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Pinto - Help still needed
talltony - 15/10/06 at 02:47 PM

Hi Everyone,

Further to my previos post, I'm still having problems. To fill in on the situation, the cambelt snapped, I duly replaced it, and the engine wouldn't start. The starter motor was engaging but the motor would not turn.

I decided that the battery was flat so attached the jumpleads, let them charge for 5 mins and then turned the key. The engine started straight away but died within 20/30 seconds. This happened several times, there's no problem with fuel etc, does anyone have any wise words?

In the previous topic it was mooted that the earth might be an issue - is this still likely? If so, can someone please give me some handy hints as I have no idea. There's a cable running from the battery negative to a point on the engine head, I guess this is it? Take it off, rub it down with wire brush and check the connectors?

Thanks, any help really appreciated.

Tony

talltony - 15/10/06 at 02:59 PM

Just been thinking - the engine was probably running for about 5/6 seconds...

Peteff - 15/10/06 at 03:48 PM

It doesn't sound like an earth problem if the starter turns the engine. Which engine is it, 1.6 or 2.0 and which ignition system are you running ? What did you set the timing at when you renewed the belt ?

marcjagman - 15/10/06 at 03:53 PM

Is it carb or injection? If its injection I would check the fuel supply, relay etc

jacko - 15/10/06 at 03:57 PM

Hi is the timing set right not 180 dg out
have you timed the dizzy right ?
Jacko

[Edited on 15/10/06 by jacko]

rusty nuts - 15/10/06 at 04:27 PM

Faulty ballast resistor wire? ignition would only be powered when starter being cranked so would fire but die when key released. Ignition timing out a mile could cause symptoms of flat battery and cause engine to die. As already asked what engine ? ignition system? and fuel system do you have? If using a bosche distributor there is a line scribed in the top of the distributor body that the rotor arm should point to when setting cam timing as a base setting

Dusty - 15/10/06 at 07:02 PM

Easy to renew a cambelt and get the timing way out. Suggest you remove number 1 plug (the front one), put your thumb over the plug hole and wind the engine round with a spanner on the pulley nut till you feel air being blown past your thumb. This is the compression stroke for cylinder number 1. Continue winding but looking at the timing marks on the crank pulley wind it up to TDC. Now take off the dizzy cap and the rotor arm should be in the position in the pic below. If not remove the dizzy, rotate the rotor arm to either about 3 o'clock or 5 o'clock standing looking at it from behind the front wheel and feed it back in. It rotates a bit as it engages (can't remember which way) but you want it to end up at about 4 o'clock.

[Edited on 15/10/06 by Dusty] Rescued attachment Tdcdizzy.JPG
Rescued attachment Tdcdizzy.JPG

Gunner1 - 15/10/06 at 11:42 PM

Sounds like something is heating up (not engine heat but electrical). My money is on the condenser, ballast resister or coil in that order.
If have electronic ignition and other such works of the devil - Find someone with some diagnostic equipement.

02GF74 - 16/10/06 at 08:27 AM

electic fule pump? check it is still pumping (undo a union and catch the petrol in a jar) when igntion is on.

is there a ballast resistor - seems strange the it will fire up but then immediatly dies.

is alternator wired corectly?

talltony - 16/10/06 at 12:39 PM

Thanks again everyone. To answer the questions, the engine is a 2.0 running twin 40s and luminition ignition.

Reading the comments placed, I'm going to plump for the timing being out. I thought it was a bit easy to do! I had checked everything in accordance to the Haynes manual but my mate set the dizzy... Maybe the twit got it the wrong way round.

What is a ballast resistor? And where would I find it?? Sorry for the most basic of basic questions, I'm a total newbie

Incidently what would happen should the timing belt be too tight? Again I set the tightness as shown in the manual but this is my first time...

Cheers!

02GF74 - 16/10/06 at 01:29 PM

quote:
Originally posted by talltony
luminition ignition.

What is a ballast resistor? And where would I find it?? Sorry for the most basic of basic questions, I'm a total newbie

mechanical fule pump or electric?

ballast resistor; this was added in late 60s to sit in between the coil and the battery when engine is running. it is taken out of the circuit when starting so that coil is connected directly to battery - the engine cranking would lower the battery voltage so the coil and this would compensate and make it easier to start the engine.

Not seen one myself but it looks like a fat long wire in the ignition circuit.

lumenition hmmmmmm..... you should be using non-ballasted coil;

James - 16/10/06 at 01:56 PM

Probably a daft question but isn't it quite likely that if the belt snapped then the valves will have hit the pistons?

Have you had the head off to check this? To check that the valves aren't bent/broken and the piston crowns are ok?

Cheers,
James

mcerd1 - 16/10/06 at 02:08 PM

quote:
Originally posted by James
Probably a daft question but isn't it quite likely that if the belt snapped then the valves will have hit the pistons?


should be ok on a standard 2.0 pinto