We have a 1988 wagon with a 5 speed. It has been sitting a couple of years and now she won't start. My husband says it is getting spark and fuel but she just won't go. I am very sentimental about this car, it was my first new car and I am looking for ideas to give him to try and get her going. She's got 225K miles on her and I'm hoping there is an easy solution that won't cost a fortune.
Thanks in advance for any ideas or help.

 

Take a look at the fule pump relay...it may be that

 

Thanks, I'll mention that. I know he has looked at the fuel pumps and the distributor, but I'm not sure about the relay.

 

If your car has one check the engine speed sensor.

Have him check for injector pulse when the engine is cranking.

 

this is the husband, the 740 has good fuel pressure and both pumps are working, the fuel pump relay is engaging. I have good spark with blue color, and there is no obstruction in the intake. I have noticed that the spark plugs seem to be very "wet" after cranking over. I have checked the timing belt and it is intact, but now noticed that when the camshaft is in the proper orientation to the top mark, the crank shaft mark appears to be at approximately 12-15 degrees advanced. I have been told that it is possible that the harmonic balancer has broken and the mark is moving. If this is not the case and the vehicle is at top dead center on #1 cylinder, should the timing mark for camshaft be exactly on the mark. I have also checked to make sure that the injectors are firing properly. I did find that the Hall distribution wiring connection clip to the distributor was broken, the plastic holding the wires to the distributor. but since the injectors were pulsing, was told that the distributor was still working properly. I am totally at whits end, good compression, spark and fuel, yet no running.

 

Pull the Vaccum hose off the Fuel pressure regulator and see if gas is inside.

Was anything done to the car before it quit running?

 

It made a 200 mile trip without problems and parked. It was restarted to be moved a couple of times and then refused to start again. This was over an 18 month period of time.

 

You did have a Noid light on the injectors and it is good pulse?

I will try to think of more things over night and tomorrow night. I will also ask at work and maybe come up with something.

 

It has a good flicker.

 

Im still trying to remember. We had one about 2 months ago same problem but no one can remember what it was.

The Fuel pressure regulator isn't leaking is it?

Did you try drying the plugs and disconnecting the fuel pump and cranking over to dry it out and then try again?

Also did you try unplugging the mass flow and seeing if it starts?