metro 1.4 k-series ignition help

Matt82

Matt82

Matt82

Soldato
Joined
13 Mar 2004
Posts
16,649
hi there.

right. 93 metro 1.4 spi auto. it will not start. it ran this morning for about 2 minutes, got out onto the road, less than 100m and it spluttered and came to a stop. tried to restart, it attempted to fire a couple times but as soon as you let go of the key the revs dropped to nothing.

i have had the air cleaner cover off, watched it being started and did see the injector spray fuel into the carb. so i think we can say its not a fuel delivery prob right?

i have almost no tools here, so did the simple checks on the HTs, dizzy cap and then to the coil. all plugs a present and appear ok.

i will need a fair few tools to be brought here (gfs place) to get the plugs out and get a tester on them to look for a spark.

anyone got any ideas or advise? thanks chaps.
 
Check the jump leads. I would spray some WD40 or equivelant onto them, or dry them out.

It could also be the distributer cap (i think thats what its called) it sits under the jump lead unit on metros. Another thing, where the jump leads ajoin, make sure that is on tight, mine wore the threads away. Expensive fix, so i just cable tied mine. Lasted me until i had tog et rid of it.
 
Matt82 said:
i have had the air cleaner cover off, watched it being started and did see the injector spray fuel into the carb. so i think we can say its not a fuel delivery prob right?
Click to expand...

You can't rule it out, the fuel has to be metered very precisely so e.g. low fuel pressure could stop the engine running.

When was it last fully serviced?
 
Dogbreath said:
You can't rule it out, the fuel has to be metered very precisely so e.g. low fuel pressure could stop the engine running.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same.

It could be a number of things:

- Fuel tank empty
- Ignition components damp or damaged
- Choke mechanism worn or sticking
- Faulty fuel cut-off solenoid
- Fuel injection fault

^ That is from my haynes bar a few things. Erm could the fuel pump have given up the ghost?
 
i put some fuel down the carb myself and saw it spraying on when turned over, surely if there was a spark it would atleast burn that little bit. not even a splutter.

will have to keep trying. going to get the spark tester out this weekend.

:)


ho hum. diesels are better (in this instance) ;)
 
yup. when it first spluttered to a halt it turned over and did try to fire, revved to about 3k but as soon as you stopped turning the key the revs dropped to nothing.

this happened maybe 3-4 times and now it just turns and turns (battery died, so tried to jump it).

the above made me think it was fuel starvation, but then seeing it inject (and i did put some fuel in the carb) it did not start... hence i now think its ignition problems. but i will get the spark testing things out this weekend to see if its sparking.

possible dizzy cap problem. it does not appear to be sealed 100% all round. may get that off too (have no tools at the mo) and clean the connections and wd40 it. i guess these parts will be cheap so will prolly just replace them.


any suggestions welcome tho.
 
Matt82 said:
possible dizzy cap problem. it does not appear to be sealed 100% all round. may get that off too (have no tools at the mo) and clean the connections and wd40 it. i guess these parts will be cheap so will prolly just replace them.
Click to expand...

I'm confused.

In your first post you said you check the dizzy.

That is most probably where your problem lies.
 
Shouldnt be the wiring because if the injectors are firing they are getting a signal to do so.
Check the spark-take the plug out, rest it on the block and turn over the engine you should see a spark. If the plug is black as the nights sky with carbon, wire brush it, and if the plg looks burnt/melted or deformed in any way buy new ones.
If still no spark get a new dizzy, if still no spark, new coil, if not that get someone with a bit of knowledge to take a look at it.
I was always tought if an engine doesnt run check-fuel, spark, compression- and you can normally go from there. If your injectors are firing wrong,, its not the wiring its the ECU, sending a dodgy signal.
 
Last edited:
the saga continues.

i today brought some tools round today, one of which was the spark tester, yknow, one of those things that goes between HT lead and plug.

when the engine was turned over there was no visible spark.

the dizzy cap was the first to be taken off. the terminals on the inside that connect with the rotor arm were very worn so i have gone and got a new one (a tenna). that was fitted, still no spark and no engine starting.

next to attack would be the coil. is this a common thing to go wrong? i do not remember a lot from my past dealing with ignition systems, recon its worth getting another? they seem pretty cheap and pretty easy to change.

would an engine this old have a crank position sensor or anything complicated??


thanks in advance lads.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom