troubleshooting '89 toyota tercel?

[Barbra S]

Here's the scenario, Drove fine the night before. Started that morning sounded really rough but it was cold. After a couple minutes I started down the street, it died. Started up and ran while in park the engine chugging. Sounded better when I gave it a little gas like it smoothed out slightly in higher idle, but as soon as I put it in to gear either Reverse or Drive it died. It did that maybe 10 times until we took a look at the spark plugs. They weren't great condition but after we cleaned them up in order to see if it was the issue and now it won't start at all? The power and battery is good and it almost will start if I keep the key turned, keeps turning over but won't start? fuel delivery maybe? we did also check the valves they all were working also it's believed the timing was off just a little as well, if that can help. Any advice where to begin would be greatly appreciated! ( I am a broke mama so last resorts taking it in for diagnostics. )

 

[gearnofear]

There is a possibility you damaged the wires when you cleaned them. now days the plug wires should not have to be cleaned. If you do, you often destroy the wires. you may need to pick up a new set of wires. The other possibility is when you cleaned the wires, you did not reattach them correctly or crossed wires. double check the wires are attached to the plugs and they are in the correct order.