Help!!! Cant start the engine.

[josrodes]

Hi,

I'm trying to start my engine(5.0 EFI) for the first time but it won't, it turns but it wont start, can you help me diagnose the issue? Here is what I have tried.

I have spark all the way to the plugs, its blue/white battery is 100%.
Injectors are reading 14.3 ohms.
12 volts on the injector red wire.
.95 volts to the injectors when engine is trying to start.
I have not checked the fuel pressure but I added carb cleaner on the throttle body and still nothing.

I think it is related to timing, I have followed instruction on setting the timing but no luck, here is video of the engine trying to start.

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/josrodes/th_1b3c7e8a.jpg (http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/josrodes/?action=view&current=1b3c7e8a.mp4)

Help!!! I really want to hear the sound of it breathing and barking, Thanks for your help.

Jose

[josrodes]

Kept on playing with the distributor, and got one sharp shot like sound, just once, I presume it backfired so I turned it 180. After that it made one puff that kind of sounded right but the battery just died on me so I'm charging it now.

Any ideas/suggestions?

[LewPoberezny]

Kept on playing with the distributor, and got one sharp shot like sound, just once, I presume it backfired so I turned it 180. After that it made one puff that kind of sounded right but the battery just died on me so I'm charging it now.

Any ideas/suggestions?

Turning it 180 degrees sounds wrong, when you initially stabbed the distributor did you find tdc on compression stroke of # 1 cylinder. and then install distributor with the rotor pointing close to #1 on the distributor cap. That is the easiest I can explain in writing.

[riptide motorsport]

5.0 and HO's have diferent firing orders........is yours correct/////////////////////spark, fuel, air.........it'll fire..........Steven

[josrodes]

I followed what you said, I thought it was at compression, but I haven't found a good way to double check that without taking the upper intake and one of the valve cover off. Any ideas how to check if I'm at compression without taking the valve covers off?

When it made that blasting sound(I assume it was a backfire), do you think it was at compression, just too retarded?

Thanks.
Jose

[josrodes]

double checked order, good for 5.0 ho.

[LewPoberezny]

I followed what you said, I thought it was at compression, but I haven't found a good way to double check that without taking the upper intake and one of the valve cover off. Any ideas how to check if I'm at compression without taking the valve covers off?

When it made that blasting sound(I assume it was a backfire), do you think it was at compression, just too retarded?

Thanks.
Jose

pull # 1 spark plug, if you have a helper have some one tap the engine over while you put your finger in the hole. Once you feel compression stop and hand turn the engine to tdc thewn stab the distributor with the rotor pointing towards #1 on the cap. This should get you close enogh to start and time from there. remember when you time i believe there is a spout to remove. Set the timing, shut it off and reinstall the spout and refire.

[josrodes]

Sounds good, I which I could give it a try right now(building in my backyard and neighbors side door have a baby so it is a no go for today) will have to wait till tomorrow 5pm. It really sucks when you can just get 2 1/2 hours to work on this during the week, I will be thinking about this all day long at work, not good.

Thanks a lot, don't hesitate in giving me more things to try, I prefer collecting all I can now, than to be out of thing to try tomorrow at 5:30pm.

Thanks a lot.
Jose

[josrodes]

Well sort of, timing is right now, and it does tries to start if I put some carb cleaner in the intake, so this points to the fuel delivery, after a fuel pressure gauge now, do I have enough fuel in the system if I just put 3 gallons in an empty system?
http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/josrodes/th_f78d0a3d.jpg (http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/josrodes/?action=view&current=f78d0a3d.mp4)

Thanks everyone, Lew the finger in the whole is the way to go for compression test.

Now to test fuel pressure and from there on. I will post on the progress.

[riptide motorsport]

some say they needed at least that much to get theirs to start with th efi system.............put a couple more gallons in.........Steven

[josrodes]

I decided to check the return and feed fuel lines.

There is fuel in the feed line but nothing in the return line, Fuel pressure regulator is new.

Is this pointing to the Fuel pump not being able to build enough pressure? Is there something else I could look at? I would expect fuel to return when pump is on and engine not running.

Also I'm using the thickest of the provided fuel line for the feed, is this why the pump cant build enough pressure?

Thanks.

[josrodes]

someone mentioned in the other forum that I might had the lines swapped, after looking at a picture on internet I think that is the case, can't wait to go home and swap them out just to bump into the next issue. :)

[AC Bill]

someone mentioned in the other forum that I might had the lines swapped, after looking at a picture on internet I think that is the case, can't wait to go home and swap them out just to bump into the next issue. :)


:o That was the exact problem I had when it came to my first start. I had the rubber ones switched at the end of the hard lines coming from the tank, to the fuel rails.
Swapped them over, and away it went.:D
I was warned that this can cause damage to the regulator, but fortunately this didn't happen to mine. Hope yours is OK..

[josrodes]

After swapping the lines it started, it's a beautiful thing, needs some timing and what not, but I need some sleep first.

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/josrodes/th_59efb446.jpg (http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/josrodes/?action=view&current=59efb446.mp4)

[riptide motorsport]

SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sounds great.

[frankeeski]

After swapping the lines it started, it's a beautiful thing, needs some timing and what not, but I need some sleep first.

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/josrodes/th_59efb446.jpg (http://s1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/josrodes/?action=view&current=59efb446.mp4)

Congrats, Glad I could help.