(G) fingers crossed

my uno hasnt started all weekend. it just wont fire up, dont think its geting a spark been working on it all morning but no luck.
tryed new plugs distributor cap and a few other bits but to no joy, the local garage is coming to tow it away later on today or in the morning. lets hope they can bring her back to life!!!

Oh dear!

So, it's cranking over but not even trying to fire up?
Which model?

'They' always say not to check electronic ignition by 'sparking', but I still do. I pull out the coil wire from the distributor cap, push in a large screwdriver, and arrange to rest somewhere near the engine (e.g. on the cam cover). There should be quite a big spark jumping up to 15mm or so.

If no spark here, get a 12v test light and verify that the ignition coil has +12v at the terminal with the orange wires with the ignition key switched on (if not, then suspect ignition switch). Then connect test light to other terminal (green wires) and see if light flickers with engine cranking over (if so, maybe the coil is faulty assuming HT leads are good). If not, then check two wire connection (red/green) to distributor. Take off distributor cap and verify that distributor is turning (may have broken cambelt etc...) Next, take off finned module from side of distributor and try exchanging, or swap whole distributor (quite easy on FIRE engine).

If you do have sparks, then the only other requirement is fuel... after quite a bit of cranking with the choke on, the spark plugs should become wet with petrol. If not, then take fuel line off carburettor and briefly crank engine to check that fuel comes out - should be heaps of fuel there if fuel pump/filter/tank OK. Any faults in carburettor (e.g. blocked idle jet, choke not working) shouldn't matter for the purpose of starting the engine - a few pumps on the accelerator should squirt in enough petrol for any starting need.

In my experience it's more likely to be ignition than fuel related... and that finned electronic module is a likely suspect, or the pickup wires inside the distributor that tend to fray and lose their insulation.

Sorry to hear that you had to call in the services of a garage (maybe next time, eh? ) but let us know what it was anyway.

Thanks,
-Alex

cheers for the help. I called the garage because i have just had trouble with this car, poor thing! timer bearing went, alternator belt, head gasket and a load more things. when it would not start i couldnt belive it and just thought i would let someone else have a look!!

saying that the tow truck hasnt shown yet and it should of been here by now, Im sure there is a lesson there.

Anyway ill see what they say and how much they quote for the work, may just use it for spares

Similar thing happened to me about 200miles after doing the head gasket and timing belt. Car (1992 999cc FIRE) would churn over but not fire.

Turned out that the old tensioner gave up the ghost with a new belt and the timing belt had slipped round about 6 teeth, thus throwing the timing well and truly out

One new tensioner and resetting the timing had it running sweet again.