What's the problem?

AllyCat555 · Post by **AllyCat555** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:48 pm

I just finished doing a week long engine clean up and I put it all back together.,. But now it wont start. The engine turns over but will not fire. I took off the top of the air intake and tried to start it, there was fluid spitting out of the carb.and It looks like radiator fluid is accumulating around the spark plugs too. What's the problem and how do I fix it? The carb is probably just spitting gas but what about the spark plug and fluid?

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:34 pm

coolant around the plugs is usually from the water outlet gasket, hard to say with the no start, but did you have the timing belt off?

azruss · Post by **azruss** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:36 pm

a lot more questions than answers. when you say you put it back together, what did you take off. how did you clean it...pressure wash?
without more detail, i would say you have 2 separate issues. coolant around the plugs can come from a heater hose, carb hose, gasket for upper radiator hose fitting. you need to dry the holes and watch which starts filling first to see the source.
you may be getting no fire because the plugs are fouled. test for spark by pulling a plug wire and seeing if it will arc to a ground, or the cam cover. If no spark here, then check the dizzy and coil. also check ground wires.

AllyCat555 · Post by **AllyCat555** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:14 pm

I only took off the air intake completely and I disconnected the radiator hose. I didn't touch the timing belt, but I did paint it's cover without removing it from the engine. I also painted the top of the engine block around where the spark plugs connect and I cleaned some of the greasy wires with a toothbrush. I didnt think I moved anything that would cause it to not start but I guess I may have touched something I wasn't supposed to?

TulsaSpider · Post by **TulsaSpider** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:47 pm

are you getting spark? you can test with an old plug. Pull off a plug wire, put it on an old plug and ground the threaded part of the plug. When you try to start it there should be a spark. zap zap zap Prolly a wire had broken or come loose. Alley, let us know what you are driving again hon, and what kind of ignition system you have.

AllyCat555 · Post by **AllyCat555** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 12:19 am

I'll be sure to test the spark tomorrow I think that might be it (hopefully), I don't know the ignition system details but I think it's been
Replaced within the last few years. Im working with a 76 spider and currently have the dashboard taken off. All the gauges are disconnected so would that make it not run?

TulsaSpider · Post by **TulsaSpider** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:02 pm

The relay is under the dash beneath the glove box if it is the same as my 78 if you have points still yes that definitely could be the issue! You can test to see if there is power to the hot side + of the coil with the ignition on.

AllyCat555 · Post by **AllyCat555** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 10:49 am

I replaced all the spark plugs but still nothing! I took a video of is trying to start it and hopefull this will help a bit more. I posted it on YouTube so I'll post the link to the video

http://m.youtube.com/index?&client=mv-g ... U0e0-UuVGs

TulsaSpider · Post by **TulsaSpider** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 3:13 pm

You need to make sure there is power getting to the coil. You can even jump a hot wire to the coil if you want to try that. Replacing the plugs with no power to the coil is pointless.

AllyCat555 · Post by **AllyCat555** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 3:46 pm

We checked the coil and it was working, then we took out a spark plug and it was wet on the end so we are thinking it's currently flooded from too much fuel, . we're just letting it dry before we try to start it again. One mechanic we know said it could be the starter?

bobplyler · Post by **bobplyler** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 4:45 pm

If the starter is spinning the engine, I can't see what that would do to cause it not to fire.

TulsaSpider · Post by **TulsaSpider** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 5:03 pm

Ok then. Progress! are you getting spark to the plugs?

AllyCat555 · Post by **AllyCat555** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:25 pm

Our friend did a test on said they were getting spark so that musn't be the prob

TulsaSpider · Post by **TulsaSpider** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:31 pm

so you have gas and spark, that's all you need, well at the proper time. Perhaps the distributor got moved and you need to time it???

AllyCat555 · Post by **AllyCat555** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 10:57 am

I didn't finish the new dash yet and the appraiser is coming in a few days so I decided to just polish up the old one and put it back on. To my surprise when I hooked up all the gauges and tried to start the car, it started immediately and ran just perfectly. The engine did smoke a lot for about 10 minutes from the spark plug area and radiator... but those are are spots that I know had liquid on or around them so after 10 mins it was all burned up and the smoke stopped. At least after this whole ordeal I have New spark plugs and pretty engine

thanks for all the help and suggestions

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