A couple of days ago we decided to do a compression test on our LiteAce 5K as fuel consumption isnt great (about the same as my 5.0litre Holden V8), and there is a strong smell of exhaust fumes in the cab (exhaust looks okay).

 

We took the distributor cap and leads off first, undid each of the spark plugs in turn, and checked the compression (average of 175psi).

 

Upon putting the cap and leads back, the van turns over but wont start. We have put in new plugs and a rotor arm, but its still the same problem.

 

All the fuses look okay.

 

Any ideas?

 

(its the electronic distributor version)

Edited October 5, 201115 yr by liteace

check fiering order ?

We made sure the HT leads are on right, and marked them before taking them off

Have you checked the plugs are sparking?

check all your low tension leads, did you get them correctly connected to the coil? When your spade connectors are a bit old and worn, you can easily bump one of these and it's no go.

We took the distributor cap and leads off first, undid each of the spark plugs in turn, and checked the compression (average of 175psi).

 

(its the electronic distributor version)

 

Did you ground the HT lead that goes from the coil to the cap ? Can cause problems for the electronics if you don't.

 

Good chance the exhaust is stuffed in one or another. Stuffed exhaust gasket or stuffed exhaust pipe and thats pulling the fuel start through from the carby and causing the high fuel consumption.

Also, just for the record, connecting the leads out of order will not stop the car from starting. It will stop it running well, but it will still fire up and run. (once plugged a 6 banger dizzy in reverse order, still ran.... badly)

That was a Porsche but :P:

hah true. Wasn't so quick that day. Thought I'd killed her!

Plus one on Rob's comment. Did the same thing to an 93 model civic I had. Didn't ground it properly and rooted the electrics.

 

I can't remember whether it turned over or whether there was just nothing, I do remember the cost of the auto-electrician to fix her though, wasn't nice. Mate with it being the electronic dizzy version I would bet a fair bit of money that this is the problem (assuming you have put everything back on the exact same way it came off).

Ah!

 

"Did you ground the HT lead that goes from the coil to the cap ? Can cause problems for the electronics if you don't."

 

don't think we did :(

 

Any idea what to look at if this is the case? also just tried to see if we have a spark, and its there but very weak (dark red, like an ember thats about to go out).

did you do a wet or dry compression test?

 

check your plugs?

Edited October 6, 201115 yr by Evan G

Ah!

 

"Did you ground the HT lead that goes from the coil to the cap ? Can cause problems for the electronics if you don't."

 

don't think we did :(

 

Any idea what to look at if this is the case?

Good chance it won't spark.

also just tried to see if we have a spark, and its there but very weak (dark red, like an ember thats about to go out).

Problem with the coil ?

sounds like primary windings are only working (400v)

 

the secondary windings bump it from 400v to 20,000v

 

but i think if the secondaries had a open curcit it wouldnt spark at all?

It was a dry compression test