I have not driven my car for more than 50 miles in the past month, so we get a nice day and I decide to take it for a ride before i sell it. Warm it up for like ten minutes, go for a short ride, and I am going down a hill in like 2nd or 3rd and it backfires. So i take it out of gear and it stalls. and now it wont start. It feels like it wants to turn over, but after wont. Sometimes after cranking it, it will backfire with a nice loud pop.
I checked the battery, its fine. I thought it might be the fuel relay, but i can hear the fuel pump priming.
what's next distributor, cap and rotor. I am lost. please help. whats worse is that is that it will be sold in a couple days, and it wont go anywhere
I wound it out pretty good when it was running and no break up or anything.
thanks for the help
later
Burke

 

The rotor exploded. only small bits left now. Perhaps the screw came loose and then boom. Guess I can be glad that it happened to me now, then on the new owners ride home Time to go get a new distributor
Thanks for the help all

 

I just replaced the cap and rotor a half hour ago. but no luck. The shield that blocks the internals of the distributor was all chewed up too. it would not start with or without it. It sounds better though, no backfiring etc. it just wont start. I checked and all plugs are getting a spark, but no start. I have the wires connected to the dist correct, right?? it looks like this, looking from the passeger side
3 4
1 2
The number being the spark plug wire that corresponds with the cylinder.
I also tried jumping it hoping that my battery had lost its charge. I have been informed to call dealerships looking for that guard. Any body got any more ideas??
thanks a lot
burke

 

What did the plugs look like when you pulled them? Are you throwing any codes? Do you know anyone with a similar car, or have a spare dist that you can try out?

 

plugs were good except #3 was black. real rich like. its not throwing any codes and i dont know anyone with a spare distributor. someone suggested slipping a tooth or bad fuel. gonna check both tomorrow.
thanks