Won't start after new timing belt and ignition

[ceebus]

I could use some help please in diagnosing my failed maintenance.

The car: 89 325i manual

Me: Total noob to car maintenance, but I'm trying to learn

What I did: Replaced timing belt, tensioner, water pump, ignition wires, ignition coil, distributor cap, distributor rotor.


So I turned the key and the car cranks, but it doesn't fire at all. It generally sounds like it's struggling to turn, sort of like a low battery (battery cranked the car fine on Friday and has been unplugged since).


What would you recommend that I do to diagnose the issue or double check? Thanks in advance!

[Liquidity]

Double check everything basically. You messed with way too much stuff for a noob. If your timing belt is off - car won't start. If your distributor is off - car won't start. If you got your wires wrong - car won't start. You just better hope you didn't get the timing belt way wrong or else your valves are toast.

[mitchlikesbikes]

when i did all of this work i didn't line up my crank pulley right so the crank sensor was reading wrong and the car wouldn't start. check that too

[Ijl]

PO timed the engine wrong and had no clue...."made a funny noise now it won't start" 3 bent valves and 1 snapped later....DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING


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[mr.vang]

Turn the crank manually to see if it rotate, if not you are screwed (bent valve). Just a note, I always hand crank it 360 before I start it up, just to be safe.

[Liquidity]

Turn the crank manually to see if it rotate

Little late for that.

[McGyver]

if it were me, this is the order i would trouble shoot it:

1) try to turn it over on the crank shaft to make sure the timing is good enough to not bend a valve.

2) check battery connections

3) check the spark plug wires to make sure they are in the correct order.

4) check to make sure all sensors are plugged in.

5) check all fuses.

6) check the coil to make sure you grounded it properly

7) check for spark in each wire (remove 1 plug at a time and crank it over while looking for spark.

8) check to make sure cap/rotor were installed correctly and that you didn't FUBAR either.

[slammin.e28]

Check crank position sensor as it crosses the front of the engine and the wire will get fucked by the belt of the plastic guard isn't there. You moving it around could have done it in if it was already being fucked.

[ceebus]

Thanks for all the responses. It turned out I just had the stupid plug wires wrong from the distributor. Tonight I filled and bled the coolant, recharged the AC, and went for a test drive.

Thanks again.