Ok guys as some of you may know I also have a blue 1.8L which looks exactly like my Blue Turbo Talon.
Well before I decided to work on it, it had leaky valve seals. So I got a new rebuilt cylinder head and all new gaskets etc and put them on. The car was running before I did this.
Now everything is back together and the car wont start. I've checked the compression and it was 100-110-105-112 I think. (well around there). Now this is below service limit. I did fire oil in the cylinders and the compression jumped to 180psi. Yes yes worn rings I know. But as far as Im concerned the damn thing should still start up. This is merely my back up car.
Now for a while, I lost interest in the whole thing. Recently, I remebered I had just shoved the distributor back in without even thinking. So I went back today and turns out the rotor wasnt lined up to the #1 cylinder.
I timed the engine to the distributor. To confirm this, I pulled the #1 spark plug with the wire still attached.... Watched the cam shaft timing mark.... turned the engine over manually with the coil on and watched the spark ignite about 5 degress before TDC. Now the thing that may be causing this whole thing is that I would not get a spark just by holding the plug in the wire in mid-air. I had to put the plug close to the aluminum valve cover in order to see a spark.
Is this normal? Is the spark not strong enough? I need some insight on this cause the damn thing still wont start.
I know it getting fuel.. I can smell it. I know the timing is right because I would have never got 180psi when I fired oil in the cylinders if it wasnt.
It has to be spark or the compression is just to damn low. But It should still start even with that low compression if if it runs like a bag of shit.