gobells44

Guys, I just replaced my thermostat the other night and now I can't get my car to start back up.
I thought my 3.5 year old battery was the problem-changed it. Nothing.

Car is trying to turn over but it never gets up all the way. I thought my carb was having issues (not getting oxygen in it), but I popped the air filter, gave it some flaps, and nothing.
Alternator is recently serviced about 8 months ago, starter was replaced at the same time. I have no idea.

Please, anybody have any thoughts? I'm getting desperate and almost becoming hopeless to sell my baby

EZFEED

Did you bump the distributor when taking the outlet off?

EZFEED

Wht engine by the way?
And could you post some current post trouble pics of the engine bay?

gobells44

so I took the distributor cap off when trying to change the thermostat (I was being an idiot) but I don't think I moved the distributor at all. I mean, it's trying to turn over, would it even try if the distributor cap moved? (sorry if I that's a dumb question, I'm getting desperate)

EZFEED

Have you done any wrenching on this car before? Are you familiar with mechanics? Sorry to ask but its going to be hard to explain if you have never.

Well it sounds like you are not getting fire and that can often times be a distributor problem.

First....did you replace the distributor exactly as it was when running? Are you sure you secured it and its not cocked or misaligned?

Did you mess with any of the wires? specifically the coil wire (center). Make sure these are all down and engaged into their places. Also if you removed any of them make sure you have them in the correct order.

Check the rotor, did you remove it? Did you replace it to where it engaged its detent? Does the contact points on the distributor look cruddy?

Did you get the distributor wet? Did the inside of the distributor get wet? If its wet or full of moisture it will not fire.

Does your car have points and a condenser or the electronic conversion? Check your points and be sure they are not wet, crudded up, burnt, or somehow misaligned.

The hot wire to the distributor that comes from the engine harness. Did you unplug it?

EZFEED

And yes the engine will turn/spin over even if the distributor weren't there. If the distributor was not tightened down (most will give a little side to side with some force) and you bumped the distributor while removing the outlet then it may be out of time just enough to not run. Does it backfire?