My friend cant get his 1985 MPFI to start. It will turnover but it will not start. What could be wrong with it. Any suggestions on getting it to start...

Thanks

 

what's the fuel pressure; any spark?

 

how long has it been sitting? I bought a 91, (sat for 11 months) to get it to run I changed the cap, rotor, plugs. if its cranking, the main things to look for are fuel n spark. And belive it or not, a low battery will spin a starter, but may not have enough juice to control the rest of the stuff. So while you try and start, have a battery charger on it.

 

On my ride,
here is a list of reasons why I had no start.
Complete ignition failure (replaced everything-coil-twice,-rebuilt distributor-replaced modular, TWICE!)
Lousy alternator (couldn't kick out required 105 amps for starting)
Lousy Fuel Pressure (replaced pump)
Wiring wrong on distributor (pulled plug, got #1 to TDC, rewired plug wires on cap correct-ZOOM!).
Enjoy you research.
Oh I have an 85, too.
Been there.
Are you in the direct Sun of 100* & on the side of the freeway?
Been stranded like that, too.
Forgot one reason why the engine wouldn't start.
I dropped the lower Rad hose, & I overheated the engine & it blew up! Woops! Hole in piston is larger than a Silver Dollar. Can you say "Lack of Compression?"
I have to admit, it did kinda cool in the rear view mirror! Felt like a NASCAR driver on the track in morning Rush hour traffic!
NOT that I want to repeat that scenerio!!

 

Some things I can think off of the top of my head...

A bad ThrottlePositionSensor (TPS) can make the computer go into clear-flood-mode, which is when you floor the gas when cranking the motor. In this mode, the computer turns the injectors off, so you wouldn't get any fuel.

If a MAF goes bad without setting the service engine light on, it can cause starting problems. You can just unplug the MAF and try starting the car.

The timing could be too far advanced (or retarded), and you'll wind up with a no-start, spec is 10 degrees BTDC. If you have three "grooves" in your balancer, mark the WIDEST ONE with white-out. The other two are used for a special timing gun, one with a magnetic pickup. The spark plug gap could also be too wide for spark, spec is 0.045".

The rotor under the distributor cap could be destroyed somehow, causing a no-start. Check for spark with a screwdriver. Ignition off, remove the center coil wire from the distributor cap. Put a screwdriver inside the boot so it touches the metal contact. Lay the screwdriver so the metal shaft comes near a piece of metal... such as laying the screwdriver on the fender, or cowl, or near the engine block. Then crank the motor and look for spark. If spark, turn the ignition off, reconnect the coil wire, and check TWO plug wires in the same manner. Reason for checking two plug wires? It's because in case the first spark plug wire is bad, the chances of two being bad are unlikely.

Like Dale mentioned, if it's been sitting for a long time, the gas might be bad. My car wouldn't start after sitting for a month with 1/8 tank of gas, a few gas-cans full of 94 octane, and it started up.

 

The car has been sitting for a while. It has had problems before. It only has a 1/4 tank of gas so it might need some new gas. Im not sure what is goin on with it but we will take ur suggestions to see if we can get it going today...

Thanks

 

I didnt know that stuff tom mentioned on the map and tps, thanks. However, I dont see how you can check timing if its not running?? I know if its to far advanced it will "buck". I fits had probs before you parked it, what where its symptoms?? Look into them. If it had a bad part then, im sure its trashed buy now. Also hate to say it, but haynes manuals from autozone have a great trouble shooting section, but then that chiltons version has more detail on how to repair/replace. As far as if you think it has bad gas, you should bealbe to get some stuff for gas that has sat up, then dump 5 gallons of good gas on top that. First I would look into a tune up though, plugs, wires, cap rotor, etc. Another way, but messie to check gas could be hold down the pressure tester nozle (looks like a valve stem) and have someone else crank, it should spray. If it does, that means your pump is good. OO, another tip, sounds stupid, but check all your fuses, I had that happen to a friend now that I think of it.