Turns over but won't fire (video). Need help diagnosing.

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fiasco
Posts: 885
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:10 am
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat Spider
Location: Ontario, CA

Turns over but won't fire (video). Need help diagnosing.

Post by fiasco »

The problems started a couple weeks ago. Each time I started it it took more and more tries before it would fire. Now it won't fire no matter how many tries I give it.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYFh4FlCIUk

Based on my observation while turning the key, it sounds like the starter engages and the engine seems to turn over once. You can see the pulleys turn in the video. Then it sounds like the starter keeps spinning, but the engine stops turning (you can see the pulleys stop turning in the video), and as a result it doesn't fire. Up until yesterday, after a few or several tries, it would eventually turn over a second time and fire up, and once started, it had no trouble continuing to run.

I'd love to hear some diagnosis thoughts. Thanks all!
-- se
Steve Eubanks
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
So Cal Mark

Re: Turns over but won't fire (video). Need help diagnosing.

Post by So Cal Mark »

possible that the starter drive broke, or broken teeth on the flywheel. Does it push start? If not, maybe the timing belt sheared some teeth
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fiasco
Posts: 885
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:10 am
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat Spider
Location: Ontario, CA

Re: Turns over but won't fire (video). Need help diagnosing.

Post by fiasco »

So Cal Mark wrote:possible that the starter drive broke, or broken teeth on the flywheel. Does it push start? If not, maybe the timing belt sheared some teeth
Thanks for the suggestions Mark. I had thought about the flywheel teeth possibility, but I'll check the starter shaft and timing belt as well. My garage jack broke, so getting under the car is waiting on a trip to Auto Zone to get a new jack. I'll report later this evening on what I find.

-- se
Steve Eubanks
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
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fiasco
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Your car is a: 1969 Fiat Spider
Location: Ontario, CA

Re: Turns over but won't fire (addl info - still need help)

Post by fiasco »

So I got the car up on stands and crawled underneath. Can't find any evidence of broken teeth on the flywheel. Took out the starter, and don't see any obvious issues there. The shaft looks intact, and there don't seem to be any teeth missing (of course I don't know anything about starters, so I'm just guessing at what I can see). Timing belt also looked fine.

Image

At this point, I'm not sure what else I can do on my own. I don't have any other ideas as to what to check, nor can I drive it up to Mark's shop for him to look at it. Taking a day off work to meet a tow truck here to take it up to Mark's shop is not an appealing idea.

Look for this car in the for sale section soon - I'm sure a non-operational '69 will attract lots of buyers. :(

--se
Steve Eubanks
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
So Cal Mark

Re: Turns over but won't fire (video). Need help diagnosing.

Post by So Cal Mark »

the starter drive can be broken internally, and you won't see any damage.
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fiasco
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Your car is a: 1969 Fiat Spider
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Re: Turns over but won't fire (video). Need help diagnosing.

Post by fiasco »

Is there any way to tell if a starter is bad, or do I just have to buy another one and hope that was the problem?
Steve Eubanks
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
So Cal Mark

Re: Turns over but won't fire (video). Need help diagnosing.

Post by So Cal Mark »

the drive can be tested. The first thing to do is see if you can turn the drive by hand in both directions. It should only turn one way
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fiasco
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Re: Turns over but won't fire (video). Need help diagnosing.

Post by fiasco »

So Cal Mark wrote:the drive can be tested. The first thing to do is see if you can turn the drive by hand in both directions. It should only turn one way
Here's the turn by hand test. What does this tell me?

http://youtu.be/Yhumi46Zg6M
Steve Eubanks
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
narfire
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Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
Location: Naramata B.C.

Re: Turns over but won't fire (video). Need help diagnosing.

Post by narfire »

Have you put 12V directly to it to see if the gear extends?
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: Turns over but won't fire (video). Need help diagnosing.

Post by fiat218 »

:D buy a new one, u got it out,so get the one mark sells
Speaking of starters, it took 5 days to get mine,minus Sunday,
Should be here today
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider
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fiasco
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Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:10 am
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat Spider
Location: Ontario, CA

Re: Turns over but won't fire (video). Need help diagnosing.

Post by fiasco »

Picked up a used starter from Mark today - hope to get it installed tonight and be back on the road in the morning.

Thanks Mark!!

-- se
Steve Eubanks
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
majicwrench

Re: Turns over but won't fire (video). Need help diagnosing.

Post by majicwrench »

Just watched first video, not sure it sounds like starter issue to me. Good luck, let us know.
Keith
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fiasco
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Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:10 am
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat Spider
Location: Ontario, CA

Re: Turns over but won't fire (video). Need help diagnosing.

Post by fiasco »

New (used) starter is in, and the car fired right up. +1 for Mark Allison! Thanks for your help.

The Fiasco has been spared from the For Sale forum for another day.

-- se
Steve Eubanks
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
So Cal Mark

Re: Turns over but won't fire (video). Need help diagnosing.

Post by So Cal Mark »

nailed it!
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