Help - it won't start

[edhorne]

Evening all

I haven't posted for a while 'cos its all been going well, until today that is.

Car was running fine last week but I felt there was a bit of a hesitation so I decided to replace the HT leads. I finally got round to fitting them today (Bosch leads) and having carefully substituted one after the other I tried to fire her up. Fuel pump whirred and engined turned but would not catch. Nothing.

I have checked with the bible that I have each lead in the correct place and have made sure they are properly home. I have checked for a spark on at least 3 of the cylinders and it is there no problem.

I pulled one the plugs and it was quite wet so no fuel problems and I am sure by now I have probably flooded it now after trying various things to no avail.

It have recently replaced cap, rotor arm and coil for various different reasons so I don't suspect them.

I am hoping that I have just flooded it - cured the problem - but now won't start due to flooding. However I thought I'd get a pre-emptive strike in to see if anyone had any ideas before I try it again in the morning.

Any thoughts would be gratefully appreciated.

Cheers

Ed

[chimtvr]

doublecheck the leads again did you take the cap off to change the leads its very easy to get confused with 8 leads if you took the cap off check the carbon brush didnt drop out of the centre of the cap good luck its unlikely it will be flooded if the leads were in right order it would`ve started initially

[Ribol]

Are you sure you have not put all the leads in the right order but one slot out?

[edhorne]

Thanks for the replies gents.

I have replaced each lead one at a time with the dizzy cap still on. I guess I could have got one or two of the leads round the wrong way.

What is the best way of determining which lead goes to which cylinder? Is it a case of finding TDC and seeing where the rotor arm turns or is there an easier way?

Any help appreciated.

Cheers

Ed

PS I tried it again this morning in the hope that the plugs would have dried out but no joy.

[Ribol]

TDC yes, but on compression stroke (rocker cover off, both valves closed).

TDC on number 1, Rotor Arm pointing to same cylinder.

Distributor turns clockwise (check it).

Firing order: 1, 8, 4, 3, 6, 5, 7, 2,

No1 front of car/engine oil cap side, No2 front of car/engine other side, No3 behind No1, No4 behind No2 etc

Hope this makes sense?

edited to say that one or two leads would not stop it starting, try putting old coil lead back?

>> Edited by Ribol on Thursday 2nd December 12:28

[david beer]

Might be of interest to you: My griff was fine on sat, on sunday tried to start, fired maybe 3 fires, then nothing. No spark from the coil, got new one, but before fitting just thought i would see it wasnt the ignition switch turning off the 12v while cranking, it wasnt. So put new coil on and turn over, healthy spark but would not start, just the occasional fire. Removed the fuel pump relay and turned over after a while it would fire but not run, obviously ! Then after a few more cranks, put the relay back in and away we go. Been fine all week so was just flooded. Whew, ramble over, probably nothing to do with your problem!

[edhorne]

Thanks for all the replies.

The latest is......

I moved all the leads one place clockwise, no joy. Then I moved them all back to the original positions. Nothing. Moved them all one place anti-clockwise and still nothing. I have checked that all leads go to the correct cylinder using the bible.

So, tonight I have put the old leads back on in the vain hope that it might fire but no joy. I still have a good spark at all the plugs and they are still getting wet. Fuel pump still whirrs and all the fuses are OK.

Its time for the RAC man unless anyone else has any good ideas.

Cheers

Ed

[2 Smokin Barrels]

edhorne said:

Thanks for all the replies. The latest is...... I moved all the leads one place clockwise, no joy. Then I moved them all back to the original positions. Nothing. Moved them all one place anti-clockwise and still nothing. I have checked that all leads go to the correct cylinder using the bible. So, tonight I have put the old leads back on in the vain hope that it might fire but no joy. I still have a good spark at all the plugs and they are still getting wet. Fuel pump still whirrs and all the fuses are OK. Its time for the RAC man unless anyone else has any good ideas. Cheers Ed

Have a beer, go to bed & ring the RAC!! Good luck

[Ribol]

You say you have fuel (wet plugs) - may be over fuelling?

You say you have a spark at plugs (checked a few).

You say all the leads are in the right place and in right order.

I assume you must have compression.

It was ok before you changed the leads.

Sounds like you have everything you need to get it started?
Is the battery still fully charged after trying it a few times? I would leave it to dry properly, charge the battery fully or connect DECENT jump leads and try again.

[GreenV8S]

Fit a new set of plugs (gapped) and try again. Sometimes it seems that plugs which have been flooded just don't want to know, even after the gas ring treatment.

[chimalsu]

thought i read a thread recently from shpub saying virtually imposs to dry out wet plugs replace with new you should get some luck

[Ribol]

chimalsu said:

thought i read a thread recently from shpub saying virtually imposs to dry out wet plugs replace with new you should get some luck

By all means change the plugs, it can only improve matters but to say you cannot dry them is not true, I have done it many times.
The truth is that with garage labour charges being what they are today there is nothing to be saved by drying them. If you are doing it yourself then it is your money, your choice.

[v8 racing]

start from scratch!! take the dizzy cap off and turn the engine untill the bottom pulley is showing tdc, now check which pin the rotor arm is pointing at, if it is close to number 1 that is the plug it needs to go to, if it is close to number 6 that is the plug it needs to go to providing you have not taken the dizzy out you cant be 180 degrees out, from ther just work in a clockwise rotation around the cap to the firing order 18436572, if the plugs are drenched in fuel put them in the oven for a bit gas mark 6 for 5 minutes!!

[Boosted LS1]

It's flooded or sounds that way. I'd take out the plugs and dry them out on a gas ring. Then clean them out using a broken match stick to make sure there's no shorting inside the plugs. Meanwhile ensure you have the spark you need using a spare plug. I bet the tail pipes reak of fuel

boosted.

[edhorne]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Its nice to know that in this world we live in there are people willing to devote 5 minutes of their time to try and help a complete stranger.

I took 2 Smokin Barrel's advice and had a beer , then I called the RAC yesterday afternoon. He took all the plugs out except 8 and 7 'cos he didn't have a wrench small enough to get in there. He then dried out all the plugs with a blow torch. After that he took the fuel pump relays out and the injector plugs off and turned the engine over to clear out all the fuel. I then assisted him in replacing the plugs. He hooked it up to his jump start to give it the best chance, and turned the key.

Nothing, not a sausage!

He suggested the next course of action was a new set of plugs followed by the dealers.

I chased round yesterday for a new set of NGK B7ECS and fitted them. Still nothing.

Now resigned to a hefty bill from Peninsula to come and collect it, I thought I had nothing to lose by substituting an old coil I had in case it was a weak spark. Didn't work. However substituting a new rotor arm and old dizzy cap did!!

Hurrah

Even with soaking plugs it fired into life. A swift change of the plug leads and a blast up the M4 later and it seems better than ever.

So thanks for all your help and happy TVRing
Ed

[GreenV8S]

How strange, that you still got a spark at the plugs? Glad you got it sorted in the end!

[Ribol]

GreenV8S said:

How strange, that you still got a spark at the plugs? Glad you got it sorted in the end!

There are sparks and then there are SPARKS

[chimtvr]

Glad you got it sorted
Dave

[the dodger]

So, was it just a duff new dizzy cap then after all?

[2 Smokin Barrels]

..I suspect the beer helped!