Ford Cougar Wont Start

[r1danny]

Hi All,

Not sure if anybody could give me any pointers here, but:
I've got a 2000W V6 cougar and it won't start!
I've got spark and fuel (I think).
I have changed, spark plugs, coils pack, leads, swapped battery for another. I even swapped the ECU complete with the corresponding key chip and reader. Result... I´m getting a good spark from each coil.
I can hear the fuel pump running and I've changed the fuel filter. I can smell fuel from the exhaust.....sometimes!!!
But, not even an attemp at firing.
So, could it be low fuel pressure? If I bought a cheap OBD2 scanner, would it give me the fault code? Is there anyway of checking the injectors?

Thanks in advance for any help.
Danny

[davepoth]

Have you ever had it running while you've owned it?

There are other things that could stop it working, like dodgy cam timing.

[trickywoo]

Cam position sensor may be worth looking at.

Also maybe the crank position sensor.

[r1danny]

Yes, checked both cam and crank sensors. I was also told by someone that if either aren´t working correctly, then you´d get no spark.

With regard to it previously running...No!!
I bought it requiring a head gasket, so I´ve stripped both banks down, and replaced the gaskets.
The timing chains and cam shafts were checked and double checked before going back together.
My only concern is that there is a timing cog on the end of the crank, where the crank sensor picks up its signal. It has two positions, 2.5 and 3.0. I am 99.9999999% sure I put it back in the right slot, ie, 2.5, but because of this problem I´m starting to doubt myself.
I want to check every other possibility before stripping it all down again.
Hence, my reasoning if a OBD2 scanner would pick up the fault codes without the engine starting.
I´m also not completely happy the the fuel pressure is correct. As I sais before, sometimes, there is a strong smell of petrol from the exhaust, other times not!!

[Mr2Mike]

If you definately have spark and fuel, then the only other things that would prevent it running are lack of compression and incorrect ignition or valve timing. Since you've obviously had the timing belt off I would triple check the cam timing.

[r1danny]

Yep. Totally agree. Logically, in my head everything is now pointing to timing.
However, if I leave that to one side for the moment, because all four camshafts, both cam chains and crank were photographed and marked with white paint so that they went back together the same way.
So, if I look at the other options:-
Compression: All of the bores were unmarked, so I´m assuming I haven´t lost a ring anywhere. What else could give me no compression? And if I lost it on one cylinder, or even two, would I get some kind of cough or splutter when I tried to start it?
Fuel: If I´ve got low fuel pressure or injectors not working correctly, would I still not get it to attempt to fire? Bearing in mind that each plug comes out wet and smells of petrol!
But, if fuel is OK, why do I sometimes get no smell of fuel from the exhaust? But othertimes I do!!