[Rossco]

my vit g16B had run flawlessly for two months now, earlier today I was sitting at the lights, took off in first, switched to second and the motor died. The engine will turn over just fine.

it felt like I ran out of petrol, its currently on the side of the road but I have:
- pulled the bung out of the fuel rail and petrol pissed out when I cranked it
- checked all fuses they are fine
- there is power from the coil to the dizzy, I held my finger on the lead and cranked it.

-there is no spark
- the problem is in the distributor (to my knowledge)
- however there was no warning, it just stopped. Is this indicative of a broken distributor?

if it is will I be able to replace it on the side of the road? does the distributor have to be set to TDC ect. This is really the only thing I don't know about in terms of making engines work.

cheers Ross

[Gwagensteve]

Broken timing belt? Pop the cap and crank it. Check the rotor is turning. It's caught us out before.

[Rossco]

Cheers Steve, I've gotten a lift home so I'll check that when I go back this arvo. I know the timing belt was checked by a mechanic before I put the engine in and I didn't hear any shearing of valves etc. when the engine stopped. If that possible helps rule out a timing belt without checking anything.

[Gwagensteve]

No. G16's are free spinners so nothing will happen- the engine will just stop and won't restart. Checking the rotor is turning is the only way to check without disassembly. Spent 5 hours in a blizzard a few years ago chasing what we thought electrical issues- turned out to be the belt.

Steve.

[Rossco]

Ok just rang my machanic and they put a new timing belt in two months ago. even so I'll check the rotor is turning this arvo. Thanks Steve

[Rossco]

ok tilt tray just dropped the car off at my house. the rotor turns when the motor cranks. I have cleaned the contacts on the button and cap, just waiting for the battery to charge after draining it in frustration this morning.

[Rossco]

no go with just cleaning the contact points, still no spark. put the test light on the ignitor lead and it didn't light up but when I put my finger on it I get zapped. as I said getting a spark is my weakness in engines so some one school me on on how this system works, and possibly how to fix it?

[Rhinoman]

Have you got the monitor coupler and Check Engine Light fitted? if so jumper the socket and check for a Code 41 while cranking, that will tell you if you have a problem with camshaft position sensor.

[Rossco]

not throwing any codes. I plugged a spark plug into the coil and cranked it, there was no spark. has this isolated the problem to the coil now? I feel like a coil is more likely to fail suddenly than a distributor.

[Rossco]

All sorted, it was the ignition coil not putting out a strong enough spark.