My first 3.9 V6 and having a heck of a time. I've had this beast for a year and finally had it rebuilt. So it has been sitting a while. It is all back together but won't start. It was running before I rebuilt it. I rechecked TDC and all connections to the throttle body. Nothing is unplugged that wasn't before. I changed all the rubber fuel lines and filter. When I prime the throttle body and then crank it, it doesn't smell like gas. It makes a sound like "wooop" and then pops. Then it smells funny. Now I did put water absorber in the tank while it sat.

Should the injectors spray gas when I flip the throttle on TB when NOT cranking the engine - because it doesn't. I figure it should since in theory it is like pumping the gas a few times before starting it. Since, I felt that I wasn't getting fuel, I changed the fuel pump in the tank and cleaned all the goop out. Still not starting. Doesn't sound any different. I have poured over the wiring harness for culprits but nothing yet. I still need to check the wiring to the fuel pump.

I am open for suggestions.

 

When you open the throttle you are controlling the amount of air available to the engine not the fuel itself on a TBI system, so no the injectors will not spray when not cranking the engine. They should spray when cranking the engine. This problem sounds like a timing issue from the little you have said. I would first check the static timing.

 

I've rebuilt a few carbs back in the day but never a TBI. Any concerns about rebuilding one. I looked at new ones for close to 5 bills. Yikes! If the tank was real cruddy then the TBI might be as well.

 

You don't rebuild the throttle body itself, you just replace the injectors if they are clogged.

 

I don't hear the fuel pump relay when I crank the engine. I bought a new one at AutoZone for $12 and figured what the heck. I brought it home and popped the hood. Wow, there's three relays in a row that look identical. I looked in my old Haynes manual and there is nothing even mentioned about it. Can anyone help here?

 

Mine is third from the front. I have been told some are the second from the front. The pin arrangement on mine is different than the other relays so you should be able to tell since you have a replacement relay. Be sure to check for power at the ASD relay plug when the key is on.

 

I matched it up to the last relay closest to the firewall. All the relays pins were the same but the plastic covers had a different latch shape. I installed it and it sounds pretty much the same but I got a pretty good flame out of the TB. Guess this means I have gas. Still no start though. Looks like it shoots a spray fuel up in the air when I pump the gas while cranking.


I took the valve cover off and re-rechecked the TDC to be sure it was on the compression stroke. It was dead on. I pulled the distributor out and checked the centerline for the distributor shaft. Now this has always bugged me - when I lined it up originally, my manual said to line it up to the no. 1 intake port. When I look at it, it lines up with the PCV valve, which is more toward the middle of the cyl head. I took it one more notch this time and it looks like it runs parallel with the camshaft. I decided to try the second way to see if I get lucky but no dice. What does yours look like?

In any event, my next step is to purchase the ASD relay. I found it at NAPA for $20. From the picture, it looks like the other two relays combined (in between the starter relay and the fuel pump relay). I just can't help feeling like it is something simple like a short or ground though. Frustrating to say the least...

 

if it shoots gas out the throttle body when you try to start it then i would guess that your distributor is 180* off. i would try adjusting the distributor between attempts at starting it. obviously you have spark. it should start if you mess with the timing.

 

The ASD is the fuel pump relay. The 2 or 4 relays that may be there are the starter relay, ASD relay, A/C clutch relay, and part throttle unlock relay. You have spark and fuel so forget about the relays. I think crazzywolfie is right. As I said before this sounds like a timing problem.

 

Awwwww.... Happy Days! The beast awoke.
Thanks everyone for your help.

It turns out that the distributor was 180* off. Go figure! I knew it had to be something simple. I just couldn't bring myself to take it to a mechanic and troubleshoot for $40 an hour plus towing.

Funny thing is that I marked everything before taking it apart. I marked the cap to distributor and in relation to the intake manifold. The wires were all marked BUT I had to actually change a couple because they no longer would reach the plugs. How could that have changed with a rebuild? Unless a year ago I somehow switched the dist. around when I changed the oil pump even though I had it running after that. Wow, lots of questions but happy none the less. Thanks again everyone!

Now on to the next thing - changing to a hi-flow cat and Thrush welded muffler! Can anyone recommend a cat?