Urgent help needed, AE85 4A Starting problems - Timing?

[Dr.Kronik]

Hey there.

I have just completed a headgasket change on my 1985 Corolla 4A Carb.
I have limited tools as i have just moved house.
The car crank's but won't start. There is spark (tested with screw driver test) and there is plenty of fuel.

I have a feeling my timing is out but my problems are this.

I can't seem to 100% confirm TLC. I can't remove the crank pully bolt to see where the keyway is sitting and I don't have the correct socket to remove #1 Spark plug to work out with screw drive trick where TLC.

Is there a way to find TLC or time the motor without removing these parts? I can find the timing Mark on the pully, at first i thought this mark at 12 o'clock was tlc but when looking at pictures of crank pully's this mark and the keyway are at different points.


Any input on timing or my starting problems will be helpful.

[Vertigo]

Can you not just find yourself the right socket? $20 at most.

[Dr.Kronik]

I'm not going to buy tools i already have. I managed to get the crank pully bolt off anyways. Set the keyway at 12, and the cam gear marker at 12. But the blasted thing still won't start

[whynot]

I recall been caught out by the keyway when I did my cambelt. The keyway is not the tdc timing mark. There is a dot punch mark on the bottom cam gear which lines up to a mark on the block and that equals tdc. That could be your problem.

[Dr.Kronik]

Thanks for that, I will pull the pully off (hopefully by hand) and time it up with the right marks and see how we go

[fangsport]

make sure the head has it's own earth.

[Dr.Kronik]

Engine is timed up correctly and via correct methods, head has an earth.

I am unsure about the wiring on the drivers side with the coil, there was a wire coming from the Positive of the coil to a metal tube round thing that was then grounded. Unsure if this is right as well as some random plugs.

Thou with all the wiring as it is its still getting spark.

Engine still won't start. Have put the battery on charge and will try again in a hour or so (as the engine could be flooded)

[whynot]

The metal tube thing is a condensor to suppress electrical noise. If you are sure you have fuel, spark and compression then timing is the most likely culprit the other option is after pulling the head off the dizzy is now 180 deg out but that is only an option on a gear driven dizzy like on the 16 valve 4age. Check that by setting it to tdc on the crank then check the rotor is pointing to the no1 plug lead. Also possible its now flooded from all that trying to start it.

[Dr.Kronik]

Hi its not a 4age but the dizzy is gear driven, Will test that next, thanks