The problem is that it will barely turn over. Ive replaced the battery, the starter solenoid, and had the starter tested (it was fine). If i unhook the plug wires from the plugs, it turns over freely, but when i hook them up, it will baaaarely turn over. Its got the I6 engine. Can someone Please help me out??

 

Even if only 1 plug wire is hooked up, it still wont turn over

 

Maybe coil? Regulator? Maybe battery cables or battery under load? Has to be something with ignition electrical I would think. Come on guys where are the suggestions?

 

It could have been timed with SPOUT in.
Maybe wrong firing order.
Bad timing gears?

 

How can i test to see if its firing in the right order?

 

Just trace the wires, here is a image.


Also make sure the ground cable from the battery is going to the block and not the frame. The cables could also be bad.

 

While your in there under the distributor cap, turn key and see if rotor turns. Also check to see if top dead center matches the plug location and timing mark. It could be that the gears slipped a tooth or the gears or chain are bad. When you have the cap off try turning the crank with socket wrench back and forth and have someone watch the rotor and see if there is excessive play in them. Would be easiest with plugs removed. With new battery I cannot figure out why 1 plug wire connected would stop it from turning over. Check the ground as mentioned before. You said the starter was tested, but maybe under load it is not up to par. I would have hoped that you would have had some more suggestions by now. Turn the headlights on when you crank it and see what happens. Bad ground would show itself that way.

 

Has starter been changed from clacker type, maybe voltage drop might need a starter relay

 

What are you calling a "clacker type" starter?
A or B

A:


B:

 

Quick update: Rotor turns fine, distributor is in there right, turning it over with the headlights on makes no difference, i have starter A from the picture, and there is a starter relay that i already tried replacing. The battery is grounded to where the engine bolts to the tranny.

 

Windings in starter could be bad. When there is no load, no problem. When you add load windings heat up and no turn. Still think you need the starter motor, not just the relay.

 

After trying to turn it over for a little bit, the starter gets really hot, so that seems to make sense that something is wrong with starter. While trying to turn it over, could i use a multimeter to check the voltage? Would bad windings cause a change?

 

Not sure about using multi meter, but hot starter= Bad Motor. Replace it and I bet your good to go. Too much turning over may heat up wire harness. Check wires for connectivity. Get new staarter.

 

the top one in the shots is the clacker if you dont put a relay on when you change you get a voltage drop when cranking