Please help me get my Nova started

Post by **stag36587** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:12 am

MGFmad wrote:Are you getting a strong blue spark at the plugs?

more of a reasonable white spark than strong blue spark

Post by **stag36587** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:13 am

Luxobarge wrote:Are you certain that the cam belt is OK???

my only suspicion is that it is slightly looser than ideal - manual says 1/4 inch play on its longest run between cogs, mine is about 1/2 inch play. Would you say that's significant?

Post by **superchargedfool** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:24 am

Its not a big job to check the belt timing on one of those. Take the cover off and check the cam is correct when the crank pulley is ligned up.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:45 am

That's not a significant amount of play - don't let it sidetrack you from the main issue here! If the plugs are NOT wet - then it's a fuel supply problem, so tip in fuel and crank it. If they are wet, it's a spark problem - but usually any spark will do as long as it's visible at the plug tips. Can no one give you a tow start ??
On the breakdown subject - my Meriva had the good grace (at only 28kmiles) to burst a CV joint right outside the house as I was about to reverse onto the drive. Had to use the Traveller to tow it back up the hill - so it could then be run downhill at speed to get the thing into the driveway. Joint failed with absolutely no warning - no cracking or juddering - just a nasty crunching bang, and it was gone.

Post by **Luxobarge** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:11 pm

stag36587 wrote:
Luxobarge wrote:Are you certain that the cam belt is OK???
my only suspicion is that it is slightly looser than ideal - manual says 1/4 inch play on its longest run between cogs, mine is about 1/2 inch play. Would you say that's significant?

OK, the play in itself won't of course stop the car from starting, but it could have slipped a tooth or two (or more!) which can prevent it from starting, and can also be dangerous for valves etc. too of course! I've had this on a couple of motors with slack belts and/or knackered tensioners/water pumps so as superchargedfool says, might be worth checking the timing, very easy on these.

Regarding fuel - have you tried Easy Start or a squirt of petrol down the intake? Takes seconds to do and if it fires at all then that's telling you it's a fuelling problem.

All the best - keep us posted!

Cheers

Post by **stag36587** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:19 pm

Hi, as the sun's out I've taken another look at the Nova. The return fuel pipe from the carburettor was a bit frayed at the end so have replaced that. I also fitted a new fuel pump.

The engine now will almost but not quite start but only when is accelerator pushed to floor and choke out. Does that just indicate flooded engine or something else? If so why would that have happened suddenly and what do I now do to sort it and prevent that happening again? Frustrating but at least by process of elimination I'm getting closer to a solution.

Anyway, yesterday I replaced part of the OS inner wing on my moggie as well as a patch to the bottom of the wheelarch. That has made me feel much more positive!