Ok so I just got my starter replaced because the solenoid was completely fried, but it didn't fully fix my problem...

When I try to start it, it cranks and cranks but takes a few seconds to finally turn over. The engine was just fully rebuilt with ported and polished heads, intake manifold, and throttle body. Scat crank, new pistons, and a high performance oil pump.

I'm thinking either my timing is off in my distributor, or I have to high of a compression pistons kind of like race cars, which would take it a few seconds to turn over. I don't know, I'm not very mechanically inclined. Any ideas???

 

When talking about starting an engine, "cranks" and "turn over" means the same thing. Did you mean takes a few seconds to fire up? So, was it cranking/turning over, or acting like it's dead? The "timing" on your engine isn't adjustable. Things can get messed up, but the timing can't get swung out of adjustment like an old style engine can. Does the engine finally start, and run fine when it does? When you turn your ignition key to the "on" position (not start), can you hear the fuel pump prime for a couple of seconds?

 

High compression doesn't make it crank and crank, it is the advanced timing that makes a racecar crank and crank. MY takes a little to start, but if I drop 2 degrees it start instantly.

But that isnt related to your issue if your timing cant be changed.


High compress makes the starter hang. It wont turn over it acts kinda like a dead battery. But again that isn't related to your issue.

 

Yea it just takes a few seconds to start. Once it's up and running, the car runs great! And yea I hear the fuel pump, but it's not very loud.

 

check fuel pressure, fuel pressure regulator, evap system. should also check the plugs to see if your running rich. thinking of that, have you had it scanned for trouble codes?

 

Ok I'll do that. And yea it smells like it's running rich, but it's barely noticeable. My SES light is on, ran the code and it's my crank positioning sensor, could that be it?

 

the crank sensor is for diaognosing so if its not working the computer is not going to have a signal to test the sytem against. in any case see if you can get it working, it may be that there is a problem but without the crank sensor it cant tell.

 

Ok... well the guy who rebuilt my motor use to own this car. He said it's the optispark (distributor), but I don't want to spend all that money on the car and that not fix it.

 

ahh that makes sense. have you done the turn the key on let the pump prime turn key off then on and prime then off and on and prime then start, trick.

 

Hey it worked!!! The real test will be when it's cold cause it starts ok when everything warm. Will that trick work if I just prime, key off, then prime and start? Just one less prime and off stage haha