Won't start?

[zacariah]

Today i parked my car in the underground parking at the mall, to get it washed by the people that wash cars under there. They did an amazing job, but said when they tried to move it, it started but then died a few seconds later, and wouldn't start afterwards. Apparently the moved it from where i parked it, then moved it to where they clean the interior but when they tried to move it to an empty parking bay, it wouldn't start. sure enough, when i got in i couldn't start it.

it'll turn over, and it'll start up for a second or two, before stuttering and dieing straight away.
i thought it might have been the points as i've been burning these out pretty often. but they appear to be clean, and i can see the sparking when i turn it over.

i disconnected the overflow line from the fuel pump, and it pumped out fuel when turned over, so i assume the fuel pump is working. i tried to disconnect the metal pipe that attatches to the carby, to see if that was working, but it wouldn't come undone. that also leaks fuel now, but the float bowl is at halfway.

one of the guys that worked at the car wash, said when he moved it he could smell fuel. i took the fuel cap off, and no pressure.

i'm really not sure what it could be, and because it's unground it's going to be hard to get it towed anywhere, without pulling it out first. plus i really can't afford to get it towed anywhere.

i have to go away for work monday, so i need to try sort this out tomorrow, or at least try get it towed back to my house.

just wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what it could be/what i could look at, or maybe advice for getting it moved?

Thanks.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Got spark? Mike

 

[zacariah]

Not sure how to check the plugs, but i've taken the distributor cap and rotor off, and turned it over. can see the spark between the points.

It did start though, and would keep starting. but it would just die seconds later.

also, if i just turned the key, it wouldn't even sound like firing up. but with my foot flat on the pedal, sounded like it would normally, so i'm thinking maybe a fuel problem?

 

[Michael Hanson]

Check fuel filter and coil wire. MIke

 

[rchalmers3]

If it starts while cranking but quits when you release the starter, you may have lost power to the coil through the ignition fuse.

An easy field test/repair would be to install a hot wire from the B+ post to the coil+ terminal and see if it runs.

Rick

 

[zacariah]

I'm not really sure how to do that, or where the B+ post is?

 

[zacariah]

got it towed back to my house for free, through rac. now i guess i'll just call the mechanic monday and see what he suggests.

thanks for the suggestions!

 

[zacariah]

just bought a feeler gauge and had a play around with the points. didn't really have much of an idea on how to set them, but i got the points to where they opened the most, and then set them to just a teeny bit wider than .018.

car started.

i'm guessing that maybe the points slipped closed. or something? also, should the points spark?

 

[Heartworm]

Given the history of washing the car, I would consider water in the distributor. Next time, shoot a little WD-40 in the distributor to get rid of the moisture.

 

[zacariah]

distributor was completely dry though, and it sat there for about 24 hours. on a 35degree c day. as soon as i adjusted the points gap, started normally.

so weird

 

[jas89]

Did you ever figure this out? I'm having the same problem after washing my fj62. been ripping my hair out for the last week
would love to hear the outcome! Thanks