205 Xs Starting Help Needed!

[miamichris 9]

As above, bought an xs 2 weeks ago but it was hard to start so went in to my garage for a few repairs and tidying up.

 

Been trying to get it running tonight, no luck its doing my head in, it will crank but won't fire at all, its trying though.

 

Plenty of fuel getting through, have a spark at each plug too. Tried various choke combinations etc but still nothing.

 

Ignition wise the cars had:

 

New spark plugs, distributor cap, rotor arm (and a load of other parts! ) so any help/suggestions appreciated!

 

I'm working tomorrow but might get another go at the xs in the evening or else sunday. Oh and btw, I have to drive this to work on monday as my 306 is sold

 

Cheers, Chris

[one-lady-owner 1]

Everytime I've had troubles with my xs it was either a case of flooring the throttle and cranking it until it fires, then pulling the choke until it ran smoothly.

 

The only other thing I have read a few times on the 205xs forum is that the carb needs nearly an entire can of carb cleaner sprayed down it, they seem fairly famous for clogging.

[Jrod 7]

Ignition amplifier

[miamichris 9]

Thanks i'll try changing the ignition amp tomorrow, can I use the one from my 1.9 gti just to test as I know that one works?

 

I took the carb out when I was working at the car and cleaned it with brake cleaner, where do they block up, the jets?

 

Also have a new battery and ignition leads to go on tomorrow.

 

Was reading through an old topic of Kate's and she had the same symptoms I have (just keeps turning over but won't start and backfiring), in the end it turned out the ignition leads were in the wrong order so i'll check them again too! what's the order for the leads, is it 1-3-4-2 with no.1 being at the flywheel end?

 

Thanks again, hopefully get it running with a bit of luck!

[miamichris 9]

Ok, still need help on this one.

 

Took the ignition amp off and the pastes dried up, would this make a difference? How do I test the ignition amp or is it just a case of getting a new one and swapping it over? The one from my 1.9 gti won't fit as its different.

 

Changed the fuel filter, new ht leads, new battery and i'm pretty sure the lead order is correct.

 

Still cranking and backfiring but won't fire up

 

Next step is to take the carb off and clean it all out and see if that makes a difference I suppose..

[one-lady-owner 1]

Well your lead order is correct, 1-3-4-2 with 1 at the flywheel.

 

Have you checked your valve clearances? I know I've had some weird things happen to engines including weird backfiring and serious running issues when the valve clearances are a long way out, albeit not on a pug engine ( an a series from a mini.....)

[miamichris 9]

Well your lead order is correct, 1-3-4-2 with 1 at the flywheel.

 

Have you checked your valve clearances? I know I've had some weird things happen to engines including weird backfiring and serious running issues when the valve clearances are a long way out, albeit not on a pug engine ( an a series from a mini.....)

 

No haven't checked them. Thing is though, it was running before it went into the garage but now it won't even start!

 

How are the leads set out on the distributor then, is it 1-3-4-2 anti-clockwise around it?

 

Another theory is possibly a blocked fuel line, i'm going to go blow the lines to the tank out with an airline now.

 

Anythings worth a try at this point! Theres an old alarm on the car (sonar?) so maybe having the battery off has reset it and immobilised the engine? I'm getting a new battery for the keyfob to see whether it makes a difference as there was no battery in the keyfob when I got the car, it was just lying in the glovebox.

[one-lady-owner 1]

Prob not the clearances then! The easiest way of checking fuel supply is to take the air filter housing out and look down the carb while cranking it, you should be able to see the fuel running down it.

 

Another thing to try that I've just reminded myself about thinking fuel, try holding your hand over the carb while cranking, ie not allowing any air in, it will suck fuel in and force more fuel into the carb and temporarily force it to be really rich, the suction will also clear out any potential blockages. then remove your hand and try top start again. Again something mentioned on the xs forum!

 

It'll be good if it does turn out to be the alarm, annoying as you've done loads of other things to try and get it going, but still good!

 

Yes, 1-3-4-2 anti clockwise.

Edited May 17, 2009 by one-lady-owner

[miamichris 9]

IT RUNS! my bro swore blind the leads were on the right way but I double checked them against a photo I found on here and they were wrong so swapped them about and it fired up first time!

 

to say i'm pleased is an understatement

[miamichris 9]

Thanks for the help btw mate, much appreciated!

 

I reckon blowing the fuel lines out and the new filter made a difference too, fuel seems to be getting through much easier now.

[one-lady-owner 1]

Good to hear!! I was running out of suggestions!! As I haven't said it before welcome to the xs clan! You'll love it, as long as you like the sound of a TU above 4k rpm!! There's not a lot going on below that!!

[miamichris 9]

Had more fun with this tonight

 

The last job before getting it out of the garage was to do the cambelt and water pump so started into it.

 

Found the mark on the flywheel (no.1 at TDC) and locked it then went to lock the camshaft and the timing seemed to be about 10 teeth out because the dowel hole was at 12 o'clock instead of 2 o'clock! anyone ever had this or has this been set like this for a reason?

 

Carried on (marked up the original place of the belt just in case) and took the belt off and moved the cam pulley round to the correct position and locked it. Changed the pump, tensioner and belt and tensioned it up with no problems.

 

Having moved the timing position I turned it over a few times by hand to check no valves were contacting and everything seemed fine. Started up ok but its a bit noisy/tappety, maybe just the valve clearances needing reset?

 

Thing is, the belt keeps moving over to the outside of the pulley, can't understand why because i've loosened it, moved it over and retensioned it several times but it keeps moving back! Any ideas on this?

 

Cheers, Chris

[one-lady-owner 1]

I've not done the cambelt on that engine before, but I know mine rests on the outside of the pulley, it's never fallen off!!

[miamichris 9]

have the belt running in line now but its on the outside of the camshaft, strange but seems to be ok!

 

still can't understand how the timing was so far out and how it even ran at all

 

going out tonight to put the timing belt covers back on, set the valve clearances (hopefully quieten it up a bit) , bleed the coolant and tidy up any last jobs to do, then get it out for a test drive. If all is well, i'll take it to work tomorrow!