Mi16 No Spark

[craig_007 1]

I have an mi16 installed in my 205,It's running on carbs and a distributor so nothing fancy there.

 

Whilst out tonight the car gave a slight miss a few back fires then cut out and would not restart.

 

I know the problem is electrical as there appears to be no spatk whilst turning the engine over,Saying that, when I turn the engine over for the first crank I do get one large spark then nothing else,I quickly tried another ignition amp on tonight but still no joy.

 

Apart from changing the coil,Is there anything else I should be looking for ?

 

The car also has a add on rev limiter on it with the 3 wires the connect into the coil,I don't know if this would cause a lack of spark ?

[Pugnut 9 1 Cars]

first place i used to look with the regular ignition was the trigger lead that comes from the body of the distributor. check the continuity of this lead and the security of the connector on the distributor. take it off and check the continuity and the condition of the spade terminals.

 

in laymans speak, it tells the ignition amp when to fire.

[craig_007 1]

Cheers mate,

 

I'll get that checked tomorrow.

[matthewm 1]

I've had trouble with that lead also - give it a good wiggle around when your testing it.

[craig_007 1]

Well I've checked all ignition side over and last of all I removed the distributor.

 

I got this reconditioned about 4/5 weeks ago so didn't think it would be this but it was.

 

I removed dizzy cap and tried turning the rotor arm,Something in the distributor has obviously collapsed !!

 

Fitted an another distributor I had lying around and it fired up first time,Looks like I'll be sending this one back !!!

 

After it starting I now have a loud ticking/knocking noise !!

 

I pressume with the resistance in the distributor I might have bent a valve !!

Edited April 17, 2010 by craig_007

[Pugnut 9 1 Cars]

I pressume with the resistance in the distributor I might have bent a valve !!

 

sorry, can you expand? doesn't really make much sense to me

[craig_007 1]

On the front of the dizzy(cap side) there is 2 screws that holds a plate down,These have come loose and jammed a plate inside the dizzy,The plate inside the distributor has 4 pegs that stick out and the screws have got caught up in there.

 

When I fitted a new distributor the car started no problem but was rattling/ticking from the topend.

 

I have done a compression test and it appears to be down on compression !!

 

I'm thinking the resistance has caused the timing to slip(although I have not timed it up,I walked away in disgust)

 

What else would have caused it to start knocking/rattling if all was good before hand.

 

To me it has bent inlet vales written all over it,Thats where the distributor connects at the end of the day !!

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

I find it difficult to think that the dizzy seizing up could cause the timing belt to jump & cause piston / valve contact.

 

It drives from the end of the camshaft & I'd expect the keyway to break first.

 

No idea for the new noise though unless its from the dizzy you've fitted.

 

How much down is the compression?

 

Graham.

[Pugnut 9 1 Cars]

i'm with Graham, i can't imagine anything fouling at the dizzy end could cause a belt to slip, unless the belt is pretty slack and or oily. first job for peace of mind would be to get the cambelt cover off and see if the timing has slipped.

[craig_007 1]

Thanks for the replies guys,

 

I will time it tomorrow,As you can imagine I'm rather sick of it tonight !!

 

Compression is sitting at approx 180psi across the 4 cylinders when warm.

 

I just actually checked the compression last week with the same gauge and it was 210psi so it's down 30 psi now.