Car Started 2 Weeks Ago Then No Spark Now!

[skanny 0]

Hi Guys,

 

My 1.9 has always started fine, not first turn of the starter but its never laboured.

 

It was last started a couple of weeks ago and it started fine as normal.

 

I went to it tonight and it turned over for longer than normal.

 

It then turned over and over and over and nothing.

 

I pulled a plug and there was no spark.

 

I made sure all the wires from the coil were secure.

 

I dont quite know what to check next and how to check it.

 

Is it a bad idea to earth the main coil----> distributor lead when cranking and check for a spark there?

 

I dont understand how it can go from ok to not?

 

Any ideas on what to check and where to start would be well received.

 

I dont want to be having doubts about it starting in the future, i would rather identify the problem and sort it out.

 

All the best Colin

[steve@cornwall 100]

First check I'd make is the contacts inside the dizzy cap, and the rotor arm end - can quickly get oxide coating with condensation, then the connections between dizzy and ig. amp

[Richie-Van-GTi 74 2 Cars]

is it getting power to the coil live? check thye ign amp is plugged in secure and the lead between dizzy to ign amp is secure.

Edited August 26, 2008 by Richie-Van-GTi

[mercury 0]

is it getting power to the coil live? check thye ign amp is plugged in secure and the lead between dizzy to ign amp is secure.

 

yes definately....

 

as this is the plug that ALWAYS is mostly likely at fault...

 

and if you dont know what it is, here is a pic:

 

(note: your plug could be different from mine as i have an AUSSIE-SPEC 205, but look at the plug there, make your way around that area and if need be replace those wires if they are past their life.)

Edited August 27, 2008 by mercury

[skanny 0]

I cleanded the inside of the dizzy and the rotor arm contacts.

 

Cleaned the nipples on the dizzy cap and the plug lead ends.

 

Removed the black plug from the side of the dizzy as mentioned above and cleaned the contacts on the dizzy end and the ign amp end

 

the wires coming from the black plug are freyed.

 

It started and ticked over fine.

 

I sat in buckles up and ready to drive off gave it a blip in neutral and it stuttered and then died and now wont re start

 

If im going down the new ignigion components route what sort of money am i looking at for the bits?

 

.

Or is there anyone local to Telford who is willing to swap some known good bits onto my car to eliminate components??????????

 

Many thanks for your adcive and help to date

 

Colin

Edited August 27, 2008 by skanny

[mercury 0]

I cleanded the inside of the dizzy and the rotor arm contacts.

 

Cleaned the nipples on the dizzy cap and the plug lead ends.

 

Removed the black plug from the side of the dizzy as mentioned above and cleaned the contacts on the dizzy end and the ign amp end

 

the wires coming from the black plug are freyed.

 

It started and ticked over fine.

 

I sat in buckles up and ready to drive off gave it a blip in neutral and it stuttered and then died and now wont re start

 

If im going down the new ignigion components route what sort of money am i looking at for the bits?

 

.

Or is there anyone local to Telford who is willing to swap some known good bits onto my car to eliminate components??????????

 

Many thanks for your adcive and help to date

 

Colin

 

 

ok if its not that wire then go through this list:

 

1. replace coil with brand new part

2. replace ignition amp with brand new part

3. rebuild the distributor or get a second hand working one.

4. get all new wires including the picture above

5. get new spark plug leads

6. get new spark plugs

7. get new distributor cap and rotor arm

 

if that doesnt fix it i dunno what will.

[steve@cornwall 100]

Check that you've not knocked the blue ecu temp sender wiring when clipping on the dizzy cap! or that the metal clips aren't missing from the amp & dizzy leads- they can fall apart if not clipped properly

[mercury 0]

Check that you've not knocked the blue ecu temp sender wiring when clipping on the dizzy cap! or that the metal clips aren't missing from the amp & dizzy leads- they can fall apart if not clipped properly

 

do you have a pic of these sensors?

 

Cheers,

Merc

[skanny 0]

The car seems to be back to starting now!

 

Although there is a hesitancy at about 5k under load but it clears and continues to rev ot the red line - this has been there for a while now.

 

I went to the scrappy yesterday to look for a couple of bits for a pug 206 repair i am doing and low and behold there was a 1.6gti sitting in there!

 

I grabbed the wire and plug that comes off the distributor and goes to the ignition amp for the pricely sum of £2!

 

It looks to be in good condition.

 

I also bought NEW dizzy cap, New Rotor arm.

 

I will fit these tiems and report back as to whether the hesitancy has dissapeared or not.

[mercury 0]

The car seems to be back to starting now!

 

Although there is a hesitancy at about 5k under load but it clears and continues to rev ot the red line - this has been there for a while now.

 

I went to the scrappy yesterday to look for a couple of bits for a pug 206 repair i am doing and low and behold there was a 1.6gti sitting in there!

 

I grabbed the wire and plug that comes off the distributor and goes to the ignition amp for the pricely sum of £2!

 

It looks to be in good condition.

 

I also bought NEW dizzy cap, New Rotor arm.

 

I will fit these tiems and report back as to whether the hesitancy has dissapeared or not.

 

 

keep us updated. Let us know if your new purchase of that wire has fixed your problem.

Cheers,

Merc

[skanny 0]

keep us updated. Let us know if your new purchase of that wire has fixed your problem.

Cheers,

Merc

 

Here is an update.

 

It was not a new wire but a secondhand one.

 

The car so far has started everytime so im hoping a combination of new dizzy cap and rotro arm and this better condition wire has sorted the problem.

Time will tell!

 

I now need to get on with all the other jobs and problems!

[mercury 0]

yeh mien seems to be starting everytime now as well after fixing (cleaning and re-soldering) that dizzy wire.

 

Merc