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Re: wont start Posted by CMyles [Email]  (#1126) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from CMyles) on Wed, 6 Jun 2007 09:42:11
In Reply to: Re: wont start, Edward Olson, Tue, 5 Jun 2007 21:14:24 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Edward,
Now we're getting somewhere. If it won't start and the plugs are wet then either there is an insufficient or no spark, or the spark is occurring at the wrong time. You previously said that there was a good spark and I'm assuming that it was seen on the end of a plug wire and not the coil to cap lead. (Having a good spark at the high tension lead that goes from the coil to the cap doesn't guarantee a good spark at the plugs). So, if you have a good spark at the plug leads and wet plugs then you should be sure that the plug leads are connected in the right order and make sure that the ignition timing is 16 degrees advanced.
You say that you aligned the timing by finding TDC and then positioning the cap and rotor. If the distributor is set to fire cylinder #1 at TDC your engine probably won't start. Sixteen advanced is quite a swing and achieved by rotating the distributor clockwise (viewed from in front of the car) from a setting where the rotor points to #1 tower with piston #1 at TDC. Keep in mind that your distributor rotor spins ANTI-clockwise when viewed from in front of the car. That's why you turn the distributor clockwise to advance the timing. Also, when placing the plug wires into the distributor cap remember that #1 cylinder is nearest the firewall and #4 nearest the radiator. As the gas station guys say, "This engine's in backwards!!".
The distributor cap tower for plug wire #1 should be high on the passenger side to straight up (10-12 o'clock). A plug fires EVERY OTHER time it's piston hits TDC (or 16 BTDC with these cars) so the distributor turns at half the speed of the crank. Therefore you'll find piston #1 at TDC whenever the rotor points to that 10-12 o'clock location but also when it points 180 degrees away, at 4-6 o'clock. If you've plugged the #1 wire into the tower that's at 4-6 o'clock you'll be trying to make plug #1 fire while the exhaust valve is open. The other three cylinders will be similarly out of step. That's referred to as having the timing "180 degrees out". It's a very common reason that cars sometimes won't start after replacing ignition parts.
One more thing- certain plugs are known to perform so poorly that they can actually cause this problem. Use only NGK or Bosch plugs. I generally use NGK BCP6ES plugs. Wet plugs won't fire even if everything else is perfect so when you find the problem and fix it pull the plugs and dry them before you turn the key. It might be worth checking the plugs by doing the same spark test as earlier but with a plug on the end of the plug wire. Good luck.
posted by 198.233....
, Sun, 3 Jun 2007 17:07:52, Tue, 5 Jun 2007 20:26:29, Wed, 6 Jun 2007 09:42:11 <-- Viewing This Message
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