Spider 2000 won't start

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Chowdy

Spider 2000 won't start

Post by Chowdy »

I'm looking for a little insight to troubleshooting why this Spider won't start. A little background here is; the car is an early 80s vintage that was restored by a friend with my help. (I rebuilt the engine).
The car was running a few years ago and the last issues I heard Bob trying to resolve was trying to get the cooling system working properly.
Sometime or another he decided he didn't like the wood color dash inlays, took the dash apart and I don't know if it has run since. I am trying to bring this little jewel back to life for his widow now, so it's been a while since the last time it ran.
The symptoms are that when I first try starting it after sitting, it will pop over like it wants to go and then nothing. It cranks over fine, but nothing.
My son and I have verified that we have spark. One issue we did have was when trying to checking if timing was close enough. When cranking, the timing light would flash once or twice and then quit. We determined the coil was bad, changed that and it works fine now.
We checked fuel pressure where the fuel line goes into the fuel rail, checked that the fuel pressure regulator holds vacuum, checked the signal at the injectors with a noid tester and tested good. The last thing I tried yesterday was to put a resistor jumper in the water temp sensor plug to try to fool it for cold start and that didn't work either. I know this is going to turn out to be something simple, but I'm running out of ideas.
I hope this post isn't too long, but I am really hoping to get some ideas as to where to go with this.
I almost forgot, I did plug the gauges back in. They are just hanging right now.
Thanks in advance
spider2081
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Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Wallingford,CT

Re: Spider 2000 won't start

Post by spider2081 »

I would check static timing line up cranks timing mark at 0 . There are sight holes on the metal timing belt shields. They often have rubber pugs in them, Looking from the firewall toward radiator the cam boxes have a line cast in them this is a timing mark. looking at cam gears though the sight hole you should see the timing hole in the cam gears. If not rotate the crank 1 revolution and check again. Be sure to rotate crank in engine running direction only.
So Cal Mark

Re: Spider 2000 won't start

Post by So Cal Mark »

sounds like the injectors are stuck
Chowdy

Re: Spider 2000 won't start

Post by Chowdy »

Checking cam timing is a good idea. I will look at that.
I am leaning toward what you are thinking Mark. Question; will the injectors come out individually, or do I need to pull the manifold?
Also, I like the picture of the headers by your name. This spider has one installed on it.
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