mwahlgren7

Hey everyone got a 1990 fwd 80 sedan. I changed the timing belt about a month ago after which it ran the same as it had before. However, the idle got worse and worse until eventually i had to drive with both feet to keep it from stalling at stop lights. It would still idle very well if it was extremely cold out and the engine was cold so I figured was not a timing issue. I ended up replacing the IACV and the coolant sender as well as repairing several damaged wires, though none of this helped much. So I took it to a shop that supposedly knew the CIS system well. Five hundred dollars later I get a car that idles smooth but misfires while driving and is generally terrible to drive. So I took it back and started checking around. The timing was slightly off so I pulled the belt again and started from scratch. Now I know for certain I have the crank and the cam pulley both on TDC (mark on flywheel is lined up) but now it refuses to run at all. Dizzy rotor is pointing at #1 also. I'm so utterly fed up with this car and would sell it if possible but as it sits is literally worthless. Anyone got any suggestions?

mwahlgren7

I've worked on it more and know for a fact that I have the crank at TDC the cam at TDC and the rotor pointing at wire #1. I also have fuel and spark. How is this car not running? I'm getting desperate here.

Rusty Spokes

Pretty tough to diagnosis a car via the internet. If the timing belt, camshaft and ignition are all timed correctly..then that is not the problem.

Could be an ignition problem..

Spark plugs..ignition wires, distributor cap and the like could be the problem..those may have been replaced in that $500 bill you got..don't know.

Could be a fuel problem....

Fuel filter..injectors..air leak..

Could be a mechanical problem..

Low compression..bent valve..plugged catalytic converter...

I would suggest doing a compression test and see what you got. If you have a vacuum gauge..test the engine vacuum..

Post some more information and lets see what you got.

Mike Atkisson

Are the plug wires on the distributor cap in the correct orientation? IE Clockwise or Counter-Clockwise (I don't remember which way off the top of my head).

x19

[QUOTE=mwahlgren7;24661492]Hey everyone got a 1990 fwd 80 sedan. I changed the timing belt about a month ago after which it ran the same as it had before. However, the idle got worse and worse until eventually i had to drive with both feet to keep it from stalling at stop lights.

It would still idle very well if it was extremely cold out and the engine was cold so I figured was not a timing issue.

I assumed your engine is 4 cylinder and check out vacuum(large) leak at the intake boot or other vacuum hose and(or) hose fitting etc. x19

mwahlgren7

Thanks all, turns out the head is warped got coolant in two cylinders. Just isn't worth fixing, so I'll probably junk it. Which is a shame

CRAZY_RUSSIAN

its not that hard or expensive to fix, just a bit time consuming

mwahlgren7

I know it's not bad to do, i just really don't have time to do it myself or the money to pay someone else. I would hate to junk it though so its on craigslist.