dumb ass question that i should know the answer to!!

[RonnieH]

Got a vintage car that won't start, was run on Xmas day, and ran fine, tried to start today, got fuel, battery, and spark at the points when I flick them, but nothing getting to plugs,coil duff???. .
Ta

[Huntsman]

RonnieH said:

Got a vintage car that won't start, was run on Xmas day, and ran fine, tried to start today, got fuel, battery, and spark at the points when I flick them, but nothing getting to plugs,coil duff???. .
Ta

Might be the coil, take the king lead and hold it by the block to see if you have a spark there?

[Steffan]

Usual routine for non starters must begin with: is there a spark? If there is then onto: is there fuel in the cylinders? If there is then: can you smell fuel from the exhaust? Usual suspects must be ignition and then fuel. Generally cars not starting when there has been no misfiring or wheezing from the engine have an ignition problem. Good Luck.

[V8 FOU]

If you have sparks at the plugs - could be the plugs are fouled. amazing how that can prevent starting.....

[SV8Predator]

V8 FOU said:

If you have sparks at the plugs - could be the plugs are fouled. amazing how that can prevent starting.....

He hasn't got spark at the plugs.

[S0 What]

Cleaned the points ? if they have corrosion on them they wont earth and trigger the coil ?

[RonnieH]

I'm gonna spend some time on it in the morning,would like to use it tomorrow, I doubt its anything too serious, after all, there's not much that can go wrong!!

Will start by cleaning points,then remove and earth plug to check for spark, then check fuel is getting through ok, whilst the battery is on charge just to make sure it has decent power. . .
Will let ya know how I get on!!

[roscobbc]

Damp garage - damp electrics? - can of WD40 and Easistart?

[jagracer]

Are the points opening?

[RonnieH]

it's a lovely dry garage, no damp issues, even bare metal takes years to show any sign of rust, as I say, I'll get it out in the open tomorrow and deal with it, it's more a part of the family than me, been in the family since 1962!! . .

[VetteG]

Out of interest, what is 'it'?

G

[TVR keith]

You say you have a spark at the point if you flick them, but are they actually opening and closing when the engine is cranked over and is the gap OK? 15 thou should be a good bet IIRC.
What about the rotor arm contacts and also the centre contact on the cap, especially if its the strung type.

[lowdrag]

my first thought entirely. It's probable that the points have closed up since Xmas. My E-type had - as usual.

[RonnieH]

So, first up its a 1929 Morris minor, with ohc engine as used in the early mg's. . .
Fiddled with a few things, points were opening, cleaned them anyway, rotor arm aswell, then checked power into coil from ignition, all good, then checked other side of coil whilst turning engine over, all good, but still no spark at plug, however, there's a screw in suppresor, and the lead had basically crumbled, so I cut 1/2 inch off the lead, screwed it back in, and success!! . .
Ta for all ideas!!
Now I'd better clean it before I go for a drive!;