t1 spirit help

[a_trillion_hp]

90 spirit 2.5 turbo

moved the timing a tooth each way but it acts liek the car is off by a tooth runs like crap low rpms runs decent high rpms

changed disty dont know what else to do

thought maybe head gasket was blown between 3rd n 4th cyl. not sure tho would it make it seem out of timing if the head gasket was blown ?

[NAJ]

I am assuming you just replaced the timing belt, was this maintainance, it broke/jumped or to try to correct a different problem?
Here is the timing belt alignment and ignition timing procedure.
Be sure that # 1 is at TDC on a compression stroke and that the mark on the bell housing is lined up with 0.
Also note that the cylinder head is on an angle and the cam is not at 12 o'clock but at 12 o'clock with the centerline of the head.
When the auxillary shaft mark is aligned with the mark on the crank the rotor should be pointing at #1 cylinder on the distributor cap.
After aligning the marks and tensioning the belt rotate the crankshaft 2 revolutions by hand and recheck mark alignment and belt tension.
It is easier to turn the crank by hand if you remove all 4 spark plugs.
When you are done and ignition timing is correct the distributor housing should be parallel to the block.

[a_trillion_hp]

i bought the car not running n no i didnt replace the timing belt and i did do what you are saying to time it actually i did it exactly as you just said matter of fact i did it probably 6 or 7 times over and over again

[NAJ]

So if I understand correctly the problem is a no start condition?
Did you run a compression test?
What is the condition of the spark plugs? Are they fuel fouled or fouled in any other way?
Check for any fault codes.
If compression is ok and plug condition is ok i can lead you through no start diagnostics.
We are experiancing thunderstorms so I will be online as long as my internet stays on.

[a_trillion_hp]

no it starts but it runs ROUGH like the timing is off a tooth and i know that its not its dead on right now plugs are good looks like its getting the correct fuel and they are all firing

no codes have not done compression test

[NAJ]

Start with the basics, either run compression first or try to isolate the cylinder(s) creating your problem. You can run a cylinder power balance test.
Bring the vehicle to base idle(so AIS is out of the system) and one at a time unplug the fuel injector connectors and watch the rpm drop.
You may have to increase base idle to keep the vehicle running.

[a_trillion_hp]

im pretty sure its the 3rd or 4th cyl

[NAJ]

Once you determine which cylinder is creating the problem you then have to determine weather the cause is fuel, ignition or mechanical.
That is why you need to start with basics, compression test/cylinder leak down test unless you have something obvious like an open/shorted ignition wire, cracked distributor cap etc. Unless you have an injector tester and fuel pressure gauge to run an injector balance test the only way you will know if an injector is the cause is to isolate the problem cylinder and swap the injector with another cylinder and see if the problem moves to that cylinder.
The injector o'rings may also create a lean condition in 1 cylinder.
Wish I had more concise answers for you.

[91shelby]

is there water in your oil? i had a bad headgasket on a 90 spirit es cause it to do the same thing.

[tryingbe]

Compression test takes me 5 minutes to do... turning on my computer takes longer.

[crusty shadow]

you HAVE to verify mechanical integrity before you can have a chance at diagnosing the problem -do a compression test! if all the cylinders check out ok on the comp test then the next thing id check would be the vacuum hoses, especially the ones going to the map- thet'll definately cause it to run rough! after that check the cam belt timing- no matter how perfectly you time it at the distributor if the belt is off a tooth or loose, it wont run right. those are the fairly quick easy tests. if you dont check those things first you're pretty much pissin into the wind.......