I have an 89 Sidekick JLX. 1.6 8 valve, auto, 4x4. It sat for a few years before I got it, now I'm trying to get it running and I just can't figure it out. It turns over great, has spark, has fuel. I put fresh gas in it, new plugs and wires, distributor cap and rotor, and new coil. Doesn't have as good a spark as I think it should, but it definitely has spark. But it just won't fire up and run. I know the injector is firing, I checked and cleaned all the grounds, made sure the distributor was indexed correctly, still nothing. Any suggestions?  I can't afford to just start throwing parts at it, I really need some help. Thanks

How do you know that the injector is "firing"?  Have you checked the fuel pressure?

Have somebody crank it over whilst you spray starting fluid into the intake - does it start, and may be run until you stop spraying the fluid?

Had a friend look inside the throttle body while I cranked it, he said the injector was spraying. Fuel pressure is good from the pump, I haven't checked at the regulator yet though.
Did not start on starting fluid, we tried that too.

Internal combustion engines require three things to run, fuel, air & fire - you apparently have all three - but yours doesn't run.

Timing - are you firing the right plug at the right time?

Do you by any chance know the history of the vehicle - why was left sitting, was it running when it was left to sit?

I'm pretty sure it's firing the right plug at the right time...number 1 at TDC on the compression stroke, rotor button pointing at the number 1 plug wire on the cap. Firing order is 1342.

As for the history, my dad bought it new. We rebuilt it bumper to bumper when I was in high school, that's when we did the lift and everything. I moved, my dad finished it up and drove it a little. Less than 1000 miles since everything was rebuilt, but the bolt in the crank snout loosened up and stripped the keyway where the timing gear goes on, so it was parked. Ran perfect until that happened. Fast forward to now, I fixed the crank, put it all back together, now it won't run, and I'm at a loss. Like I said, it has everything it needs to run, but the spark is weak. Could the weak spark just be no spark with the compression of the engine?

How did you fix the crank keyway?

The real point here is the engine has been taken apart since last it ran, and the possibility exists that the timing - both valve & ignition may be incorrectly set, I'd say that's where you need to start.

I'm sure the valve timing is right, I set it according to the service manual I have. I used epoxy to fill the keyway in the crank, put in a new key, and put the timing gear on, then torque down the bolt according to the torque specs in the manual.
I don't really see the ignition timing being off, I've checked it 3 times now. I can check it again though. Guess I'll double check the valve timing too while I'm at it, hopefully I can get around to it today.

Ok, so I think I just found the problem? I lined up the cam timing mark with the 60A mark on the timing gear, which is what I read was the right mark. BUT, the guy who rebuilt the engine put the gear on where when the keyway is pointing down, the 80C mark lines up right. Am I right in thinking I have the wrong timing mark lined up (although it should be the right mark)?

The cam wheel can fit two ways - which ever way you fit it, make sure the crank keyway is at 12:00 when the cam keyway is at 6:00

Ok, that did it. When I put it back together, I apparently didn't pay attention, and just went by the timing mark that searching and reading told me to line up. Lined up the other mark, it runs great, been driving it around. Glad to be driving the Suzuki again, gotta get used to working on something that isn't a Chevy or a Jeep. Thanks for the help.

60A is a Track/Kick, 80C is a Samurai, the numbers represent the model codes.