I had my 88 2.6L Trooper die on me yesterday on the highway. Realizing I had a broken alternator belt which I assumed was preventing the fuel pump from working, I replaced it this morning. I still can't get it to fire up. I checked the coil and am getting spark to distributor. I also took off fuel line near the throttle chamber and I know I am getting some fuel to the motor (it was flowing on me). I also removed the alternator and had it checked at O'reilly and it was good. Any other suggestions?? I am at a loss.
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M

I assume you have checked spark to the plugs not just the distributor. You might want to try something as simple as wiggling some wires on your component connections. Look closely at your engine harness. Try to fire it in the dark with someone looking.

Any suggestions where to start to look at the wiring harness? I will double check the spark plugs also. Anybody else have any suggestions?

I would start by checking out the relays.

Is the engine firing at all, or does it just not stay running?

I'll second the request for more information on how it is not starting. If the battery is functional and you have gas, then it should run for about 5 seconds before it dies. This is assuming there is some reason the alternator is not able to provide juice.

I would just start checking fuses (and fusable links). My only guess is that something was toasted when the belt came off. I would also check for physical damage from the belt exiting the vehicle. Like over by the MAF sensor.

Good Luck,
Michael

I have checked all the fuses in the fuse box as well as swapped out the AC relay with the fuel pump relay and everything is in working order (no blown fuses). Is there any other place for fuses that I am missing? I am going to check timing tonight and double check the distributor. I had to tear most of the right hand side out to get to the alternator and I did not see anything unusual. I plugged the two connections to the alternator back in (round plug and square balck plug). Still scratching my head on this one. Hopefully timing is still on target and it didn't skip a tooth or bust a belt for some reason. Can trying to start it and simultaneously easing the clutch out to get it off the highway have damaged anything?? When it first died, I was at highway speeds cruising along, everything was fine. I tried starting it again and it would run for about 5 seconds and then start to die out again...after doing this for another 10 or 15 times it finally died for good and wouldn't start. Battery is still strong after most of this.

OK, let's be a bit more direct.

1) Is it turning over? I think it is, but from your description I am not 100% sure.

2) Does it try to start at all? Catch, cough or run for 5 secs and die? Again, I am not sure from your description. The later is very important in diagnosing things in the 2.6. Is it turning over fast? Slow? Does it sound normal?

3) Can you describe how it died? Alternators do not usually die abruptly. They can, but I am wondering if your fuel pump croaked. They die suddenly and it is not an uncommon failure.

4) If you disassembled stuff on the driver's side, did you get the MAF plugged back in? Did it get knocked loose?

5) Finally, pull the air filter and toss some ether down the intake tube. Let's see what it does. If it runs, it will rule out electrical and rule in fuel. If it does not run, then we get to look at the electrons. Heck, pull a plug and see if you have spark.

6) When you say "right" side of the engine, I assume you mean the driver's side, which is actually the left. You should have been nowhere near the distributor.

Good Luck,
Michael

PS, Don't forget the check the 4 fusible links behind the passenger(?) side headlight.

Well, I have figured out what my problem is. My timing belt has jumped because the timing is WAY off. I tested it with a timing light and it is not even reading on the little plastic guage on the front cover. I know I am getting spoark to all 4 cylinders. The timing light fires about an inch to the right of the timing guage on the fornt cover. I have replaced the timing belt about 3 yrs ago or 30K miles. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

If I just try to get the timing back to 10 degrees or so by adjusting the timing on the distributor will this damage any internal components?

DO you think if its an inch off to the right (toward driver side), this is even doable?

OK, let's be a bit more direct.

1) Is it turning over? I think it is, but from your description I am not 100% sure.

Yep it turns over.

2) Does it try to start at all? Catch, cough or run for 5 secs and die? Again, I am not sure from your description. The later is very important in diagnosing things in the 2.6. Is it turning over fast? Slow? Does it sound normal?
It is turning over as if there is compression. like its trying to start.

It doesn't catch at all.

3) Can you describe how it died? Alternators do not usually die abruptly. They can, but I am wondering if your fuel pump croaked. They die suddenly and it is not an uncommon failure.

It originally dies with a pop (alternator belt busting). I then tried to get it running and it would start for a second and then die (alternator and fuel pump issue) I kept trying to start it and after about 10 minutes it wouldn't even ctach or want to catch.

4) If you disassembled stuff on the driver's side, did you get the MAF plugged back in? Did it get knocked loose?

I never unplugged the MAF, I just set stuff aside. (those pins holding it in mak eme nervous...too easy to break.

5) Finally, pull the air filter and toss some ether down the intake tube. Let's see what it does. If it runs, it will rule out electrical and rule in fuel. If it does not run, then we get to look at the electrons. Heck, pull a plug and see if you have spark.

I bought a tester and all 4 plugs have spark.

6) When you say "right" side of the engine, I assume you mean the driver's side, which is actually the left. You should have been nowhere near the distributor.

Correct, driver side or left, bad nomenclature on my part. I checked timing and you can read more about it on my next post.

One more thing..those fusable links in front of the passenger side headlamp..look like thick wires connecting two connectors. IF they go out..I take it you will see a fried wire??