DAY 1

now then ive got a mk4 escort xr3i with a rs turbo engine fitted. the car has bin stood in me garage 4 about 8mth now but started up once a month. when ive gone 2 start it 2day the battery was flat so i put the leads on frm my daily car 2 the escort 2 jump it. engine turns over but just wont start.
after a couple of turns it sort of sounds as if its gona start but then doesnt (if ya know wot i mean)
i havnt checked anything 2day as gotta go 2 work but it has plenty of petrol in.
had new leads n plugs n dizzy cap bout 10mth ago.
has any of ya's got any suggestions. after the last start up its been stood just over a mth.
cud it be damp in the cap or plugs?
sum1 suggested puttin the plugs in the oven 4 a bit 2 dry out wud this help?
even tried gettin a jump off a transit van with a bigger battery but still nowt.
ideas wud be appreciated.

DAY 2

Ive taken off the battery n had it on charge for 24hrs.
took plugs out giv them a reet gud clean cos they wer filthy.
cleaned the dizzy cap out.
checked for a spark on all 4 pots and there is a spark but doesnt seem 2 be a big spark is there normally a big spark?
tried starting and its the same

Day 3
took all leads off n cap plugs out n took them into the house n im gona try n see if keeping them warm 4 a few hrs will possibly dry out any damp that mite be in them.
ill try hopefully 2morra c if that works.

any help wud be really appreciated as this is really pissin me off now.
its not the efi engine
is there any sensors that need 2 be checked n where r they?
there is petrol gettin through cos when i was checkin 4 a spark there was a strong smell of it comin frm plug holes.
also ontop of the distributor there is a black sensor with something plugged into it. its really close 2 the dizzy cap but fairly loose and its only held on by a cable tie wot is this sensor?

as ya can probably tell im not really mechanically minded but can work a bit on cars.

 

That bit near ur dizzy cap is the ignition amplifier if this is nackered they normaly stop the plugs from sparking they r a common fault for not work n cause ur plugs not 2 fire.Have u checked ur timing just 2 make sure the belt hasnt jumped n have u got good compression.Is the fuel pump working when ur cranking the engine over 2.

 

the pump primes when the ignition is turned on so i guess thats workin ok.
havnt checked timing(yet) was gona c if drying the plugs n leads out 1st will help.
and no havnt checked compression (wouldnt know how 2 2 be honest)
would the compression of gone since last start up like? cos i only did bout 2 mile wen i last started it which was bout 1mth ago

 

Well i wud of thought the compressons wud of been ok then.So when u turn the engine over with the key have u tried pulling the spark plug leads off 1 at a time and put an old spark plug in the end of the spark plug leads 2 c if they r sparking.

 

i just used the plugs that r in the car 2 check 4 a spark and there is a spark on every pot but it doesnt look like a big spark.
im gona get sum new 1's this weekend n try them

 

Try squirting some oil down the bores as if it has tired rings it may have stuck rings also from sitting and not drawing in the mix very well.
very common on cars that have not had use in a long time, usually a lot more than your though it has to be said.
tabetha

 

If your spark is still week i wud try 1 of those ignition amplifiers that sit on ur distributor they only cost about 25 30 quid.

 

guess wot people after takin everything off the car like leads plugs dizzy cap and rotor arm and takin them in the house n give them a reet gud clean and theyve bin lying on the radiator 4 two days i went out this mornin after nightshift n put them back on i went n sat in the drivers seat turned the key till the ignition lights come on i was in deep prayer turned them 1 more turn and haypresto the car fired up without even a hickup think i woke 2 neighbours up shoutin gettin ya mother f#ckin b#stards
took it 4 a bleeze rund the estate n parked it back up till i wake up this afternoon.
i was ready 4 kickin fook out of it.

 

Or well at least its sorted now .If its got tits or wheels it will always give u problems. I dont know if u have seen the post about our scotch corner meet n the northeast meet but do u fancy it. Let us know ok.