non starter

[Solitude]

i have had the car on stands (high at the front) to work on.

Dropped her yesterday and (first time ever) she would not start.

Battery turns good, but no fire.

Pumping the pedal, but cannot smell petrol, i thought i would, so do you guys think she is starved as a result of her being up ??

If so, how do i catch a fire (Bob Marley)

Gavin

[Jonny weggie]

Try taking the fuel pipe from the engine off and put into bottle, start engine to see if fuel pumps pumping fuel through ok, if it is then you've maybe disturbed a wire from somethere, dizzy or coil ?.

jonny.

[ChimpanLucky]

Good tip from Jonny weggie Gav.

Keep in mind you just need two things for the engine to run.


1) Fuel = Check for fuel as per Jonny weggie + listen for the fuel pump.


2) Spark = Check for spark by removing a spark plug

Re-connect the spark plug to it's HT lead and lay it against the block so it will earth.

Crank & look for a spark.


Obviously there's a bit more to it than that, but establishing the presence of fuel & spark should be your first steps.

If you have both fuel & a strong spark your next question should be:

"is the spark happening at the right time?"

I know you were replacing your HT leads, don't take it the wrong way but if you connected the new leads in the wrong order she wont start.

Easily done.

The distributor rotates clockwise & the firing order is:

1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2





Give me a bell if you want me to come over & take a look (fk it up) for you

[wooly350i]

You should have one of those tyre type valves on the fuel rail Gavinjust below the plenum so unscrew. the plastic cap and press the needle in the middle which should proove the rail is under pressure from fuel pump,if not turn in ignition and. try to start then see if it pressurised again.
Wooly.

[Solitude]

started first attempt today (touched nothing)

Must have had her tipped far enough back to have the petrol drain out

.....or is that naive thinking ??

[adam quantrill]

You need 3 things to start - fuel, air, and spark.

Admittedly, air is hard to exclude....

[ChimpanLucky]

adam quantrill said:

You need 3 things to start - fuel, air, and spark.

Admittedly, air is hard to exclude....

I don't think he needed to check for air.

Mind you, with all that rain we've had in Watfordshire I thought I better drive past Gavin's house to see if he was OK.

Here's the old Wedge on sat on his drive.









PS: Gav, sounds like your problem was student levels of fuel in the tank

[TOPTON]

Solitude said:

started first attempt today (touched nothing)

Must have had her tipped far enough back to have the petrol drain out

.....or is that naive thinking ??

How high were the axle stands ???? Because at altitude the air is thinner and that would cause poor running or even none starting