Recently bought an X1/9 that has been in garage for 10 years, (1988 1500cc) it turns over but will not start, found I had no spark so bought a second hand coil but still no spark, also found a brand new coil in car with other spares that the prevoius owner must have tried. I was told car was running before going onto storage, any help would be very welcolme
Technical x1/9 wont start
- Thread starter silky1
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Technical x1/9 wont start
jimbro1000
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Get the engine to TDC on #4, mark the distributor position, take the distributor cap off, loosen off the clamp and work it back and forth as if you were trying to set the timing. You should see a small spark between the points. If this isn't happening the ignition circuit is not being energised and you will never get a spark no matter how much you try fiddling and replacing the ignition components. This could be down to a broken ignition switch or a broken/faulty wire in the circuit. After being left standing the most likely culprit is a bad earth somewhere and it is worth going round checking all of the wiring connections anyway. The last possibility is that the condensor on the side of the distributor has failed and you can't build up enough voltage to get the spark in the first place - again quick possible given it has been left standing.
If you do get a spark you need to check the ignition leads, the small spark is the trigger for coil to fire. Checking that the coil is firing should be simple, start by putting the distributor cap back on and just taking a plug out of the engine (#4 would be appropriate if you've followed the above instructions) and make sure the metal body is touching the engine with the lead attached - you should see a big spark instead of the little one from the points.
If it does spark there is a possibility that the auxiliary drive shaft in the engine has snapped. If you take the cap off again and rock the car back and forth while in gear you should see it flick back and forth at the extremes of the cars movement (there is some slack in the drivetrain so you have to clear that before you see any motion). If it doesn't move the drive shaft is broken - that is an engine out and stripdown job.
Assuming you don't get a spark from the plug you need to chase the HT circuit back, the easiest option is to disconnect the coil lead from the distributor, roll the plug cover back and try a similar trick to testing the plug. If it doesn't spark try borrowing a plug lead to do the same, you might need a screwdriver to insert in the longer plug cover as the plug leads are much harder to expose. If all 5 leads fail to spark you need to find a definite known good lead and try the same (borrow one or just buy the shortest generic lead from a motor spares store), still no spark means the coil is failing to energise and you are back to a wiring fault, if you do get a spark then the 10 year old leads have had it and you just need a replacement set.
Whatever the fault may be it is worth replacing the service ignition components regardless as the engine will run that much better one it is working.
If you do get a spark you need to check the ignition leads, the small spark is the trigger for coil to fire. Checking that the coil is firing should be simple, start by putting the distributor cap back on and just taking a plug out of the engine (#4 would be appropriate if you've followed the above instructions) and make sure the metal body is touching the engine with the lead attached - you should see a big spark instead of the little one from the points.
If it does spark there is a possibility that the auxiliary drive shaft in the engine has snapped. If you take the cap off again and rock the car back and forth while in gear you should see it flick back and forth at the extremes of the cars movement (there is some slack in the drivetrain so you have to clear that before you see any motion). If it doesn't move the drive shaft is broken - that is an engine out and stripdown job.
Assuming you don't get a spark from the plug you need to chase the HT circuit back, the easiest option is to disconnect the coil lead from the distributor, roll the plug cover back and try a similar trick to testing the plug. If it doesn't spark try borrowing a plug lead to do the same, you might need a screwdriver to insert in the longer plug cover as the plug leads are much harder to expose. If all 5 leads fail to spark you need to find a definite known good lead and try the same (borrow one or just buy the shortest generic lead from a motor spares store), still no spark means the coil is failing to energise and you are back to a wiring fault, if you do get a spark then the 10 year old leads have had it and you just need a replacement set.
Whatever the fault may be it is worth replacing the service ignition components regardless as the engine will run that much better one it is working.
