NOW you won't start?!

[Waspy]

So after spending a number of weekends getting the car running again, and driving 100 miles in it last weekend without a hitch, now, the evening before it's MOT it decides not to start. Turning over, but no spark. Out of desperation I called the RAC out. What a useless mess that man was. Anyway, he told me to put new leads on and was on his way. Handily I had some new leads. Put them on, no difference. Getting pretty sick of this bag of bolts. Grumble grumble. Needs it's mot by the 25th, so I can tax it on the 31st. I have no where to keep it SORN. So essentially, this is a massively plea for some glimmer of hope.

[Craigwilson]

definetly no spark? start from the plugs and work back, plugs, leads, cap, rotor arm, king lead, coil pack, and power to the coil pack, make sure those plugs are on and clean they tend to go green with corrosion

[Waspy]

definetly no spark? start from the plugs and work back, plugs, leads, cap, rotor arm, king lead, coil pack, and power to the coil pack, make sure those plugs are on and clean they tend to go green with corrosion

I don't have all my tools. So had to rely on what the RAC man said, which was "weak spark" he said from the coil was fine.

It could be the leads in all fairness. The ones that were on the car are v.old and the new ones have been lieing around for a while. Green should effect them though as copper oxide is a pretty good conductor.

But I'll try and get some leads. I am supposed to drop the car off at 8:30 tomorrow for MOT, GFS ( the only motor factor in leeds with any in stock) opens at 8:30. So I have a mad dash planned in to morning of a taxi to GFS in time for opening, grab the leads. Taxi back. Fit the leads, hope for the best. If it work shout yay and drive to MOT, sorry for being late, go to the Winchester and wait for this all to blow over.

[Craigwilson]

have you checked everything else? I has a mk3 that wouldn't start and it was because the rotor arm was completely corroded,

[Craigwilson]

I've also seen a weak spark from a bad coil pack, try taking the HT lead from the coil off the cap and sit it near the head or anything metal that's earthed and see if you get a nice fat crack from it, (If you haven't already) trying to think what I do

[Waspy]

have you checked everything else? I has a mk3 that wouldn't start and it was because the rotor arm was completely corroded,

Rotor arm is very good, dizzy cap is brand new. Coil spark has been tested by the RAC with some device, and by me (sparking it against the engine). I think what led him to conclude it was the leads was that he was getting different levels of spark in each one. It could be the actual distributor. But I have no idea how a distributor works beyond the actual theory. I'll buy the leads first, a dizzy is somewhat more expensive...

[Sgt_Lemon]

With the cap off try and wiggle the rotar arm back and forth. This play can cause it to flutter when spinning and give a different power through each lead. I have a 8v dizzy that was working fine on my car before the conversion. If you want to try it out I can post it.

Are they new plugs aswell. You checked they aren't flooded?

[Waspy]

With the cap off try and wiggle the rotar arm back and forth. This play can cause it to flutter when spinning and give a different power through each lead. I have a 8v dizzy that was working fine on my car before the conversion. If you want to try it out I can post it.

Are they new plugs aswell. You checked they aren't flooded?

I checked the rotor arm for play, it was fine. I was at GSF for 8:30, got the leads home and put them on. Instantly noticed they sat much better and were higher quality. They didn't sit right on the plugs though. So I had to take that little screw bit off the top of the plug and now they sit really tight.

And it starts. I'm sat in the MOT centre as we speak. This is what Saturday mornings are about with a mk2, right?

[Sgt_Lemon]

Fingers crossed, I had a similar problem with sh!t ht leads. Bought a pair when I got the car but never fitted them. Put them on during a set up a year later and within a weak I had a misfire on two cylinders. Ended up putting the orginal ones back on and problem solved.