ascastil

Can a distributor be bad even if it has spark? I have a 97 Z that cranks but wont start. It died out of the blue while passing someone under acceleration. I have spark, compression, clean plugs, good wires, and fuel. The code po336 came up a few months back and read it can be related.Any ideas?

ascastil

I forgot to add the most important thing, a backfire thru intake, but remember, it still has compression. I have to be missing something. The distributor is an Accel and its 9 months old.

Maverick_997

check fuses, and if no luck their are you for sure you are getting fuel? try spraying starting fluid iin TB in see if you can get it to turn over for a second.

Jeremy

ascastil

probed all fuses and sprayed carb cleaner into throttle body, still cranks no start!

Maverick_997

have you hooked up a fuel pressure gauge? if so what is your FP when you prime the car?

Jeremy

ascastil

42 psi

Maverick_997

hmm well if you have spark, fuel, and compression all thats left is timing. if you have compression then it would have to be electrial.. idk where i what i would start doing though

Injuneer

Have you scanned it again for codes? The fact that the fuel pump primes does not confirm that the injectors are working.

ascastil

po336, been on there for a few months now.

ascastil

im about 2 minutes before i have this thing towed to a dealer! Any last suggestions?

rngilliland

Mine did exactly the same thing. It was the opti. The bearing was bad. The rotor melted and I think it moved enough to mess up the timing. All the tests were normal and there weren't any codes but it wouldn't start. I replaced the opti and it started right up.

MILLER8338

I agree with rigillingad(sp) When I got my TA the screws that hold the rotor had come out and the rotor was touching the #1 contact. The guy I had bought it from had the car sitting for two years and took it to three different shops who all told him the same thing, "Everything checks out but it just won't start."

$250 later the car fired up within 10 seconds of turning the key.

Check spark on another plug.

ascastil

Thanks to all!!! The rotor screws backed out!!! 9 month old distributor, POS. Ill make sure to put them back in with loctite.

Injuneer

The Accel is not the best choice for a replacement Opti.

ascastil

From what i read, the msd's do the same. If I had the money, I would buy a GMPP Opti but since I can still fix this one that will be another time. I'm happy, I found the problem!!!!!!!!!!