[Bucket]

Experiencing a new problem that has left my car unable to start.

Noticed the other day driving to and from work my stereo was flicking on and off, and when I planted my foot in any gear the engine would lose power, similar to as if the dizzy had condensation inside.
I went to start it again at night and it won't turn over properly. I've cleaned inside the dizzy, tightened my alternator (belt was loose).

Im not sure what it is, but when I start it, or try to, it seems like the engine turns over but halfway through slows and the lights on the dash go dull. After doing it a few times itd just turn over but not spark.

Any ideas what it could be? I terminals clamps for my battery are fucked but im on my way to get some new ones, but I have no idea

[Ben_Sierra]

Sounds a bit like its low on juice?

Is the battery fully charged? You may have a dodgy alternator...

[Bucket]

I thought it mightve been a bit low, but we charged it overnight and still couldn't rollstart/jumpstart it.

[Ben_Sierra]

Hmm...

The lights dimmng and the slow turning over definitely sounds to me like the battery is not providing enough current... But if your jumping and it still isn't starting thats a bit different (as long as your not jumping from a dud battery or jump start pack)...

[Bucket]

Nah, it was my uncles fully working nivara lol

God damn, I dunno what it is

[Bucket]

Does putting the dizzy on backwards make a difference? I have the blow off tower bit facing the engine but i'm pretty sure that's how it is. I haven't moved any of the leads so it cant do that.

Just a bit more of a description of what happens:
I turn the key all the way as a regular startup. The engine turns and every few turns (3rd or so) it will sound like it's lost power and the dash lights go dull, then they go bright and it does the same thing again. After holding the key forward for a while it'll turn over ok but not start up.

My uncle had a quick look but isn't too sure with the EFI. He said it sounds like compression lock? Hmmm

[BAZZOOK]

Loose ignition wire to the dizzy?

[Bucket]

I don't think so. I follow most of the wires from the dizzy and checked they were all in place. I also checked the starter motor cables were on too.

I forgot to mention that after holding the key in and the engine turning itself over without slowing down, it will occasionally backfire from my snorkel (i think).

[Bucket]

Just gave my dads shitty chinese multimeter a go on the battery, I think I had it on the right setting cos it's the closest I could get it to the 14.8 written on the battery

[Ben_Sierra]

12.78 volts is pretty reasonable for a battery when the allternator isn't running, you shouldn't have a drama starting it with that.

If the dizzy is the wrong way round (180 degrees out) then backfiring out through the carby would be expected... So that may be the problem....

[Bucket]

Well I had tried switching it round and it's doesnt really do much different.

Oh, and it's EFI :p

[Bucket]

ok, so the dizzys cap only fits on one way (thats the only bit I ever remove) so it cant be that. I just removed some shit off the rotor and now it doesnt have the 2nd or 3rd slower turn over, just a whole lot of backfiring.

Is it possible it's now just flooded after 2 days of trying to crank it over?

[Ben_Sierra]

Turn the engine unitl its at TDC on cyclinder one on the compression stroke. The Dizzy rotor should be pointing towards the number one lead coming out of the dizzy. If its not, its not lined up right....

[Ben_Sierra]

Oh, if you had the dizzy out to clean it its probably turned whilst it was out, the rotor could be pointing just about anywhere...

[Bucket]

Ben_Sierra wrote:

Oh, if you had the dizzy out to clean it its probably turned whilst it was out, the rotor could be pointing just about anywhere...

Yeah, I took the rotor off to give it a wipe when I was out in the bush and to throw some water dispersant on it. Theres only 3 ways it can go on.

Would this probably be the cause of my problems?
If so, wouldn't it have buggered up out in the bush and not a few days later?

Also, I have no idea what you mean by TDC and how to check that stuff

[Ben_Sierra]

If you out the dizzy back the wrong way it woudn't start or run at all. So if it did straight afterwards that isn't the problem.

TDC is top dead centre. See if you can get your hands on a service manual for your car, it will make checking these things a whole lot easier...

I'm running out of idea as to what else could be wrong with it. My money is still on ignition timing at the minute, perhaps if you don't know how to check it its time to take it to someone who does... Othwise I'm out of options...

[Bucket]

Ben_Sierra wrote:

If you out the dizzy back the wrong way it woudn't start or run at all. So if it did straight afterwards that isn't the problem.

TDC is top dead centre. See if you can get your hands on a service manual for your car, it will make checking these things a whole lot easier...

I'm running out of idea as to what else could be wrong with it. My money is still on ignition timing at the minute, perhaps if you don't know how to check it its time to take it to someone who does... Othwise I'm out of options...

I have a Haynes service manual here, I'll read up a bit. Just thought I'd ask here for a bit of guidance on where else to look.

So you reakon it might be the dizzy out of time?

Thanks heaps mate, i'll see how this goes tomorrow morning.

[Ben_Sierra]

Could be... I'm no expert but it sounds similar to what happened on my Sierra when I put the Dizzy back the wrong way round...

[Bucket]

I haven't actually removed the dizzy base. I took the rotor off and the cap to clean them, then just whacked them back on. And the cap can only go on one way anyway.

[jomclean]

hay bucket have you looket at the timing belt?

[Bucket]

jomclean wrote:

hay bucket have you looket at the timing belt?

Nah. It was a month or two ago that I replaced the waterpump and aligned the belt myself.
It's been running fine since then though.

[Bucket]

Well there's no more issues with it turning over, it just won't start. The dizzy seems to be giving out a spark, the battery has a charge between 12 and 13v and the fuel return seems to pass fuel alright.

Might just go get some spark plugs and an extension piece to get em out, and hope for the best!

[Ben_Sierra]

Its possible that the timing belt has skipped a tooth or too, particularly if it wasn't tensioned well when you changed it... Its worth checking...

[Bucket]

I hope not, cos one of the bolt heads for the cover broke off :/

[Bucket]

Got a guy coming to look at it tomorrow. Apparently he worked for 30 odd years at a local dealership as a mechanic.

[Bucket]

Dizzy button was on wrong. FML