Car: 03 Sebring conv. 2.7 manual trans. yes it is a t850 5 speed.

I bought it with a rod knock due to the sludging problem. I have rebuilt it, and now it won't run. It turns over, has spark, has fuel. I have checked and double checked all connectors. New crank and cam sensors.

Attempt no 1: I disconnected the cam sensor to build the oil pressure before actually starting. When I reconnected it I got nothing. It is turning over nicely. I checked the cam and crank sensors per the service manual. They checked ok but I replaced them anyway. Still nothing.

The ignition fuses are ok, the auto shut down relay is clicking when the key is turned. I turned it over with a spark plug out, and got spark. I sprayed carb cleaner in the throttle body, and tried straight gas. Still nothing. Not even a hiccup, or fart. I would think it would fire through the throttle body or hit at the wrong time even if I got the timing wrong.

Questions:
Can the flywheel be attached out of position, more than one position? I assumed this was the case since the hole pattern isn't even. I just rotated it until I could get all of the bolts in.

I know the timing chain is a pain with these. Does the following sound correct. All of the sprockets and links lined up as they should. I turned the engine over a few times with no valve issues and the links no longer line up. They are roughly 3 links off on the cam sprockets when the crank is lined up with the correct mark. I read a web page about this and according to it, this is normal. I turned it over 70+ times and eventually got the marks to line up again. I think this is good but I'm not sure.

This isn't my first rodeo. I've rebuilt numerous engines, but a 92 rt spirit is the newest one. The Obd scanner isn't giving me anything because it hasn't run yet. I know I'm getting fuel. I've been trying this so much that the unused gas has seeped past the rings and is making the oil smell like gas. I will change the oil when I get it to fire but I'm not going to keep changing it if I can't get it to run.

 

Well let me first start off by saying , im no tech - however , im at a old guys house this morning (im thinking a friend of the family?) anyway he has been a bmw tech for over 20 years , he is looking at my car at the current time , (im at his house) too damn bad his daughter is still asleep anyway he had me pull up this site looking for some info and he stumbled across your post and said :i bet $5 bucks his timing is off: now you quoted this is not your first rodeo and you seem to know what the hell your doing , this is all i could offer. good luck and may the force be with you.

 

I'm out of things to try externally, so I'm going to try the timing chain this weekend. I'm not looking forward to it. doing it on an engine stand is a snap, in a transverse car, not so much.