I've just popped my engine back in after fitting a five speed gearbox , and it won't start.

I'm well puzzled, I've done nothing to it, bar hanging the new box on the end.

I've got a good spark at all the plugs and good fuel supply, it turns over great on the starter, but won't start.

I've cleaned and re-gapped the plugs, and checcked all the ignition connections - nothing.

Any Ideas?

Cheers

Chris

How long has it been standing Chris? Has it flooded? If you didn't knock/take out distributror timing should be OK , plug leads on right? Is fuel getting to plugs? plugs wet? Is it carb(s) or injection? if carbs make sure choke is off try a squirt of easistart , if engine fires problem is fuel related . Have had cars that have stood for a while and fuel goes stale . Worse with unleaded. HTH

try heating the spark plug ends (the bits that go into the engine) a bit with a small blow torch?

Are your plug leads on in the right order?

Thanks for the replies chaps.

The plug leads havent been disturbed - I've just taken them off one at a time to clean and gap the plugs.

I did warm them up a bit before I put them back.

The carb is a 32/36 Weber

Might be flooded.

what's the proceedure if it is?

Cheers

Chris

BTW it was running three weeks ago.

[Edited on 7/1/06 by chrisg]

I tip a cap full of fuel down the carb into the manifold... works everytime...

let me know if it dont

Don't know about a can full try 1/2 teaspoon full at the most . Find easistart better/safer

sorry meant capful

When did it last run chris ?

When mine was left at the begining of 05 for about 8 weeks i thought i would need a bit of help,i did the teaspoon/splash of petrol down the carb and it fired up straight away.

I did this because begining of 04 it started on the last gasp of the battery after its winter sleep.

Although sometimes i've turned over a few times knowing the petrol has evaporated then popped in for a cuppa,return 10 mins later and bang away it goes.

[Edited on 7/1/06 by bob]

With a non-starting engine you must fault find in a logical manner.


(1) Pull a plug lead off and put a spare plug on the lead to check for a spark.
(2) If you have a spark take a plug out and look at it --- is it wet ?
(3) If the plug is wet take all the plugs out and dry them off -- use compresed air or a blow lamp or even a hair dryer. Then replace and try again.
(4) If the plug is dry do you have enough petrol in the tank ?
(5) or Is the fuel pump working ?

I should add procedure for starting a suspected flooded carb engine especially a Ford.


Choke OFF
Press the throttle to the FLOOR and keep it there
DON'T PUMP the throttle
Try to start the engine --- keep the throttle to the floor even between attempts
Once the engine begins to kick let the throttle up an inch or so until it fires properly.

[Edited on 7/1/06 by britishtrident]

It's a petrol overdose chaps.

i've taken the plugs out and they're wet through.

I'll leave 'em out and try again tomorrow.

Thanks for your help.

cheers

Chris

Not got the cap back on 180 degrees out have you?

Pat...

First of all he is told to put a cap full of petrol down the inlet, and then his cap is 180° out!

Chris is from Yourkshire, and't cap is onis head. It won't hold petrol, and he would look like't chav with it the wrong way around. Remember Chris looks like Fred D without the laughter lines

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mark Allanson
First of all he is told to put a cap full of petrol down the inlet, and then his cap is 180° out!

Chris is from Yourkshire, and't cap is onis head. It won't hold petrol, and he would look like't chav with it the wrong way around. Remember Chris looks like Fred D without the laughter lines

---

Actually.

I've been thinking about it.

Exactly what is it that stops the engine starting when it's flooded?

I don't know.

Cheers

Chris

Chris

Its a bit like having too much beer,nothing works properly till you sober up

Petrol as a liquid will not burn , it's the vapour that burns . Old petrol evaporates the lighter elements off which makes cold starting more difficult , once started and warmed up the engine will probably start easier . Unleaded fuel vaporises easier than the older 4 star and make the problem worse. If you still have problems starting dry the plugs , put the choke in and give it a squirt of easistart .

Easistart has the advantage will burn over a much wider mixture range than petrol.

Starting any car with a downdraught carb without flooding it is a bit of a knack - Fords have always been trickier than most.

Well here we are.

Still no starting.

I've cleaned and re-gaped the plugs, checked for a spark with another plug, checked the fuel pump and today re-timed the engine, used some easystart and re-gapped the points.

Nothing.

Bugger.

Cheers

Chris

Chris , did it fire at all when you used the easistart?

No mate, just turns over.

I'm going to get a bicycle

cheers

Chris

If it didn't fire with easistart , then I would suspect you have a problem with the ignitio system. Suggest rechecking the wiring that was disconnected when engine was removed, main HT lead may have been damaged when remove and although getting spark it may be weak . An old tip with Pinto engine with points is to make up a short earth lead about 3in long and fit using 1 of the points securing screws and 1 of the distributor base plate securing screws . Also on the side of the distributor there is a black box , just bi pass it . Both of these reduce the voltage drop across the points and give a stonger spark . Fit new plugs , sometimes plugs will not fire properly when then have been soaked even when dried out . How long is it since engine was last run? , with an old engine /worn bores/pistons etc the compressions may be low? Fords tend to need good compression to be good starters. Carry out compression test , then repeat after squirting a few drops of oil into cylinders , if pressures rise by any great amount then you have wear in bores etc. If all else fails and you are sure everything is correct try towing it . BOL

Thanks mate, I've tried a new et of plug leads today without success, I'll go through the other stuff.

Cheers

Chris

Woo Hoo!!!!!!!

I've cracked it but I still don't understand it.

Started out today from the begining and tried to line up the timing marks on the camshaft and crank pulley.

They didn't line up.

Some how the belt has slipped.

But how?

The engine was running, I pulled it out banged the new gearbox on, put it back.

How can the belt have slipped?

I can only that that some Vindictive b@stard has broken in to my garage and undone the tensioner, moved the belt and tightened it all up again, cos it was bloody tight but it had moved four teeth.

When I put it back it started on the first push of the starter button.

Alls well that ends well

Cheers

Chris

Glad to hear you have it sorted . Strange though.

Real X files stuff I just don't get it.

Thanks for your help chaps - most appreciated.

Cheers

Chris

Only theory i could offer is that someone has changed the belt in the dim and distant past and messed it up. Theyve ythen compensated by fitting dizzy in a strange orientation. Youve then fitted loads of new bits etc which has upset the dodgy previous timing = no start.

Theory doesnt stand up to fierce criticism tho'! Ive been told the can jump a tooth if the tensioner isnt set right, 4 sounds well strange.

Well done. Lessons learnt - dont trust anyone else - check the basics first. (Applies to new parts as well, they can be faulty).

Had it tuned today, purring like a kitten, I think replacing the entire ignition system wasn't a waste after all.

It's the first time I've run a pinto that doesn't rattle!

Well chuffed

Cheers

Chris

so last time at ackworth, when you told us you'd timed it up static, you were infact fibbing???

tut tut sir!
tom

if it helps, we once tried to start one with the cam 180 degrees out. didn't spot the mark on the head, so set the arrow to the top! d'oh.

What i actuallysaid was that I hadn't taken the belt cover off and without x-ray vision you can't see the camshaft timing mark.

I'm going to smack your legs.

cheers

chris