Non starter...*@*&>^*!!!!!

[peatbrown]

Hi guys,

I have looking to add a four door saloon to the increasing collection, and I finally got permission for "she who must be obeyed" t buy it.

When I got to the blokes house - nothing, won't start! Engine turns over a treat but will not fire. There is fuel from the pump and power at the dizzy - but none to the coil. We tried a new coil and it made no differance what so ever!

Any ideas?

The problem is I spent so much time and effort convincing 'her in doors' that it was a nice car, honest, that I daren't explain that it won't start....no what I mean?

[brixtonmorris]

come and see my 4 door split screen instead. (sorry)

[Gareth]

I presume that the points, plugs &c are all good, and the main problem is with the voltage reaching the coil. Could it be a fault in the low-tension circuit? Maybe replacing those wires would cure the problem.

It sounds like it will be a trial-and-error sort of job!

[lowedb]

I can't see how you can get power at the dizzy, but not at the coil, unless it's wired wrong.

The ignition feed goes to one side of the coil, the other side of the coil goes to the points in the distributor. The current flows through the coil when the points are closed, then when they open, the change in current creates the spark.

If the car has been stood for a while, then maybe the points have got tarnish on the surface (mine did when I bought it).

Easy way is to get a bulb / test lamp (fairly small wattage).

Connect one end to ground. The other end, check the voltage both sides of the coil. If you have none, then check the wiring from the ignition switch. Turn the engine over. If you get voltage all the time on both sides of the coil, then the points are never closing (check for tarnish or broken wires). If one side of the coil has volts and the other never does then the points are always closed (check for adjustment and shorted wires).

Alternatively, double check you have fuel and the pump is running.

[brixtonmorris]

does it have an ignition cut out for security, which is switched on?

[Chris Morley]

When I got to the blokes house - nothing, won't start! Engine turns over a treat but will not fire. There is fuel from the pump and power at the dizzy - but none to the coil.

That can't be right - a spark from the dizzy depends on the coil working.

I turned over my 4-door the other day but it won't start (again, it has a spark and fuel is pumped). I think it's because the fuel has gone off (it's at least 8 months old) and it smells more like white spirit.

[Willie]

Since your clues don't add up I assume that you mean that
there is no High voltage output from the coil but there is voltage
at the side contact connection on the dizzy? There should be NO
voltage at this side contact position with the engine stationary
because the points will always be in the closed position which
shorts the volts to chassis. You will only read the volts when the
points open. This suggests that someone may have fitted new
points and assembled them wrongly,a common problem. Do the
points look new? The correct order of assembly on the points
spindle is: insulating collar, spring eye, 2 leads (one from
condensor one from side contact) then the top insulating collar
then the fixing nut. No washer and do the nut up finger tight
then a further 1/2 a turn.

[lowedb]

Willie,

I would say it depends where in the cycle the engine stops as to whether the points are open, though I'd agree almost all of the time they'd end up closed since they only open just before Top Dead Centre and it's much less likely the engine will come to rest there than with all four cylinders halfway up the bores.

[s.richardson]

i did that last week willie serviced then no start,,id put insulater inbetween points and condenser

[Chris Morley]

i did that last week willie serviced then no start,,id put insulater inbetween points and condenser

I think we've all done that at least once ( ), but did Peatbrown's seller state it had just been serviced? If not (and the car was a runner in the recent past) then past-it fuel might be the answer.

[Willie]

LOWEDB, I can't agree with you there I doubt that you will ever
find a four cylinder engine stationary with the points open.

[Kevin]

I think we've all done that at least once ( ),

Thats showing off Chris if you have only done it once

[brixtonmorris]

whats the condition of the fine wire in the dist. which has the plastic clip mounted on the dist body, with the spade clip for the wire to coil