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MC _courtesy_flush
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2019
Posts: 2
Location: WA
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 Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 11:20 am Post subject: Engine turns over but just backfires and won't start up. |
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So I just put my engine back in after replacing the head gaskets and piston rings and all that jazz. When I went to start the engine it turned over but just backfired and won't start. I figured it was something simple like distributor or crossed wires but nope. Checked the whole engine at least two dozen times and only found a loose vacuum line on the first look. From looking through the bentley it seems like the idle stabilizer could be the problem but I can't find one. It's an '88 rwd, it has a 2.1 but the guy I bought it from said it originally had a 1.9. Maybe that's why I cant find this idle stabilizer. I'm probably just being a dumbass but I've searched the web, studied my Bentley and tinkered with my van for a day and a half. If anybody could help me out that would be great, and increase my life quality by at least 90%.
Shaun |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9810
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 11:35 am Post subject: Re: Engine turns over but just backfires and won't start up. |
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| MC _courtesy_flush wrote: |
| ...I figured it was something simple like distributor or crossed wires but nope... |
That is sure what it sounds like.
I know you checked but you might verify again - if the distributor is 180° out things (timing mark, etc) can still look okay. The key is to be sure you are checking the rotor position when #1 is coming up to TDC on a compression stroke. |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17153
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 11:37 am Post subject: Re: Engine turns over but just backfires and won't start up. |
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Can you put a timing light on it and have someone crank it over while you check for the timing mark? Sounds like you have the ignition timing off enough that it's backfiring though the intake.
What year van? That will tell us what engine actually came in the van new. Some pictures would help too. If you have a mix breed, that will complicate it some, but assuming it ran fine before you took it apart, you probably missed something going back together that is easily resolved.
_________________
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4791
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 11:43 am Post subject: Re: Engine turns over but just backfires and won't start up. |
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also, make sure your pushrods are setting dead center in the lifters and tell us how you set the lifter preload...
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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mikemtnbike
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2796
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 12:13 pm Post subject: Re: Engine turns over but just backfires and won't start up. |
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^^ I came so close to posting what Dan did and questioned my relative rookie knowledge base...
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled  https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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MC _courtesy_flush
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2019
Posts: 2
Location: WA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 12:34 pm Post subject: Re: Engine turns over but just backfires and won't start up. |
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| Ok you figured it out for me. I forgot to tighten my rocker arms down the other day. Haha I knew it was dumbass related. I'm super happy to have this figured out. Thanks dude you the man. |
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