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As the title states, i just recently changed the head gasket. I've put it back together and pulled it apart again to check if i had coolant in the cylinders. No coolant, but the car will not start.

My question is: would it be easier to correct the timing with the cylinder head on, or off of the engine? And: What would be the easiest way to determine if the valves are opening and closing on the correct strokes?

I've set both camshaft and crankshaft to TDC, so I'm assuming the valves are opening and closing on the wrong stroke. I've checked to see if the plugs are firing, and to see if I'm getting gas.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 284

did you do a valve adjustment? If the marks are both PROPERLY on TDC then you shouldnt need to take the head off.

 
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I did not do a valve adjustment. I changed the head gasket. And in the process i think i moved either the camshaft or the crankshaft, or both. And when putting them back at TDC i think i turned the crankshaft around one too many times. I was just wondering if there was an easy way to tell when the cam and the crank are aligned to fire on the ignition stroke.

 
Rep Power: 256

with the timing belt on the motor the crank and the cam gear can only be at TDC at one point. there is NO WAY the timing can be off if the arrows on the timing belt cover match with the first yellow line on the crank pulley and if the cam gear says UP with the lines facing flat with the surface of the head.

in other words the timing belt can only go on 1 way if set correctly. its not possible that you turned the crank or cam gear too much and it got misaligned. after reinstalling the timing belt did you rotate the assembly counter clockwise to ensure the marking were matched up?

 
Rep Power: 275

You can't correct the timing with the head off the engine, because the belt needs to link the cam and crank.

As long as you didn't remove the camshaft from the head, the valves are closing where they should in relation to the camshaft. Period. End of story.

Unless you have valve damage, and I'm assuming you would see that.

Read my timing belt DIY. Make sure that you are aligning the crankshaft pulley matchmarks with the ARROW on the oil pump. This is not the same as aligning the notch in the crank with the arrow - there are matchmarks on the edge of the crank pulley you should be looking at.

You need to make darn sure the arrow on the CAMshaft gear points straight up, and that the matchmarks on the side of the gear are even with the cylinder head deck. Thread the timing belt on according to the directions in the DIY or factory manual, and then, as the prev. poster said turn the engine CCW a couple times to make sure everything STILL lines up after the belt is totally positioned.

If it still wont start, unplug the TDC sensor and see if it starts. If so, your timing is off on the belt. other causes can be the ckp sensor, but I doubt it.

Did you remember to plug in the fuel rail, coils, alternator, etc?