I just had a replacement engine installed (broke timing belt and trashed valves bad). The car ran good for a day, no smoke when started or driven but now it has an intermittent problem starting. The engine turns over fine but won't start. I had the guys who replaced the engine pick it up and it started when they tried it while I watched. They took it in for a couple of days and it started every time. So I got it back and the same night it repeated the probelm. Any ideas where I can start looking?

labman

Next time it won't start, dump a little gas in the air cleaner. If it fires a little, it isn't getting gas. Go back over all the connections for the fuel injection and fuel pump. It would be very easy to leave one a little loose in a complete engine change.

If the gas doesn't seem to make a difference, go over all the ignition connections. If you have spark plug wires, try pulling one off and see if you get a spark.

You can also try wiggling connections while the engine is running, seeing if it misses or stalls. Intermittent problems can be difficult.

thebriggsdude

yeah like my olds, loose connection and well sometimes it would start and sometimes it wouldn't, wiggle the connctin at the distributor and around the computer and she started right up. sometimes they get wet or they just corrode.