Fire but no start

[Hilton]

Ive been wanting to get one of these little cars for a long time now. I finally found one for what I thought was a good price. I paid 375 for an 88 model. The guy thought that the timing belt may have slipt. He said that it quit running on him one day while he was driving it to work. Now Ive checked the timing at tdc. The cam matched up and the belt looked good. So I bought a rebuild kit for the carb. The motor will turn and sound like its gonna start but nothing. I replaced the plugs and wires still nothing. I even bought a new battery. Any other car and I would have had it running by now. This car is driving me nuts. It does have a lot of miles. I would think it still has some life in it. Once I get this thing running I would like to do my theme in Smurfs. Blue and white paint through out the whole car. Nice touch to a small car. I would like to make a shogun out of it. But who am I kiddin right. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Levitan]

Did you pull the fuel line and turn the car over to see if it pumping fuel? Did you push the little button on the left rear strut tower? Do you know for sure it is getting spark? On the compression stroke at top dead center, is the rotor pointing to the #1 post on the distributor cap?

Need more info to help.

[Sparky]

Did you push the little button on the left rear strut tower?

They have those on the 1988's? Hey Hilton....put in your location, too. There may be someone close by wanting to help you!

[Levitan]

I guess I was just asssuming they had them on all of them Sparky. I could be wrong.

[Sparky]

I think those were only on FI Festys....I could be wrong.

[FestYboy]

carby festys didn't have fuel shut off (mechanical pumps).

[Levitan]

Makes sense, my bad. I was just thinking about all the things that it could be with the little info we have.

[Hilton]

It is getting fuel to the carb. So the pump should be good. When you pull the throttle cable it puts gas down the carb. The compression stroke does put the bug at number one. Maybe the distributor has bad parts. The inside was fairly clean but you never know. Even with starting fluid it doesnt want to start. I have noticed that when you let off the clutch the starter stays going. Not sure whats up with that either.

[GenevaDirt]

check the fusible links....coil....disty. Sounds like no spark.

[FestYboy]

well if you have fuel, then you either don't have compression, OR you don't have spark. i'd start with spraying down the inside of the distro w/ brake clean and swap in a new coil.

[Levitan]

I purchased an ignition tester at the local McAutoParts store that you clip on ground, like a bolt on the radiator support, and put your spark plug wire or coil wire onto it, so when you turn the car over, you can see if it has spark. I'd start with the #1 wire, far passenger side. If no spark, then check your coil wire. Report back Grasshopper!

[WmWatt]

I'd remove the ignition control module (the little back integrated curcuit) and have it tested for free at an auto parts store (some do it). It's the transistorized unit which replaced the older points in distributors. When they go bad strange things happen to the ignition. Have you checked for a spark when turning over the starting motor?

[Hilton]

I have replaced the coil. I will tear down the distributor and give it a good clean over. While I have it off I will go have it tested. I havent tested for spark but it sounds like its the distributor. I will get back in a couple of days to let you guys know whats going on.

[WmWatt]

A replacement distributor can cost less than a new ignition modlue but be careful that the ignition module in the replacement distributor is a good one. New ignition modules come with a 5-year 50k km warranty. If your present one is bad you might be in luck if it's less than 5 years or 50k miles on it, and you have the original receipt.

[jglutz]

Check for spark between the coil and the wire that goes to the distributor.

Disengage the wire at the coil and hold it in close proximity to the coil while someone cranks the engine.

If you do not notice spark the problem is in the coil or prior to the coil.