06-19-2016, 11:00 PM
So, recently bought a '95, 16v, auto, 4x4, 2-door soft top. Bought it non-running because price was right and the guy I bought it from sounded like he knew them pretty well. I have had 3 others before and 2 sammies, so feel I KIND of know them as well. I am not an "educated" mechanic, but a pretty decent "self-educated"/shadetreee mechanic.
So, we (I have a friend that is an older, retired mechanic fella that we like to tinker together.) looked through everything we could think of, based on what prior owner had told us, and started to change fuel pump, but then after checking connectors I was able to get fuel pump working, so we went back to trying to start it. Had all fuel lines connected, but fuel tank still loose, JUST to make sure. She was trying to backfire a bit, and wouldn't start, and just sounded like timing was way off, even though PO claimed he had checked this. So we decided to check timing-seemed that when cam timing mark was at TDC, crank timing mark was about 90 degrees off! We reset it. She started right up, sounded great, idled and ran for several several minute spells while we looked it over, listened to it, reved it, etc. Once we were convinced it was GOOD, we turned it off, and left it sitting, as I was going to get new hardware (crews and bolts) to put fuel tank system back together and strapped back up with.
Took about 2 weeks to get back to it, so before putting it all back together, I went to restart it to make sure it was all still functioning, that my fuel pump connections were still making good connection, etc. She started, but HARD and ran rough. Got her to hold idle, but still was not smoothe, etc. Put most of fuel system back together, not convinced. We'd done nothing to it in the 2 weeks away.
Got another day when we both had some free time, and it wouldn't start at all.
Main question is WHAT could have happened between running great and running crappy without any outside interference? I am redoing everything using all of your advice on these pages, but just wondering if anyone can think of any logical explanation.
Oh, and THANK YOU for the page. GREAT info, GREAT advice, etc. Very GRATEFUL that you guys are here to help me!
Thanks!
So, we (I have a friend that is an older, retired mechanic fella that we like to tinker together.) looked through everything we could think of, based on what prior owner had told us, and started to change fuel pump, but then after checking connectors I was able to get fuel pump working, so we went back to trying to start it. Had all fuel lines connected, but fuel tank still loose, JUST to make sure. She was trying to backfire a bit, and wouldn't start, and just sounded like timing was way off, even though PO claimed he had checked this. So we decided to check timing-seemed that when cam timing mark was at TDC, crank timing mark was about 90 degrees off! We reset it. She started right up, sounded great, idled and ran for several several minute spells while we looked it over, listened to it, reved it, etc. Once we were convinced it was GOOD, we turned it off, and left it sitting, as I was going to get new hardware (crews and bolts) to put fuel tank system back together and strapped back up with.
Took about 2 weeks to get back to it, so before putting it all back together, I went to restart it to make sure it was all still functioning, that my fuel pump connections were still making good connection, etc. She started, but HARD and ran rough. Got her to hold idle, but still was not smoothe, etc. Put most of fuel system back together, not convinced. We'd done nothing to it in the 2 weeks away.
Got another day when we both had some free time, and it wouldn't start at all.
Main question is WHAT could have happened between running great and running crappy without any outside interference? I am redoing everything using all of your advice on these pages, but just wondering if anyone can think of any logical explanation.
Oh, and THANK YOU for the page. GREAT info, GREAT advice, etc. Very GRATEFUL that you guys are here to help me!
Thanks!
