help! xflow starting issues!!!

[mk2lee]

hello, anyone in essex willing to help get my mk2 escort started as i am at breaking point!!!

all started when i fitted a non vac distributor and electric ignition kit. having a nightmare with setting the timming as never done it before. this is my everyday car and i hav'nt been able to use it for over a week now as i cant get it started! today i thought i would give it another go, still wont start but this time the starter wouldnt disengage even with the key removed and ended up melting my battery terminals!!!! i have just about had it with it now and need help urgently. i am willing to pay for somebodys time and assistance. or if anyone knows someone they could recommend it would be greatly appeciated before i set fire to it. many thanks, lee

[DaveWRC]

I would if I lived down saaarf,
Was it running ok before you fitted the new dizzy?

Did you point the rotor arm to cylinder no.1 when it was fitted?

Have you removed a spark plug to check its sparking?

Sounds like you may have killed your starter solenoid.

[mk2escortmadman]

LEE Wheres me phone call id have been straight round i have a brand new spare starter and everything sitting on the shelf did the dick turpin events the other week teach you nothing lol

Frank

[mk2lee]

I would if I lived down saaarf,
Was it running ok before you fitted the new dizzy?

Did you point the rotor arm to cylinder no.1 when it was fitted?

Have you removed a spark plug to check its sparking?

Sounds like you may have killed your starter solenoid.

hello mate, was running perfect before i fitted the dizzy and kit, even fired up for a short while with it fitted although wouldnt stay running so im sure its the timing that needs sorting. i have a strong spark and rotor arm was pointing to cylinder no.1. it just refuses to start and with the underbonnet excitment earier today ive reached the limit of what i am capable of sorting
thanks, lee

[DaveWRC]

Well it should run at top dead centre with no adjustments needed, then you can put a strobe light on it and time it up once its running.

Try getting someone crank it over while you turn the dizzy slighty back and forth.

[dangerousdave]

Mine ran with 30degs at idle before

[savvi]

Sounds like it's back feeding the starter via the ballest resistor ?

Normally you will run a 9v coil and a ballest resistor which gives you 12volts on crank to give you a better spark.

If you still have it in line you would get the starter fault.

How have you wired the electronic ignition ?

[Dave]

Talk to Frank

[mk2lee]

Sounds like it's back feeding the starter via the ballest resistor ?

Normally you will run a 9v coil and a ballest resistor which gives you 12volts on crank to give you a better spark.

If you still have it in line you would get the starter fault.

How have you wired the electronic ignition ?

hello, thanks to everyone thars given me input.

i have wired the ignition as per the instructions ie. the kit is prewired. so blue cable to a good body earth and the 12v feed from the +terminal on the coil direct to the 12v supply from the ignition barrel. (yellow wire)!
the original feed with ballast resistor to the coil is still present but is not connected to anything. could this be the problem???

[angliaant]

cant be of much help i dont think lee hope you get it sorted tho mate ... itll be sommat simple .. take it you have checked all connections are good and stuff like that ?

[mk2lee]

cant be of much help i dont think lee hope you get it sorted tho mate ... itll be sommat simple .. take it you have checked all connections are good and stuff like that ?

hello mate, yeah checked all the connections, hoping ive just cocked up somewhere with the wiring by just running a 12v ignition live direct to the ignition barrel! not even sure where this poxy ballast resister thing lives?

ps did you get a drive of daves starlet on the way home from chelsea?

[angliaant]

ps did you get a drive of daves starlet on the way home from chelsea?

nah ... every old bill in the county was still about trying to nick everyone

[mk2lee]

hello guys, thanks for your input i think your right about the ballast resistor back feeding the starter. am i right in thinking a 12v supply comes from the starter solinoid to the coil via a ballast resistor which drops the voltage to 9v. as i have disconnected this feed from the coil end, the current will simply back feed the starter from the ballast resistor???? if so would it be ok to cut out and replace the resistor and reattach the original coil connection? many thanks, lee

[Pushrod King]

What you need is a 12v feed that is live when the ignition is turned on (not in the start position),that goes to the + side(if there is one) of the ballast resistor then the other wire from the resistor goes to the + side of the coil. there should be no resistor in the starter circuit.

[mk2lee]

This is how i have it wired. Please tell me if this is wrong thanks, lee

[Ratters]

run a spare wire directly from the + coil to the + battery - do not leave it connected permanently - just connect it, then try starting - remember to remove it after that will give you battery voltage at the coil & will hence tell you if you coil feed is causing the non-starting problem.

[mk2escortmadman]

Mr try and fix it does it again i believe loland Dave you have no idea how many times i hear that lol my mate has all 4 of her kids saying it

Frank

[mk2lee]

frank, your a legend mate! and ant thanks for popping over and sorting it all out. cant tell ya how chuffed i am!

heres a link to it running complete with bike carbs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0amNCOHhoDIYouTube - project poopa ford escort mk2 part 6 update. bike carbs.

[savvi]

So what was wrong with it ?

[mk2lee]

So what was wrong with it ?

firstly starter solinoid was stuck in the on position, a tap with the hammer sorted that! after a
quick look around the electrics, frank noticed that i didnt need to route an ignition live as it was already a 12v system and i had the volt meter on the wrong setting..

rechecked the timming and it needed advancing and with that it started!!! feel like a right prick now, but it just goes to show as ant said ' its always something silly' and a combination of a few 'little things' slightly wrong can make such a huge problem. thanks again to frank, ant and everyones input

[Scouse]

So what was wrong with it ?

"The driver"

Who needs a radio in a car, just listen to tha!"

Scouse.

[Ratters]

nice one

sounds nice on those carbs - mine used to.

[angliaant]

glad you got it sorted lee... frank sure knows his shizz... i more offered moral support i reckon ill hear them carbs from here when you are giving it sideways!

[Miniliteman]

This is how i have it wired. Please tell me if this is wrong thanks, lee

With crimped terminals like that I wouldn't be sursprised if you get more ignitionproblems in the future. Invest in a quality crimpingtool, it saves alot of trouble.

[HonkyWhiteTrash]

Makes me wish i'd not sold those carbs to you now!
They seem really responsive! Did you drill the jets?

[mk2lee]

Makes me wish i'd not sold those carbs to you now!
They seem really responsive! Did you drill the jets?

hello mate, havent done a single thing to them, just bolted them on! idles well and revs cleanly right up to the redline. should be getting it setup soon on a rolling road and may invest in some sort of filter arrangement though.
well happy with them, thanks