Charging system question

[andyk5]

My car had a slow start issue for about 2 days and this morning it just died and would not crank at all, the battery was dead. I walked to school, and when I came back home, I jump started the car and went to the nearest car parts store. There I had my dead battery tested and it passed all the tests, then I went back home, removed the alternator and brought that to the same store and the alternator also passed the tests, so I went back home put everything back together but now the car would not start at all, it starts once in a while ( jump-start or charged battery) but dies, really quickly, like it does not want to idle at all. I think it has something to do with the distributor cables or the orientation of the cap but I am not sure. I had to remove them before I could get to the alternator, and I thought I put everything back together properly. c

Can someone tell me where I should start, troubleshooting? I really don't want to AAA the car 30 miles south to my mechanic.

 

[KidVermicious]

You pulled the distributor to get to the alternator? Next time pull the bottom radiator hose.

You might have stabbed the dist wrong putting it back, check your timing. Also make sure your plug wires are put back correctly.

 

[andyk5]

Yeah that would be easier I am sure since I had to move the airbox out of the way also. My spark plug wires are fine I think ,since I took a picture of the setup before I disassembled it. As far as the distributor goes, I did not just took it off, but I also removed the cover from it thinking that there may be a screw that needs to come out, but obviously it was not a needed step, is there a special way of putting back the distributor cover on? Can I check my timing without those special blinking tools?