HELP !!!! Why wont my car start now ???

[irishnova]

I have a H Reg 1.2 ! I was driving along ok and then it ground to halt....the car turns over no bother just wont fire.....got a mate to tow me home and then Mr AA man came out and said 'ur timing belts snapped mate'.....he never opened up the cover and when he'd scarpered i opened it and there was the timing belt where it should be and intact....anyways can anyone advise what it might be ? the weghts in the dizzy were banging about and they seem to be no springs holding then together now...wud this be the problem ? do i need a new dizzy ?? HELP

[ade]

check your getting a spark to the plugs. Check yer coil, check yer battery and all leads in between engine and electrics. If it turns over but wont start it could be fuel pump, dizzy or carb. Could also be you timing being way out. Mine did this and I needed a new dizzy unit! (?150 from vauxhall not inc fitting) - my weights had also gone.

If yer timing belt had snapped you would see it cos its connected to the alternator - if yer cam belt had snapped (the one under the cover) you would have prob shagged the engine - it would not turnover.

I reckon its summut to do with the dizzy/electrics.

Ade

[fo0q]

THE TIMING BELT AND THE CAM BELT ARE THE SAME THING.. THE AUXILLARY BELT DRIVES THE ALTERNATOR..

EVEN IF U LOOKED INTO THE TOP OF THE BELT COVER THE BELT COULD STILL HAVE SNAPPED AND COULD JUST OF BEEN SITTIN ON TOP..
WHEN UR TURNION THE ENGINE OVER UR ONLY TURNING THE CRANK SO THE CAM WOULDNT OF MOVED AND WOULDNT OF DISTURBED THE BELT..

iF I WERE U I WOULD TAKE OF THE COVER COMPLETLY TO CHECK COS IF ITS GONE U COULD BE LOKIN AT NEW VALVES AT THE LEAST.

[Aragorn]

well since uve cranked and cranked it, its already fucked if its the timing belt

did the AA guy open the oil filler cap and crank the engine?

if not, do it

u should see the cam turning - if not the timing belt has gone and your lookin at new valves at the very least - all the cranking could have damaged the pistons or some other parts

so get a mate to crank it and look at the cam - if it turns its electics as ade says if not - its the belt

[irishnova]

Thanks for the replies guys.....Timing belt is not broken...i took the top off the dizzy and the springs etc holding the weights in are gone and it looks like metal bits have broken up inside....Are the weights that important ? I thought it would at least run badly. I'll check the electrics this aft and let u know.....Someone said a dizzy was ?150....any advice re one from a scrappers ??

[ade]

(apologies ref timing belt - I was always lead to beliefe that was the one one the alternator - do'h! :oops: )

Ref new dizzy - yeah you need the weights. They help adjust the timing somehow (retard it I think -not sure though). Vauxhall ones are about ?150 new. Theyre easy to fit but you do need someonw to tune it in once set up if yer to get best performance from it.

As for scrappy - yeah you could get a unit for about ?20 but you have to ask yerself how long its been on the car, what state the springs are in and is it gonna be the same. Personally for that piece of kit yer best getting a new one.

You used to be able to get kits to replace the springs but they dont do them anymore (according to a mechanic m8 of mine).


Ade

[Dicko]

get 1 from a scrappys, shoul;d be looking at ?5 tops

[irishnova]

Thanks guys...got one from scrappys from a low mileage car ?20 + vat.....it looks good as new and most importantly the cars running fine now ...just need to set timing properly..... Thands again

[novax]

Just a couple of things - You can't set the timing on the GTE/GSi without the Vaux-box called a Tech1 (Info only). As you have a carb all you need is a timing light :D

Big toothed belt under the cover is the Timing/cam belt.

Smaller "V" belt is the alternator belt. it may have slots cut into it but they are NOT teeth, these are :mrgreen: