[burls]

Out wheeling on the weekend and the engine started becoming hard to start and eventually I couldn't start it. We mucked around a bit trying different things. Then we checked the spark for number one with the plug out, when we were cranking it over it started. Put the plug back in and it wouldn't start, take it out and it would start.

Any ideas?

[burls]

re written above to make sense.

[Gwagensteve]

Faulty coil?

[burls]

why do you think that or has this or similar happened to you?

[tanshi]

seems like a strange one. i think its just a case of educated guessing, try swapping stuff that cheap and easy.

if a coil was breaking down it would explain it gradually getting worse over time

[burls]

yeah but it seems to run fine if it starts on all 4. Car is stuck at city view atm

[JrZook]

burls wrote:

Then we checked the spark for number one with the plug out, when we were cranking it over it started. Put the plug back in and it wouldn't start, take it out and it would start.

Sounds like starting problems are related to the cranking speed. Do you get spark with all the plugs in and cranking?

[burls]

Dont know, I couldnt do it with all plugs in. It does fire up straight away when the plug is out so I cant see speed being a player here. I think maybe a breakdown in insulation being as it doesnt spark when it is in the cylinder, I discounting anything though as I have never heard of this before.

[droverdave]

With something as odd as that id say something else is going on and its just a coincidnce that it happened when you pulled the spark plug and put it back in.

If it works perfectly fine sometimes, and not other times, id be looking for loose connections rather than faulty sensors or items.

[JrZook]

Well with the plug out there would be less load on the starter, hence the reasoning that it could be related to cranking speed. Considering you have been playing with the dizzy I would be checking the gap between the rotor and the pickup coil as the signal output voltage to the ECU is proportional to the speed and gap. If the gap is too large then it would require higher cranking speeds to register a signal to the ECU. Just a thought.

[burls]

Good thoughts guys
Dave it's not coincidental it's everytime plug out start plug in no well mayb every tenth time you get it to start and run
I didn't have any other tools except the plug spanner so could open anything up and check
Keep the ideas coming, we will have an answer, my only other thought is something getting hot and breaking down still along the bad earth or short theory though