NA won't start but starter turns-help!!

[wade3570]

ok guys, i need a little help...a little history---2 years ago, my NA blew the head gasket. i never heard of a NA blowing one but nevertheless, it did. so i took everything apart, rebuilt the head, new valve guides, gaskets, the whole nine yards while i had it off. put it togther, ran great. 500 miles later, going down the road...a loud screechy chirp sound came from under the hood and the engine stopped dead cold. after talking to my mechanic, he thought maybe i had seized the crank. couldn't afford to fix it. it sat for 2 years, covered.

Present---i'm starting to get it back together. i turned the key today just to see if something magical happened in the last 2 years....it tried to start, with a new battery of course. how could that be? the starter is turning, but not the engine. i added gasoline to the tank, it was near empty and put oil in the engine. i checked spark, fuses, eletrical, vacuum hoses, everything. i can't figure out why it won't start. i do things by the book and am pretty careful about engine stuff. Anybody out there have any suggestions or help? i love my supra and want very much to get it running again. i'd rather not buy a new engine, but am not against it if i have to. sorry so long....i need answers. thanks everyone. -wade (newbie)

 

[cjsupra90]

What do you mean that the starter is turning but not the engine? do you mean that when you crank it, the starter turns but the crank does not spin?

One other thing, did you change the oil after doing the HG job?

 

[wade3570]

yeah, i had a friend watch the engine as i turned the key. everything's spinning, pulleys & belts, So, i'm assuming the crank is turning. I did change all the fluids after the HG job. I did notice after that there wasn't much oil on the dipstick after pulling it, but added 2 quarts just so if it did turn it wouldn't be a "dry" turnover. another friend suggested blown piston rings. possibility? would it be worth it to check compression in each cylinder? if it is rings, can the engine be saved? thanks for whatver help you and anyone can give. i really don't want to buy another engine. -newbie wade3570

 

[BorHor]

Maybe you forgot to plug something in. That happened to me a few times.

 

[wade3570]

i've checked everything i can think of. i'm pretty careful about that kind of thing. However, the radio was stolen and the center dash piece with the radio connectors, hazard switch, lighter,etc. is missing. is there anything in that electrical that has to be connected for it to turn over? i've already check the wiring diagram in the book. i guess i'll just have to go thru step by step of "what would not make an engine turn" and figure it out....ugh... keep the suggestions coming. there's only a handfull of supras in this town and there'll all trashed. glad to see a site where people appreciate a classic sports car.

 

[BorHor]

hmm. The stuff inside shouldn't affect it not starting. Is the fuel flowing?

 

[johnathan1]

Igniter? You should check your engine error codes.

http://www.cygnusx1.net/Supra/TechTips/engine_error_codes.aspx

 

[wade3570]

yes, i think the fuel is flowing. i can smell gas out of the exhaust pipe after a few turns, but no start. i think the igniter should be fine. i replaced it just b4 the HG job. during my test the other day. Also, i pulled the coil wire from the center of the distributor cap and had a friend crank it. i held it close to the body and saw spark, so i don't think it's that. thx for the error code chart. i'll check that as soon as i can.

 

[wade3570]

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/bishopw/dsc05551copy.jpg

BTW---here's the engine after HG job. i like -"clean"-

 

[cjsupra90]

well if you havent done it yet, it cant hurt to do a compression test, But unless you have probably atleast 3 or more dead cylinder, then thats not your problem. The part that I am lost on is the hiddious noise that you spoke about right before the engine died.

I murdered two pistons once (zero compression on either) and the motor still fired and ran fairly ok.

 

[wade3570]

ok...so i can probably rule out a comp test for now. i'm puzzled by the hideous noise as well. it made a chirpy-squeally sound and then completely stopped. dunno. ya know how these thiongs go, it's probably something simple. at this point, i almost want it to be something bad just to be worth my time. i'll check more stuff this week and get back on in a few days. thx.

 

[johnathan1]

Well, check your codes, and timing. You could also have a vacuum leak.

 

[wade3570]

ok...thanks...i'll get on it this week.

 

[Plau000]

I had a problem like this a month ago and it was none of the shit you guys are saying it might be. It was a little stupid cable that is inside the engine bay on the driver side. Its right behind the battery. Check this be4 you do anything. If I remember correctly its the only black cable/wire in there. Its no longer than an inch, but it did not let my car start. Be advised you will have to order it from Toyota (I tried Discount and Auto Zone no luck).

 

[akito]

u know what, this happened to me last week. I turn the key, starter turned, u can hear it, see if your's same as mine, the relay click like crazy right? everything else go in fast speed. but it wouldn't start. i didnt think it was the battery.
My dad came out and took a metal stick and kinda poked at the starter. Then i jumped the car anyways. It starts right away after about 5 mins of letting it charged up. Still to now im not sure if it was my battery or wat ever happened. Since u said new battery, guess i cant be any help.

 

[wade3570]

akito----it sounded like your starter was going bad. after a while, they'll start sticking and you have to use the infamous "hit the starter until it turns" technique. i'm pretty sure my starter is ok. it was making "starting" sounds.
PLau000----i'm going to check the wiring once again. just to be safe, i'm replacing the plugs and putting in fresh high octane gas this weekend. crazy rain here. wish me luck. thanks guys.

 

[Quin]

Good luck...

 

[johnathan1]

So you haven't checked codes then??????????????????????

 

[wade3570]

ok..update...i had to work a ot of hours this week and was only able toget back to the car this past weekend. i bought a battery, replaced the plugs and added a couple of gallons of high octane gas. checked my wires, vaccuumm hoses and everything else i could find since last time.......no luck. it sounds like it wants to start, but won't. no, i haven't checked codes....yet. my next step is to do that. i think i need to make sure things are mechanically sound. i'm going to pull the distributor, set the crank to TDC and reinstall, just to be sure things are ok there, then possibly a comression test.
NOTE: when i pulled the plugs, there was a bit of oil in the valleys and looked like there was a little on top of the pistons. Bad rings??. the plugs were fouled big time. i sooked up what oil i could. technically, t should still try to start...right?.. that's all fornow. i appreciate whatever help you guys can offer. keep y'all posted in a few days. --broke down

 

[johnathan1]

The oil in the valleys is caused by leaky valve cover gaskets...the oil you saw on the tops of the pistons was likely oil that had collected around the spark plug, and then drained into the CC when you removed it. Don't worry about it TOO much if it isn't a large amount of oil.

And I STRONGLY suggest that you check codes...without doing that you're basically just blindly stumbling around in the dark, trying to fix things. It is SO EASY to check codes, it takes less than 5 minutes, yet n00bs act like it's so difficult for some reason...I don't get it.