Replacing blown head gasket and run into a problem

**bahlorm** · 08-04-2012, 03:53 PM

Alright guys, I have just had to do a head gasket replacement and I almost have it all put together. I run into a problem though while testing to see if this car will run and I did everything right. When I try to start the car it will try to start and get to abot 1k rpm then die instantly. If I mess with the throttle it will kind of stay alive for maybe 5 seconds longer then die. Also if I put starting fluid into the intake it will start up run to about 3k rpm and die. So it sounds a lot like I am not getting any fuel but I am just wanting to verify on what I should check for first. I have about 3 gallons of new fuel in the car. Should I just go ahead get under the car to see if the fuel pump is pumping fuel? Could it be a vacuum leak somewhere? Or could it be anything else? I had the car set at tdc and the distributor pointing at num 1 cyl, all new plugs wires and distributor cap. Kind of at a loss as to where to really start looking since there could be many possibilities.

**bahlorm** · 08-04-2012, 04:37 PM

I may of actually of found out the issue. Or another issue. My dumbass forgot to tighten half of the intake bolts so obviously I have a huge vacuum leak. But is there an easier way to get these damn bolts in? It took me half an hour to turn 1 bolt 1 revolution on 1 of the top bolts. And the bottom ones I am sure will be even harder to get to. Anyone got any suggestions on an easier way to get these things tightened?

**celica fanatic** · 08-04-2012, 05:14 PM

Might sound like a smartass question, but it isn't. Did you plug up your afm? I forgot to once.

**bahlorm** · 08-04-2012, 06:03 PM

Yeah that is plugged up I am pretty sure it is probably because of the vacuum leak it is just hard as hell to try to get to these damn bolts on the intake lol. If I can finally get them back on I will try again to see what happens

**4SFED** · 08-04-2012, 06:54 PM

While you're at it, make sure you bolt down the engine wiring harness ground connection to one of those bolts on the intake manifold.

**bahlorm** · 08-04-2012, 08:13 PM

Will do. These damn bolts are annoying the hell out of me lol. Especially the ones on top

**fvaldez421** · 08-04-2012, 08:33 PM

Yeah its the intake bolts, my inexperience led to me forgetting to reconnect my intake after replacing my heater hoses and if the mafs isn't reading the proper amount of flow, it'll shut the car off.

**83CelWA** · 08-04-2012, 09:54 PM

Are you trying to put the intake back on as one piece? It is much easier bolting just the lower intake in the head, and then bolting the upper intake to the lower.

**bahlorm** · 08-04-2012, 10:38 PM

Yeah I was installing it in 1 piece. Everything is basically hooked up already just got to get these damn bolts in. After that I am thinking it should be good to go. If it is easier to do it as 2 different pieces where are the bolts located to be able to take the upper part off? Also would there be a gasket there that I would need to replace if I went that route? May have one in the head gasket kit I have but not positive on that.