Madeline has a 1994 2.4 NA 850. It is dead. This is her description of what happened:


Greg, I know you are busy and I sure would appreciate you coming up next weekend.
Here is the story: the car was running like a dream until a week ago Thurs. I think. It started to hesitate before starting when the key was on, but it did take off, then it started to have to shut off and restart a couple of times before it would take off. So I drove it Friday a week ago with no problems other than that. The oil leak was getting worse so I bought a new oil cap but that didn't stop the leak. So my brother came up from Illinois last weekend to help me change the rear camshaft seal. I barely could move the car to the garage out of the rain for it trying to die and it would backfire and smoke badly and once it blew the oil cap not off, but loose. We changed the seal and then it wouldn't do anything but turn over and not start. We bought a new battery but that wasn't it. My brother thinks the timing is off and he may have made it worse somehow. So that is the story and I have been scratching my head because it is strange the way it is. I would appreciate your input very much. I have the old explorer to drive so no problem.
Thanks a bunch.
Madeline


Any ideas ? It does not sound good to me. Maybe I should put the flame trap back in... This car has recently had a new timing belt, tensioner, idler, flame trap, intake gasket, and spark plugs. Is it even possible to install the distributor and get it out of time ? Fuel pressure regulator ? Where would you start ?

Thanks

Greg