200ci wont start

rt67stang

Active member
hey guys
i recently fixed the problem with the car not getting spark, now it has spark, and when i try to start it nothing. I pulled the plugs, and the number one cylinder isn't getting fuel. It turns over, spark going to every plug and coming from the distributor, and has fuel, but the car still wont not start. I'm at a standstill here, and are getting very frustrated, as i am on;y 15 trying to get this to start. if it help it a 66 200ci from a falcon in a 67 mustang, and its an auto. any help would be greatly appreciated :?:
Thanks, Ronny
 
Well, don't be disappointed or sell yourself short. There are plenty of adults who have this same problem. The first thing I would look at is whether you have the distributor 180* out of alignment. That means that you are not getting spark on the compression stroke; you are getting it on the exhaust stroke instead. If it was firing at the right time, you would just have a rough idle with fuel to only five cylinders.

Make sure you get fire on the compression stroke by determining when there is pressure in the cylinder. The rotor should be at the #1 position at that time. If it is on the exhaust stroke, you need to turn the engine over one more rotation and re-stab the distributor so that the rotor is at the #1 position. If you have fuel and a spark, you will get a partial fire or a rough idle. Then you can even it out by adjusting the various thinks like timing, fuel/air mix and idle speed.

There are a couple other things that you may have to look at, but making sure the rotor is at the right position is the first one I would check. You might also have the firing off by one or more cylinders. You can take care of that by re-stabbing the distributor by one tooth or moving the plug wires farther around the cap, one at a time.
 
Ludwig is right. We'll go step by step. Don't worry, it happens to all of us, and 99% of the time it's something simple.

But if you have fuel and spark, now it's just time to make sure you are getting them at the right time. Very easy to be 180* out on the timing. You need to verify TDC on the compression stroke on the #1 cylinder. Easiest way is IMO at this point is the thumb method. Pull the #1 plug and put your thumb over the hole. Manual turn the engine over at the crank. When you feel the air trying to push your thumb out, that's the compression stroke. slowly crank it to TDC. Then, see where your rotor is point. No need to pull the dizzy so long as you can rotate it enough that you can align a cap point (where a wire attaches to the cap) with the rotor at TDC. Then just rearrange the wires. IMO, a lot easier to rearrange wires than trying to stab a dizzy to be a certain place.
 
8) as the others have said, one step at a time. if you are sure that the carb is getting fuel, and you know the plugs are getting a spark, then timing is the next thing on the list. find top dead center compression stroke of the number one cylinder. do this by pulling the valve cover and rotate the engine until the valves are both fully closed. that will tell you if you are on the compression stroke. then pull the number one plug, and using a light, turn the crank by hand until the piston reaches the top of the cylinder. this will get you close enough. pull the distributor cap and see where the rotor is pointing. if at the number one plug wire, then you have a different issue. if not then you can either adjust the distributor until it lines up properly, or you can rewire the distributor to match things up.
 
The engine is at top dead center that was the first thing i tried lol. When piston is at tdc the rotor is facing number one plug. What else should i check
Thanks, Ronny
 
Looking down the carb's throat is the accelerator pump squirting any fuel?
 
yes the carb is squirting fuel i actually switched between two carbs that i had and both squirted fuel. is there anything else that would stop the car from starting. what should i check next?
 
How did you check that the cylinders are getting spark? I assume by holding the plug next to the plug hole and cranking the engine to see if there is actually a spark there. And you are actually getting fuel out of the fuel line, right?

Because at this point I am stumped. But that sets in a lot earlier for me than for most of the guys here.
 
Ronnie,

What do you know about the motor? How long since it has been run? Have you checked compression?

You could have low compression caused by bad valves in the head or the cylinder bores could be worn.

If you have spark and fuel while cranking the engine should crank unless timing is off or motor has bad compression.

When I first try to crank an old motor I squirt some oil in each spark plug hole, this helps not to score the walls in a dry engine and will also help build compression in a worn motor.
 
rt67stang":1fzrenhq said:
The engine is at top dead center that was the first thing i tried lol. When piston is at tdc the rotor is facing number one plug. What else should i check
Thanks, Ronny

There are two TDCs on cylender 1. The first is just after the intake valve closes and if this is where you're distributer is pointing to spark plug one youre good.

The second time you reach TDC is just after the exhaust valve closes and if this is where you'distibutor is pointing to spark plug one you are 180 out of phase and you're engine will never start.

To correct the 180 out problem you pull the distributer and re install it 180 change from what it was.

This is a common mistake and most every body makes it even people who know better.

Good Luck
 
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