1987 VW GTI Starting Problem / Please help

[JBKorp]

Hey everyone

Im having one hell of a time trying to get my car started give you a little bit of the back story.

Its a 1987 VW GTI 16V 1.8

Motor was running when i pulled it to replace a few parts

Things done to the motor

- Timing Belt
- Head Gasket
- Water Pump
- Oil Pan

Problem we are running into is that she cranks over but doesnt wanna start at all we have had pops and noises that sound like vacume but all she does is crank over and something we get white smoke from the intake which is just weird to me

Things we have check

-Spark
-Timeing which seems like everything is already all marks line up
-We are getting Fuel

Any Ideas help im losing my mind

[JBKorp]

We did check the timing after trying to start it a few times and if we where correct it might have been off by 180 Degress does this mean my head is now junk .

Starting to worry its my daily and been working on it like crazy

[JBKorp]

Any help and idea anyone ?

[ps2375]

Poss valves are bent. Have you done a compression test?

[MEGA 16v GLI]

Get out your bentley manual and check out the timing section. I think the bentley does a great job of explaining how to do the timing. When you are lining up the crank you can use the mark on the lower plastic timing cover but you can also use the flywheel marks. I prefer the flywheel side (timing hole).

once you get the timing marks corrects then spin the motor one revolution by hand and recheck then check Compression. This will tell you if you have bent valves

[ziddey]

does it turn over normally or does it feel like it's lacking compression? or do a compression test to know definitively.

cam timing is critical, and it's always good practice to turn it over by hand beforehand after double-checking.

if that checks out, it's also common to have the plug wires on the wrong way. The firing order is 1-3-4-2 still, but the rotor spins in the reverse direction compared to the block-mounted 8v's (16v rotor goes CCW, not CW).

[JBKorp]

Did a Compression Test today

Dry

Piston 1 90 PSI
Piston 2 90 PSI
Piston 3 110 PSI
Piston 4 90 PSI

Wet

Piston 1 100 PSI
Piston 2 110 PSI
Piston 3 120 PSI
Piston 4 110 PSI


Good/Bad passable lol I have no idea it is and old motor