be the problem.

It is possible but not likely for the car to be 180 degrees out if everything was lined up correctly. The timing marks on these cars are easy to identify so the chances of doing it wrong are remote.

[rockitman101]

Thanks for the feedback - the battery is drained so we are having to use a jump battery but we are getting good spark etc. Am going to pick up a compression tester next to follow-up on that suggestion.

My apologies for posting this in two places - I posted it under problem diagnostics but when it came back under the cavalier heading I thought I had made a mistake and reposted it. I think the problem section is the right place for the post - appreciate your patience with the newbies!

[jennyjean]

I also have a 1997 sunfire. On my way home from buying it (used) it stalled and wouldnt start. We pushed it into the nearest garage and they put it on the computer and said it was the ingnition module. And that part is very expensive. They also changed my crank sensor and plugs and wires. At a total cost of $950!!! Wow I was mad. The module is almost $400 for just the part. Anyway i had no spark and it just kept rolling over. Its all fixed now thank god.