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Any Ideas on why it wont start?

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hipichic Insano Dub Head

763 posts · joined Jun 2005 ·

#499096
Ok, the story in a nutshell... 1300 out of one bug and into another. When it was in the other bug it ran (last time was about 6 months ago, but it worked then).
Now, it turns over, there appears to be spark, and fuel..but its not firing up.
Any ideas??
Time is a great healer. Unless it's a rash, then you're better off with ointment.

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#499098
Is there any noise at all??

bangs... pops .... farts or wheezes???

"there appears to be spark" - what do you mean by this??
Is there a nice healthy blue spark when you pull one of the plug leads off???

Did you redo the the valves, points and timing???

Spark + fuel + compression MUST equal a going motor if the proportions are right
Futue te ipsum!!!

hipichic Insano Dub Head

763 posts · joined Jun 2005 ·

#499100
No noise.
Yes, healthy looking blue spark when pulling a plug lead off.
Didn't touch the valves, new points with a decent looking spark, didn't touch the timing.
Time is a great healer. Unless it's a rash, then you're better off with ointment.

MickH Hairy Gutted Sloth

3,389 posts · joined Sep 2003 ·

#499103
Fresh fuel.....check the plugs for fouling or cleanliness🙂
tssnq.com.au

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#499106
Is it tru that if the carbi is dry, u need to pour some fuel in it to make it run if it hasn't been ran in a while?

Works for my mates golf.
Turn the engine, while pouring a bit of fuel into the carby (take the airfilter off), and maybe, just maybe. Tis what my mate does.

Is this a good thing to do at all? lol
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

hipichic Insano Dub Head

763 posts · joined Jun 2005 ·

#499111
the fuel is fresh, I filled the tank a week ago. We tried the fuel in the carby trick...didn't seem to do much 🙁
Time is a great healer. Unless it's a rash, then you're better off with ointment.

MickH Hairy Gutted Sloth

3,389 posts · joined Sep 2003 ·

#499116
hmmm....I'd check the firing order/spark again in case something was "overlooked"...it will be something simple.Definetly check the plugs...sitting around doesn't do them many favours:blush GOOD LUCK😵
tssnq.com.au

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#499117
what happens when you turn the crank pulley by hand??

Can you feel compression???

When you pull the plugs are they wet??

Sounds like
1) no compression - unlikely if it was a running motor
2) no spark at plug - could be fouled.

BUT

if you replaced the points you MUST redo the timing.

The points is what affect the timing.

You CANT replace points without redoing the timing
Futue te ipsum!!!

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#499148
also check the automatic choke unit...
is the choke working?

Turn the ignition ON - feel if the automatic choke is warm/hot....
Now, air cleaner off...
When looking down the carby throat, the first butterfly flap should open... [choke flap]
Once open, look down into the throat of the carby and press the throttle cable down/in...
This will activate the accelerate pump... & You will see the fuel getting sprayed into the inlet manifold...

If the flap doesn't open.... choke not working... or wire off...
or... choke not adjusted correctly...

If You don't see the fuel being sprayed...
chances are You have no fuel in the carburetor bowl....

Is the wire connected to the electromagnetic fuel cutoff valve???
Fuel pump not working.... fuel line blocked...

If You have poured a small amount of fuel down the carburetor, and the engine doesn't fire...
sounds like no spark... too little spark... or the ignition timing is way Out....

Coil is connected correctly.... + to ignition power wire...

Condenser is still there....? carbon button still in the top of the distributor cap... inside...?
Distributor rotor button still on top of shaft in Dizzy?

With little spark.... little fuel.... spark plug wires on wrong plugs etc....
the engine will still fire... it may not run...


but if You have
Spark - Fuel & Air - the engine should kick. fire or run.....

so something IS missing..??

Lee



[ Edited on 10-6-2006 by 68AutoBug ]

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- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

hipichic Insano Dub Head

763 posts · joined Jun 2005 ·

#499154
Thanks heaps for all the suggestions!! They will be put into action tomorrow and will report back on results 🙂
It's going to be soooo nice to have a car with a heater finally!
Time is a great healer. Unless it's a rash, then you're better off with ointment.

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#499225
sounds like me recently.....my problem turned out to be more sinister after i got it started.

but like everyone has said.

pull off your coil lead and hold it a couple of mm away from the body of the car and either crank the engine by hand or get someone to turn the key and check u have a nice solid blue spark.

if you have spark. set your tappets .006 . even if u didnt touch them prior to putting the engine back in. try to get everything as close to exact as possibly as when u have 3 or 4 things thatare close but not exact they all add up.

after tappets set your points gap. then statically re set your timing. after setting timing pull your plugs. if u have fuel they should be wet with fuel.

if they are black and corroded replace them (spark plugs are cheap) re set spark plug gap.

now check spark at one of the plug ends the same way you did with the coil lead. good solid spark?


like barry said the 3 things needed for a running engine are spark, fuel and compression. at least one of these isnt functioning properly or you wouldnt have a problem.
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#499231
Our unleaded fuel has so many additives that the fuel goes off very quickly.....

Your carburetor could be blocked with the gunk that is left after the old fuel evaporates...

It can block up the galleries the fuel flows thru....

and can cause permenant damage to the carby...

Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

PrettyBlueBug Almost over it...

2,032 posts · joined May 2005 ·

#499284
Definitely check the choke as Lee suggested. I had issues with my Bug one fine day, wanted to turn over but just couldn't... got her towed and what do you know? Stupid choke had jammed! Didn't I feel like a right idiot, even my mechanic was embarrassed.

hipichic Insano Dub Head

763 posts · joined Jun 2005 ·

#499325
Well, Its going!
It ended up being one of those DOH 🙄 moments! We changed the plugs, checked everything, but the one thing that wasn't done was setting the dizzy back to the marks that had been made by himself 6 months ago!
It started beautifully after that, have a heater, though it feels a bit gutless compared to what it was before.
Some of the shortcuts taken by the previous mechanic when they put in the old motor were pretty shocking!
Thanks for all the help peoples :beer
Time is a great healer. Unless it's a rash, then you're better off with ointment.

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#499328
:sandrine

Well done
Futue te ipsum!!!

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#499329
good to hear.
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#499330
Good to see You have it going....


Its far better to fix something Yourself than take it to a NON VW trained mechanic....

They don't have a clue.....

and can cause more problems by guessing.... :o:o

Lee

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

hipichic Insano Dub Head

763 posts · joined Jun 2005 ·

#499350
The man (Mr_hip) is a pro at fords etc, this was his first vw changeover though 🙂 He did a great job.
Now we just have to work out why the demister fan isn't working and put in the little heater vents at the front...but thats a job we'll leave for another day.
Another question, does anyone else hear a little ticking noise from their regulator (the box under the passenger side rear sear) at all?
Time is a great healer. Unless it's a rash, then you're better off with ointment.

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#499359
No

Check it out - something wrong if it ticks

i keep forgetting - you have an L bug, a 1303??

99% will be a dead fan. They fill up the chamber with water and die
Futue te ipsum!!!

hipichic Insano Dub Head

763 posts · joined Jun 2005 ·

#499377
We'll get hold of another regulator then 🙂
and hopefully the fan in the donor bug is a goer....*fingers crossed*
I have a 1973 "superbug"... we've just put in a 1300. it had a "914" motor in it before.

[ Edited on 11/6/2006 by hipichic ]
Time is a great healer. Unless it's a rash, then you're better off with ointment.

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#499379
hes talking about your demister fan

id try a different regulator. but before you do that check that all the wires are on and on in the correct places.
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

hipichic Insano Dub Head

763 posts · joined Jun 2005 ·

#499386
I just realised that and edited the post to hide my silliness 🙂

The wires all appear to be right, we double checked when it came off the other car. 🙂
Time is a great healer. Unless it's a rash, then you're better off with ointment.

PrettyBlueBug Almost over it...

2,032 posts · joined May 2005 ·

#499960
Glad it's all good, yay to mr_hip! 😉

hipichic Insano Dub Head

763 posts · joined Jun 2005 ·

#500159
🙂 he did a fantastic job 🙂
Time is a great healer. Unless it's a rash, then you're better off with ointment.