Expert: Skip Bollinger - 9/11/2010

Question
got spark got fuel wont start. replaced distributor. checked plugs. still no start. acts like it want to but wont.

Answer
Hope,
  Any time you ask an Automotive question, ALWAYS include year, make, model and engine size.
  As stated in my Profile, I'm a Parts Professional, NOT a Tech but will offer some thoughts for you to consider.
  It takes 3 things to make a fire. Air, fuel and spark. It takes 2 additional things to make an engine run.. Cam to Crank synchronization and ignition timing.
  If you have a timing belt or chain that has slipped, you can have fuel and spark but the engine will not run. IF you can, remove the distributor cap and watch the ignition rotor. Have someone turn the crankshaft BY HAND. Watch the rotor. The INSTANT the crank begins to move, the rotor should move. NOW, have them turn the crank in the opposite direction. Again, the instant the crank begins to move, the rotor should move. If there was a "lag" time between the crank moving and the rotor turning. Do this:
 Bring the #1 piston up to Top Dead Center on the compression stroke. Pull the valve cover and look at the rocker arms. They should both be loose. IF the exhaust is tight, rotate the engine one more revolution as you are at TDC on the exhaust stroke. Forget looking at the timing mark on the Harmonic balancer. I will explain..
  IF the elastomer ring on the balancer has slipped (and I have seen it many times), your ignition timing will be incorrect and, again, you can have fuel and spark but it is being delivered to the spark plug at an incorrect time.
  There are other things you can fiddle with but I think the problem is in the timing area, either ignition or cam to crank. There could be other problems like fuel pressure but you didn't supply information about the car so I have no idea what fuel pressure is supposed to be. That could be another problem on a Fuel Injected vehicle. You could have fuel but not enough pressure to make the car run. Bad fuel pump, clogged fuel filter or bad pressure regulator all could cause a fuel injected car not to run. It is more critical on a car with F/I than a carbureted vehicle.
  Hope, good luck. This is all I can think of. I hope it may help you solve your problem.
Skip