Engine will not fire

[cloned earl]

i am having getting my engine to start after i recently change the gaskets on the inlet manifold..
the engine has both fuel and spark but it will just not fire up. i have taken the carb set out and checked for dirt etc.. nothing found.. fuel pump working, checked fuel lines for air locks all o.k. fuel pump clicks away so no issue there,
any suggestions welcome..
3rd day now and the mem saab not excatly happy.. (perhaps 'you' should sell it!!)

Phil

[Moraystag]

I know this is pretty simple reply but try spraying in easy start into the air intakes to see if she'll fire up.I bet you'll get some response from the old girl. If you get nothing you know then that it's a bigger problem. I know there are some that don't like easy start but used once in a while won't be a problem. You might be lucky and get her fired up and clear any blockage you may have somwhere be it air or particles.
Just a thought mate


Mike

[cloned earl]

Good idea Mike, i'll give that a go

[KOY 23]

Did you remove the distributor or alter the plug lead positions?

[Greenstag]

Hi Phil

I'd start with a bunch of flowers and a bottle of wine and a promise to go to the pictures one night..that'll sort one issue....usually works for me. Then we need to address the car. Are you getting a spark on all plugs? Are all you breathers connected up correctly?...check the one on top of the manifold
Hope you get it going

Regards

Dave

[Dave Worrall]

Hi Phil,

have you checked to see if the gasket has seated correctly - sounds like it may be getting too much air.

Dave.

[cloned earl]

Dave - tipped the wine and crushed flowers into the tank still no change...

Tried esay start no joy...plugs all fire although the spark is yellow/orange not blue...

all the breathers hoses are connected to their orginal place (took photo's before starting) looking likley that i will have to call a mobile mechanic....sounds as if there's no compression, now re-charging battery...

[Giles]

if there is no compression it would sound different on the starter. Unlikely that changing the inlet manifold gasket could do anything to cause this, just wondering why it sounds like it has no compression? I would think it is likely to be something you have taken off/disturbed, as Koy 23 suggested if you took the plug leads off are they in the right order? If easy start not helping, likely to be weak spark or sparking at the wrong time.

[Colonel Mustard]

Sounds daft...but are the plugs coming out wet with petrol? Can you smell petrol when you crank the engine over?

A symptom of seemingly loosing compression might be caused by bore-wash due to flooding (petrol strips the oil from the cylinder bores and effectively reduces the compression).

If any of this sounds like it might be what you're experiencing, then once you've re-charged your battery try taking the plugs out and squirting a small (very small) amount of engine oil into each cylinder. Then with the coil LT disconnected, crank it over for a few seconds with no plugs in.

Then replace your clean plugs, reconnect the coil and give it another go...you might want to try it with no choke at first.

Worth a try.

Chris

[cloned earl]

Hi Chris

Yes and Yes to the plugs covered in petrol and the smell of petrol when cranking the engine over, will give you suggestion a go tomorrow, fingers and everything else crossed... not allowed to send any more cash on her at the moment as we are going on holiday next wednesday...


Phil

[StagManiac]

You did reconnect the throttle and choke cables, didn't you?

It sounds like an inlet system air leak to me, from what you have described. Was she always a good starter previously?

Paul

[RogerP]

Hi Phil

Have you fitted the air filter ?.......................When I first rebuild my engine I couldnt get it started got spark got fuel but would not fire, was about to give up, but then fitted filter in desperation and it fired straight up no problem......just a thought.

Rogerp

[martin]

Hiya Phil, I think John's got it right, it sounds exactly as if you've lost the firing order, the position of No 1 lead is critical, and of course all the others will be wrong from there. I know it sounds basic but I'll bet beer vouchers that's it. Martin.

[richardthestag]

check also that the centre - carbon pin is still in place inside the distributor cap. I had this problem!!!

Then check that the leads are in the correct order . I had that problem too..

Then check that the ignition timing hasn't been changed, follow the haynes manual to setup the dizzy to the right setting. set with cylinder #2 at TDC and not #1 but the manual goes over this in fair detail.

If you are getting spark and fuel the only other thing you will need is air. and of course everything happening in the correct order.

[Sheepdip]

Agree sounds like firing order, that said when I attempted to fire up my new engine last month it just wouldn't go, not a cough. All was well with electrics and timing and I tried pouring a little fuel into air intakes. eventually took one plug out and dried/warmed it with a blow torch, that was enough for a splutter into life. I always oil the bores well before starting new engine and maybe they oiled up.