Broke Down Today...

[Mart Pug 0]

Ah my first 205 break down...

 

The first time i've really driven it.

I was on the way back from getting the MOT done, and at the first opportunity I had to give it a few beans (about 4-5k rpm) it started back firing and popping and within a few seconds I had no power at all, and the engine just cut out.

 

Tried to re-start it, it turned over but just back fired and wouldn't start.

 

Here's my suspicion:

 

The cambelt was done the other week (by a garage, not me!), and if something wasn't tightened up properly, and cause the cambelt to slip, it would have thrown the timing out?

 

 

Any one think I'm on the right track, or any other ideas?

 

Thanks!

[Daviewonder 533 3 Cars]

Could be lots of things really mate. Just carry out the usual checks, fuel, spark, timing etc.

[omega 82]

if you suspect the cam belt id have a look at it to see if its loose.

[Mart Pug 0]

if you suspect the cam belt id have a look at it to see if its loose.

 

Yeah I will, good point. The reason I didn't straight away was cos if the garage was at fault I didn't want to touch anything that might invalidate any warranty claims..but I guess no harm in having a look.

 

 

 

The other possible cause that's been suggested to me is distributor/rotor arm/dizzy cap, and wiring associated with it.

 

Can't help thinking that it's unlikely that any of these would just "let go"...I'm thinking these would be a more progressive fail? Or am I just talking bo--ocks there? Lol

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

Mi16 or standard?

 

When the alternator fails on an Mi16 it does so with no warning.

A few years ago this happened to mine,

 

It wouldn't start

We bumped started it

Within 2 miles it started back firing

Within 1/2 mile it had stopped

Towed home.

 

Failed alternator

 

It's happened to quite a few of us.

[Alan77 78 1 Cars]

I had a similar experience and found it to be damp / oily contact points in the dizzy cap due to the dizzy cap being very slightly loose. This caused the cylinders to overfuel because the firing was intermittent, causing backfire, cutout and an embarrasing push off a busy roundabout.

I would check and replace the simple things like dizzy cap, rotor arm, plugs and leads first...

[Mart Pug 0]

It's a 1.9 8v.

 

Had a look at the belt, and it seems to have a good tension. I would struggle to see how it would have slipped.

 

Alan77 - yeah the dizzy cap was a bit loose and the rotor arm looks as if its seen better days.

Think I'll take the advice and get dizzy, dizzy cap and rotor arm replaced.

Plugs and leads are of an unknown age too, so they'll be changed too.

 

Will post here when it's sorted!

[Mart Pug 0]

Couple of other quick questions:

 

My dizzy cap is the clip on type.

Should the dizzy cap be held on by 2 clips or just 1 at the top..?

Mine had just 1 clip on at the top.

 

Do you get the clips when you buy the caps?

 

Thanks

Mart

[omega 82]

clips dont come with the cap. they are part of the dizzy

have you checked fuel /spark?

Edited January 30, 2011 by omega

[Mart Pug 0]

clips dont come with the cap. they are part of the dizzy

have you checked fuel /spark?

 

I found the other clip... Dangling down.. I was expecting the same clip as the top one.

 

No not tried fuel spark yet, work commitments keeping me out the garage I'm afraid.

I've ordered cap and rotor arm though, as they do look suspect.

 

If that (along with plugs and leads) doesnt help things then I'll look at fuel.

 

Thanks for all the advice so far. Will keep you posted.

[prg 0]

Mi16 or standard?

 

When the alternator fails on an Mi16 it does so with no warning.

A few years ago this happened to mine,

 

It wouldn't start

We bumped started it

Within 2 miles it started back firing

Within 1/2 mile it had stopped

Towed home.

 

Failed alternator

 

It's happened to quite a few of us.

Would you be able to jump start it off another car in the saem manner thne it will cut out and back fire. Is so this is yet another problem I have. Will it never end!

[Daviewonder 533 3 Cars]

Would you be able to jump start it off another car in the saem manner thne it will cut out and back fire. Is so this is yet another problem I have. Will it never end!

 

 

Sounds exactly like when my 1.6 gti alternator went. I could jump start it off another car, then drive about half a mile then the car would backfire/misfire and then cut out and not start again.

[Mart Pug 0]

We have closure.

 

A new rotor arm and dizzy cap sorted it.

 

After that, I put new plugs (NGK BCPR7ES) and leads in. Sounding sweet now!