I'm having trouble getting the Escort started again. And I'm kinda stuck as to what to check for next. My very limited mechanical knowledge has run out [:I]

It died on the way to Sydney for the cruise, and the way it ran for a but then cut out I assumed it was cause of a dodgy tank of fuel or some gunk in the lines/carby.

So I got it home and pulled the carby off, flushed the tank out and blew out the fuel lines. I also pulled the carby down and gave it a good clean out and blew out all the jets and holes. I then reassembled it with new gaskets. I also put a filter in the line after the pump cause there wasn't one there.

Finally got it all back together the other day, hoping that it would just kick over and run. But nope. It cranks and nearly catches, but never does. Like in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJroEWR7pbA

There looks to be fuel getting to the cylinders, I pulled the plugs out to check them and they were a bit wet cause of the cranking and not starting.
I checked the spark on the plug leads, its getting one when I hold it close to the block. How big a spark should it be though? The coil lead is also giving spark.

I'm just not sure where to go from here. What do I check next? I just assumed the dizzy and points were all cause it was running fine to and from town and as far as Berry. But maybe I need to check the cap or rotor arm.

Does anyone have any suggestions [?]

Check the points have not closed up.

Have you got the leads on in the correct order?

Hey.
How far did you strip the carby? Down to the individual jets?
May still have some dirt somewhere.

If it was running and stoped the next i would do is a compression check, mainly to see that the valvles are still seating ok. Check all the cylinders. This will also tell you your head gasket is ok.

This is all providing you have completely checked ignition which it sounds like you have.
I know you said you tested spark, test it on each cylinder.
Have you got a timing light? Is No1 cyl firing on time? check that the other cyl's are firing on time, i mean like that they are in rythym with the cranking.
Make sure that the lead plugs are properly insulating the spark fome earthing.(is the dizzy cap clean?)

About the only other thing i can think of is a rather major air leak into the manifold.

Actually another thought - if you have wet plugs, check the needle and seat is sealing properly and not overflowing into the manifold and flooding.

Hope something in here helps.
Darren.

Do Mk1s have the anti dieseling solenoid?

Rhys

Thanks for all your tips guys.

I pulled the dissy cap off last night, and there was a bit of wear on the contacts and some slight corrosion. I cleaned that up with some wet'n'dry. The points gap measured up ok and it didn't look pitted. And yep, I double checked the order on the leads, I've done that one before Put it all back together and still no dice.

I got a 2nd opinion on the spark and according to my father-in-law, its s@#t So I'm going to try a new cap and rotor arm to see what that does. Of course AutoPro didn't have one when I called in there today. Or maybe its the coil? Is there way to test the coil? Stick a multi meter on it or something?

Darren, I had the jets out of the carby and blew them out. I'll try getting the timing light out and do a compression check tomorrow. Hopefully its not the needle and seat. But if the new cap/rotor arm/coil combo doesn't fix things I'll pull the thing apart again.

Rhys, I have no idea what a anti dieseling solenoid or if mk1's have one

Thanks again, and hopefully I'll get a chance to have more of a play with it tomorrow.

I checked out your video.

Should be easy.

Replace dizzy cap and rotor button, coil, check timing, points and replace the condensor (for some reason the 1.3L and 1.6L engines don't like condensors, which seem to die in my 1.6L every few years).
Also check the engine is not flooded. (if you smell fuel around the car fully open throttle and crank engine - do not pump throttle while cranking).

Hopefully you haven't filled up with ethanol fuel recently.

If all the above are ticked, it has got to start!

In my experience a spark would have to be pretty bad to stop a running car.. but anyway. Keep us posted on your results.
Darren.

Hi Peter,

Based on all the info you have posted...I'd have my money on the condenser or coil or both[;^)] Was running fine on the existing tank of fuel...there would be less than a litre in the carby, pump and lines so you would have only made it a few kms from the servo if fuel was your issue.

Check for adequate voltage at the coil, if that is good during both ign on and cranking, the points are good and gapped correctly, spark is crap so only leaves 2 things in the circuit, the condenser and coil. Without an oscilloscope, you cant test either so I would just replace them with new, not second hand.

Cheers,

Phil.

I'm with Phil. Had a condenser die during a rally. Completed the stage ok, stopped, turned her off and she wouldn't re-start. New condenser and all was good again.