starting problem - HELP!!

[Dom H]

got a wee bit of a problem with my 1988 MKII 1.6 8v in the sense that it's refusing to start

here's the story....

i bought the car 2 yrs ago with 100k on the clock, had the timing belt replaced immediately, ran it the 5 miles to work each day for 3 months over the summer and garaged it before going back to uni. prior to that it had been garaged 1 yr and owned by the same family since new.

i've recently decided to get the old dog going and booked her in for an MoT. after a new battery she started fine and was running pretty sweet. however on the way to the test station i *think* i heard a popping noise, then the engine cut out & refused to re-start.
the RAC patrol had a really good look over and initially thought it was a carb problem, cleaned it with carb sparay then dismissed this putting it down to an electrical fault, advising a new set of plugs and leads.
after fitting new plugs & leads (inc king lead) and cleaning the distributer to the point of it gleaming the engine still refuses to start.
i've done the obvious and tested for spark & fuel getting through properly and they both seem present, however it may be a case of spark degredation under pressure.
when i turn the engine over it seems to catch every now and then but won't fire up.

my other thought was a timing problem, but this seems unlikely to just jump completely out of place so rapidly as the timing belt is 2500 miles old and at good tension


are there any suggestions to my plight please?

many thanks in advance
Dom

[elnigel]

get your engine at TDC by lining up the marks on the cambelt sprockets, pull out spark plug in number1 cylinder and ensure its at the top, then pop your dizzy cap and see if the rotor arm is pointing anywhere near the mark on the base of the distributor. if it is things are roughly right timing wise.

suppose you could just see if your dizzy is loose by trying to turn it, or see if slightly turning it whilst someone turns over the car makes it fire

your not alone with this, my gti wont quite start properly now ive spent 2 years restoring the engine in my spare time. gonna have another go tomorrow.

good luck

[rubjonny]

Was the timing belt tensioner replaced at the same time as the belt?

[Dom H]

Was the timing belt tensioner replaced at the same time as the belt?

i don't think so. the tension in it is good though

[rubjonny]

The tensioner ideally should be done at the same time, if it siezes it will chew up the belt.  The first thing you should do though is check the timing like elnigel suggests though

[chubby]

CHECK TO SEE IF ANY TEETH MISSING FROM T/BELT. ALSO CHECK EXHAUST IS NOT BLOCKED. THESE ALSO CAUSE THIS SORT OF PROBLEM.

[Gambit]

blocked exhaust is a good call. usually caused by the internals of a silencer collapsing.

tow it and get it to start then stick your hand over the exhaust while someone tramps on the throttle and feel if its restricted or not

[Dom H]

thanks for the advice

i put a new front and backbox on the car about 6 weeks before garaging it and there was no sign when it was running that there was an exhaust fault developing.
i'lll check out the timing belt, even thought its only 2500 miles old


fankya 

[benmk1]

how long has the car been standing in total? How old is the petrol? just a thought

[Dom H]

there's 30 miles off a full tank in there and its been standing about a year.
as i said, the car was running fine until i took it to the testing station. reckon it might have got pre exam nerves 

might syphon a bit off and try it in my sh!tty AX run-a-round, se if its still got potency