Changed fan belt and car won’t start?

[John Moss]

I noticed the charging light on my V8S coming on, so had a look. The fan belt was quite old and slipping, so I fitted a new one. Now the car won’t start. It turns over but won’t fire. Any ideas what I might have done?

[blaze_away]

You've maybe knocked a wire off ign system somewhere.

To test that theory....get hold of a spark plug (almost any will do). Pull a plug lead off one of the engones spark plugs and fit it to the test spark plug. Hold the plug against the engine block get somepne to crank the engine to see if you have a spark.
PS if you have jump leads use one clamp to hold the plug and earth the other end to the engine.

[v8s4me]

blaze_away said:

You've maybe knocked a wire off ign system somewhere.......

That's the most likely problem. One of the thin wires on the back of the alternator, coil or distributor are the places to look.

Also check you haven't somehow triggered the immobiliser.

[phillpot]

Did you put the belt on the right way round?

[GreenV8S]

Check your fuses. If you accidentally shorted the exciter feed to the alternator then you'd have taken out the ignition fuse.

[John Moss]

Thanks for the helpful tips, I don’t think I damaged any of the wiring and it all looks fine. I’ll try to see if there is a spark a bit later on.

[John Moss]

GreenV8S said:

Check your fuses. If you accidentally shorted the exciter feed to the alternator then you'd have taken out the ignition fuse.

Thanks Pete, I’ll check the fuses, I presume it’s one of the blue 15 amp ones?

[GreenV8S]

John Moss said:

Thanks Pete, I’ll check the fuses, I presume it’s one of the blue 15 amp ones?

Probably was when it left the factory, but after 30 years I wouldn't count on it.

[John Moss]

Thanks for the help chaps! It turned out to be a slightly corroded connection on the coil! Running beautifully now!