I was driving on the freeway and my car just stalls. I didnt hear any loud ticking or a pop, the car just smoothly stalled so I'm not exactly sure what it is..The rotor doesnt spin when I crank it so that's making me think something is up with the timing belt. This all started recently when I added some high octane gas, maybe that caused the timing to retard or advance? I did notice that the car would hesitate/bog while under load but I just thought my car wasnt used to the fuel, so I checked the plugs and they were black due to running rich. I can hear the fuel pump hiss...and wouldn't the rotor still spin when I crank it even if the fuel pump was bad? What else could be the problem? replace cap and rotor? Any input would be greatly appreciate, thanks

 

why don't you just pull the valve cover off and take a look at the timing belt if that's your primary concern...

Now does the motor crank or nothing when you last recently tried to turn the key?

 

yes it cranks...I just got the car towed and havent had a chance to take off the valve cover yet. All I did was look at the plugs and they were black. I just wanted to see what other people thought before I started working on it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by preludacris &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just wanted to see what other people thought before I started working on it</TD></TR></TABLE>
Sounds like a broken belt or cam. What year and model?

 

Since it cranks but no start, check the belt, then fuel and spark.

 

i took off the valvecover and everythings looks fine. Belt looks normal and so does the head...

 

hmmmm, i don't get it, the rotor doesn't spin but the head is all alright? there has to be something wrong between the cam and the dist, or maybe the dist itself..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by preludacris &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i took off the valvecover and everythings looks fine. Belt looks normal and so does the head...</TD></TR></TABLE>The belt looks "normal?" Did you check to see if it jumped timing? Check to make sure your crank and cams are both at exactly at TDC.

 

even if the timing was off wouldnt the rotor still spin? Im leaning towards the distributor...

 

yes, if the rotor didn't spin then there's your problem. period.

 

could I just replace the rotor? What would cause the rotor not to spin?

 

the rotor sits on an axle which is conected to one of the cams, find the culprit, it has to be something between the rotor and the cam.

 

if the timing belt is in fact 'normal' then you have a problem with the distributor.

 

I meant the belt looked normal as in not broken, loose, etc...I haven't had a chance to check if the timing is off. Since the belt is intact wouldnt the rotor still spin? So that would mean the distibutor is bad?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by preludacris &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Since the belt is intact wouldnt the rotor still spin? </TD></TR></TABLE>
The t-belt may have teeth sheared off of it. Turn the engine over by hand and see if the cams turn.

 

If the rotor doesn't spin, that means your camshaft isn't spinning. If your camshaft isn't spinning that means your timing belt isn't doing it's job.

When you crank the engine by hand and inspect the belt, check to see if any teeth are missing from the belt.

 

take ur dizzy off and look at it, inspect it

 

why don't u just take the valve cover off and see if the cam turns when u turn the crank?

if the cam turns and the rotor still doesn't - check the distributor and the slots in the cam where the distributor mates with the cam...

if the cam does not turn, and the t/belt is still intact, check the teeths on the cam and crank gears...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by taz77 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">why don't u just take the valve cover off and see if the cam turns when u turn the crank? </TD></TR></TABLE>That's what I'm saying...