[Cloud9...68]

Does anybody know (or could somebody check on their car) which plug wire goes in which position on the distributor cap? As it says in the description, I just got done changing my oil, and I went ahead and checked the tightness of my balance shaft belt while I was at it (it was a little loose, so I tightened it, but didn't move it across any teeth, nor of course did I touch the timing belt). I removed the plug wires to make it easier to get the BS cover off, so I'm wondering if I managed to get the wires crossed when I put them back. Here's how my plug wires line up, starting with the top connection on the distributor cap, and working my way down:

Top connection into dist cap = plug wire to cylinder #4
2nd from top connection = wire to cyl #2
3rd from top connection = wire to cyl #1
Bottom dist cap connection = wire to cyl #3

Normally, the car starts on the first or second crank. Now, it cranks several times, but doesn't fire. Then, it does something really weird - it stops cranking, despite the fact that I still have the key turned. It's acting as though the starter is disengaging [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img] . It makes a weird, kind-of-electrical-type sound when it stops crankng, and the tach needle swings to about the 3000 rpm mark, which sounds like a grounding issue. I try cranking again, and the same thing happens - several cranks, no start, and it stops cranking. This didn't happen when I ran a compression test a few months ago - it kept cranking as long as I had the key turned, and I ran eight cranks per cylinder for the test.

Thinking I may have knocked something while removing or replacing the BS belt cover, I started going back through the steps to remove it (given the belt horror stories lately, I just wanted the reassurance of knowing that all is well with my belts), but I stopped, thinking I should make sure I didn't just cross the plug wires. I did remove enough of the BS cover bolts be be able to pry it open far enough to see that my BS belt is in place, and isn't loose or anything. I know this wouldn't be causing my no-start, but since I was in there, I just wanted to make sure things look OK.

If my plug wires are correct, any suggestions as to what to check next? Thanks.

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[Cloud9...68]

Anyone? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img] Just need someone to take a quick look at which connector on their distributor cap goes to which plug wire. Or, if someone knows where this information is located (I haven't checked the shop manual yet), please let me know. It's such a simple thing, but for some reason I can't remember where I've ever seen this information. I want to quickly rule a set of crossed plug wires in or out before I start moving onto more difficult, less likely, and potentially more expesnive reasons as to why my perfectly-running engine suddenly doesn't want to start. Thanks.

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[ds968]

I'm no way near my car to check, but I wonder if the owners' manual ( not just the shop ) has a reference to it... firing order details should be in there somewhere.. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif[/img]

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[Cloud9...68]

Could be - I'll take a look. Can't be that difficult to find. I hope this is all it is, because it would be very weird for something unrelated to have gone kablooey while I was changing the oil and checking the balance shaft belt. But I also find it a little hard to imagine how even someone as scatterbrained as me could mess up the location of four plug wires...

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[gryphon]

My car is also not at home, but perhaps this helps:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/944/tech_spe...specs1.htm

Tom

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[josephsc]

This should really help (don't you guys have this sticker on your cars?). The physical order top->bottom is 3-1-2-4

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[Cloud9...68]

<!--quoteo(post=73071:date=Jun 2 2009, 04:26 PM:name=josephsc)-->QUOTE (josephsc @ Jun 2 2009, 04:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->This should really help (don't you guys have this sticker on your cars?). The physical order top->bottom is 3-1-2-4<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I don't have that sticker; thanks. This solves my problem! I removed plug wires, was too lazy to mark them, and got distracted in the middle of the job. I then proceeded to put the wires on "upside down!" Sheesh! I need to add this to my thread about bone-headed DIY stunts...

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[ds968]

so can someone 'splain this to me.. would it have been too difficult for Porsche to mark corresponding numbers
on the distributor cap and cam cover, or dare I say even have the dist. itself designed where plug 1 wire goes into
the first slot, plug wire 2 into the second, etc.. instead of this carzy criss-cross pattern [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif[/img] ?

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[flash]

it's not criss cross - it goes around in a circle, firing in a counterbalancing pattern - same as all 4 cylinders

they did put a sticker there to help - i have seen in missing on quite a few cars though, as they stopped putting them on replacement caps

the part number is there in the shot though, and you can probably order it

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[PorscheDude]

Or save the image on your CPU for quick reference in the future.

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[Johannvb]

I want to order that sticker. But I searched for that part number in all my favorite online porsche shops and no one has it...I will try the dealer next.

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