Changed Dist Oil Ring and now won't start...

Keep it on topic, it will make it easier to find what you need.
majicwrench

Re: Changed Dist Oil Ring and now won't start...

Post by majicwrench »

Did you spray carb cleaner into the intake and then try to start it like Mark suggested?
Did you try swapping the wires like Alvon suggested??
Does it poof pow like I asked about, or does it just crank??
Keith
narfire
Posts: 3959
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:14 am
Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
Location: Naramata B.C.

Re: Changed Dist Oil Ring and now won't start...

Post by narfire »

As your cranking,do you have an assistant twisting the dist. one way and another to see if it catches? What does a/the timing light show when cranking?
I put a dab of white paint on that small recess on the crank wheel and on the 10 deg point on the block pointer bracket thingy, helps these 53 year old eyes see the marks better.
Did you notice the holes in the back of the cam wheels lining up with the raised rib on the cam towers as the crank mark is at tdc?

I's thinks this is just a set-up issue as the car worked prior.
Chris
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
radiopilot

Re: Changed Dist Oil Ring and now won't start...

Post by radiopilot »

I swapped the plug leads as Alvon suggested and no-go... I lined up the cam/crank pulleys to their marks... dizzy has spark (removed the lead and verified getting spark)... #4 cylinder on the dizzy rotor lined up... per everyone's suggestion... now the only thing I could think of is the ignition module (would I get spark if the module is bad?)... can someone tell if if the module is not working I would not get sparking at the lead coming out the coil as I am getting a very good spark... does the ignition module control the pulsing of ther injectors?

Today I will try to insure the plugs are clean and not flooded with gas... other than that what else should I look for as I am adjusting the dizzy for timing (before I took off the dizzy I made a scribe mark on both the dizzy and the engine so that it went back exactly per the scribe marks) while my wife cranked the engine... fuses to the fuel pump good and I get fuel pressure... AFM dooor is flapping as it cranks and I can hear it opening and closing...???? :lol:

Nick
So Cal Mark

Re: Changed Dist Oil Ring and now won't start...

Post by So Cal Mark »

you will not have spark if the module is bad.
ventura ace

Re: Changed Dist Oil Ring and now won't start...

Post by ventura ace »

Sorry to see that this has become such a frustrating ordeal. You'd think that it must be something really simple . . .

It's not clear to me where you are checking for spark. Have you checked at the spark plugs? The bottom line is that the plug has to ignite to do you any good. Checking at the cap or coil for spark is interesting, but doesn't ensure that you're getting spark in the hole. I would pull all 4 plugs, and put them on their individual wires, and check for spark, with the plug grounded of course. And while the plugs are out, I'd verify that you still have good compression in the cylinders by checking with a compression gauge.

Compression -- check.
Spark in the hole --- check. (and verify that it is at the correct time)
Fuel --- check (injectors working, good fuel pressure, computer and air flow meter working)

I don't know much about the fuel injection system, but as long as you didn't change any of it (accidentally unplug something?), and it was working before, I wouldn't suspect a problem there.

I would double check for a healthy spark at the plug.

A
radiopilot

Re: Changed Dist Oil Ring and now won't start...

Post by radiopilot »

Yes it would seem simple... module is good since I'm getting a spark at the wires to the plug (need to remove the spark plugs and check for fouling) as I hold the plug lead to the tip of the plug...

Everything else remains the same as when I took the dizzy off... everything is connected... AFM connector, dizzy connector, nothing else was removed or disconnected... fuses are all good... what else is there besides my removing the plugs as mentioned above and insuring they are good (plugs are less than 3 months old)... car was running perfectly before I took the dizzy off... I don't understand where else it could be?

Thanks for the replies and I will get to it today and tomorrow to see what could be causing the car not to start.

Nick
majicwrench

Re: Changed Dist Oil Ring and now won't start...

Post by majicwrench »

Still should shoot a little carb cleaner into intake to see if that makes engine momentarily run, as Mark suggested.
radiopilot

Re: Changed Dist Oil Ring and now won't start...

Post by radiopilot »

Thanks everyone for your help... Alvon it was a pleasure talking to you today and your advice was greatly appreciated... car now starts and although it runs rough it needs timing with a dwell or timing light ( I know Harbor Freight Tools has them) for the backyard mechanic this is a good item to have... Seems the timing changed slightly since the TDC is not exactly as it was prior so a little timing will get it dead on perfect. :D

Nick
ventura ace

Re: Changed Dist Oil Ring and now won't start...

Post by ventura ace »

That's good news, Nick! Did you identify specifically what was the problem?

Alvon
radiopilot

Re: Changed Dist Oil Ring and now won't start...

Post by radiopilot »

ventura ace wrote:That's good news, Nick! Did you identify specifically what was the problem?

Alvon
Alvon... it was uncanny... as soon as I hung up the phone I went to the dizzy, moved it slightly to the left, cranked it and it started right away... seems that the timing was off from the scribe mark I previously made and since the TDC timing marks was not exactly as before the timing this time needed a little manipulating... so I have to get the timing light to time it correctly now that it starts... little things like this can make a person throw in the towel but with some guidance and persistence they can overcome these hurdles... I am a happy camper now and it may have been just having to talk to someone else more knowledgeable and getting encouragement to get it right... that is why a forum like this with many owners sharing their knowledge and ideas is most beneficial to all. :D

Thanks again to you Alvon and to everyone that offered help and advice... now how do we make our cars value skyrocket like the Ferraris and Lambos... :lol:

Nick
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