The engine does seem to crank a little faster than normal... but I'm not sure if it's really faster. I'm almost certain the gas is okay, since I put more fuel in it and the gas that I put in I bought the day before, and the gas that is already in it has a bottle or two of HEET in it...
I have tried starting the car with the throttle held open, though I may not have the throttle all the way open. After rebuilding the throttle and putting the springs back on the pedal seems easier to push down...and not a good easier...it seems not to have as much tension as before...but that's a separate issue entirely...wondering if someone has a picture as to how to the springs should be engaged?
As for the starting issue...
I have replaced the fuel filter; I forgot to mention it in my first post. The fuel injectors damn well better be clean, as clean as I can get them without actually running them through an official injector cleaning machine...I sprayed them all off with carb spray and electronics cleaner, and the fuel rail to manifold seals are all new.
Is it really possible to "wash out" the rings, as you say? I have heard of flooding the engine, but it seems like after sitting like that and having been taken apart and put back together the fuel would've dissipated, and I made sure to prime the fuel system several times before cranking, and made sure there was 40 psi of pressure at the fuel rail.
I'm not sure how to check if my injectors are actually firing, as it doesn't seem like (I know for a fact that) our injector connectors are accessible without removing the upper intake manifold, in which case I wouldn't want to crank the engine while having that off and a noid light on.
My automotive teacher told me to check the crank sensor with a vtmeter to see if there is an AC voltage reading when cranking, and that to check the injectors I will probably need a scan tool.
The wiring in the engine compartment looks a little brittle in a couple places, a couple places where there is insulation cracking a bit, and a spot off of my battery cable where there are bare wires exposed...but I'm fairly certain there is no short and nothing touching that I can see that isn't supposed to be touching.
How can I check the main fuse?
As for other questions: I have verified spark in at least three cylinders. The spark plugs are new. The plug wires are new. The coil is firing (as I have spark). The battery is good. The starter cranks. The intake is clean and all gaskets are new. EGR and IAC valves are new. Fuel filter is new.
Sorry again for the long post, but I wanted to respond to all the posts at once. Thanks a lot for the responses and hopefully someone has some answers to my additional questions.
