Checked and double confirmed the following:

Compression -OK
Spark -OK
Fuel -OK

Scanned for codes and nothing pops up. Installed a new VSS.
Turns over, all injector mist fuel, all spark plugs fire.

The car just cranks, doesn't sputter, and doesn't ignite the fuel.
It is not flooded, i took out the fuel pump fuse and cranked it. No success.

I bought the car not running, the timing belt tensioner was broken, BUT the timing belt had tension going from the cam pulley to the crank pulley and the belt did not slip.

I installed a brand new belt, tensioner, water pump etc.
All the marks lined up perfect after hand cranking the engine.
When the engine was at TDC I had the valve cover off, and made sure that the right valves were opened and closed.


Any ideas? *car has great compression. 142K miles, AEB engine.

 

At TDC on Cylinder #2 the left cam (the one with the sprocket that the timing belt goes on) has 2 valves open which i think are the exhaust, and cyl 3 has intake valves barely opening.

Is this correct? could it be that the crank is 180 degrees off?

 

Could be something as simple as the coolant temp sensor. It's amazing how that damn thing can cause so much trouble.

 

ye coolant temp sensor, crankshaft position sensor, fuel filter can all cause a no start condition, usually the problem is something so small and useless haha.

 

Very very true, im sure its a really easy fix I just dont want to replace every sensor in the car to find out its something else.

I would think that after cranking and cranking some sort of code would pop up telling me which sensor it is.
The fuel system is definitely ok, I had the fuel rail off with the injectors still on and turned the car over, they all mist fuel, I did the same with the plugs and coils.
I tried having the TB slightly open while cranking and no luck either.

 

Were any connections corroded at all when you were moving stuff/re assembling?
I always do a quick clean on a connection when I disconnect for the first time in a long time.

 

If you are getting fuel then that eliminates the fuel filter, fuel pump, etc. The crank p.s. and cam p.s. usually spit out codes when they're not working properly. The cts is the only sensor that I know of that doesn't in all my past experiences. Sometimes disconnecting and reconnecting the battery will temporarily let you start the car.