After searching to no ends, (google and here) I am finally giving up and ill just ask you guys. I've recently done all maintenance that a 120 k mile, stock miata would need, and threw on a turbo setup (home-brew), with an O2 clamp purchased here. After getting all of that together, the car will not start. Im 100% certain the cam timing is on, but unsure about the ignition timing (tried playing around with it, with no luck). Everything rolls over smoothly when the cam position sensor is unplugged, but it kinda struggles when I plug it back in.

Any help is greatly appreciated, im not planning on driving this thing after it starts, i just want to make sure its working before i continue, thanks.

-Marc

 

What other bandaids do you have... what turbo setup...Check spark and fuel

 

pulled sparks and checked them, and there's plenty of fuel.

 

Its a turbo set up i put together myself, mitsubishi gsx turbo, with piping put together from alco metal in vallejo.

 

Coils plugs swapped? Any popping/sounds when you try and start it?

 

negative sir, but there was a big *** backfire once when adjusting the cam positioning thing on the back of the valve cover. sounds like im getting close then failing. I did however follow the haynes book when putting it all back together, so it should all be fine.

 

So no spark at all in all 4?

 

no i get spark just fine, thats why im so confused right now.

 

So you have spark, you have fuel, then the issue is Timing related

 

would you suggest i keep playing with that positioning sensor on the passenger side of the block?

 

Did you verify your timing belt is on correctly and not off a tooth or so?

 

yeah, from the bottom to top. That's also why i suspect the positioner.

 

Did you get the cam gears in the right orientation where the I and E line up with their markings on the bottom middle of the backing plate? The right orientation looks backwards to someone that hasn't done it before.

 

^Im pretty sure I didn't, I followed the haynes book all the way through, and matched up all pictures, and i even went back to double check yesterday.

 

Is it possible to engage the CAS 180 degrees off? I've never used one or looked at the end of the cam that closely.

 

It only goes in 1 way,

OP what exactly did you do to the car maintenance wise? Did it run before you did that?

 

theres a notch on one side at the end that only allows it to go in one way.

 

i did the head gasket, valve seals, end seals, valve cover gasket, belts, and new fluids. To add, yes it ran before, it had a pretty bad head gasket, and i got it checked out to make sure it wasn't warped.

 

Gonna play with the ignition timing some more, feel free to toss over suggestions, ill do anything to start her today.
-marc

 

you sound like me and my 99. timing belt is perfect, got spark, got fuel, turns over fine but just wont fire. after cranking like a min 1 coil gets hot to touch. does not matter if i switch em out. so i will be looking in to wiring when i get some time