engine not starting issue

[turbojolt]

Bought my nova woth the headgasket gone. Ive done the gasket now but i cant get the car started

Im not getting any spark! I get one spark on cylinder 1 as soon as you turn it over but nothing on any of the others.....


Any idea what i should be checking?


Cheers

[craig green]

what engine is it? carb/injection?

Is it timed up properly? Ign & belt timing?

[turbojolt]

Its a 1400 spi from a corsa b (nz i think)

Iys tined up right on the belt and the ugn timing hasnt been altered

[mowgli]

where are you running the +ve feed to the ecu from?

[turbojolt]

where are you running the +ve feed to the ecu from?

This is me your talking to +ve ??????

[Damo]

Ign live mate I believe mow gils referring to.

damo.

[turbojolt]

Ign live being the black wire on the near side close to the headlight. Thats spured off to the engine loom

[jimbob-mcgrew]

yeah, thats the one tj. power from the ignition switch.

it goes to the coil on carb models, not sure on spi's

does the spi earth thru the base of the coil, the same as the carb ?

[jimbob-mcgrew]

is there a safe gaurd on the spi's ?

i mean... if the fuel pump doesnt engage, will the ecu halt the sparks ?

[turbojolt]

The coil looks the same as the carb one mate. I think its the orginal one

[jimbob-mcgrew]

you sorted this out yet ?

i had a thought the engine might not be earthed

[Iain]

Sorted now, engine is earthed fine, ECU has a good ign live feed that stays live when cranking, all positives and earths to ECU look fine... Turns out there's a bit missing on the distributor so it doesn't actually slot into the camshaft so doesn't turn! lol

[turbojolt]

As iain said feck only knows what happened to the missing part as its not something that should just fall off :/

[jimbob-mcgrew]

Turns out there's a bit missing on the distributor so it doesn't actually slot into the camshaft so doesn't turn! lol

^ ah, that explains the lone ranger spark and then nothing. power was probably just going in, jumping a spark across to whichever its lined up nearest (plug lead no.1), and then couldnt do anymore.
good you found the culprit.
this centre drive peg/slot/pin bit i guess.

http://www.migweb.co.uk/forums/attachments/other-mechanical-electrical/8774d1368691182-c20xe-distributor-disassembly-dizzy-jpg

[turbojolt]

Thats the one mate. i got a replacment from the scrappy on sunday. just got to get the igniction timing dialed in now as its running **** then dies lol

[turbojolt]

Ian with two i's and burgo rescued me in the end