QuestionMk1 Vitesse 2litre won't start. it's been sat for a month.turns over on the starter fine. has a sufficient spark(replaced dizzy cap, rotor arm plugs and leads) have checked timing. it sounds like its trying to start but however much i crank it over it just won't. the plugs seem dry with fuel reaching the carbs. and if i lift the air valve slightly i see i little pool of fuel laying in the base of the inlet. i also have replaced about 6 months ago all jet assemblies, diaphragms,gaskets etc(overhauled).
i changed the original starter motor for a high torque product might have i knocked the base of the jet assembly and bent it?are these fragile here?
Any help greatly appreciated!!!
AnswerHi Chris,
I have never even seen a Vitesse here in the US but any engine that will not start is missing one or more of only three items. Compression, Fire & Fuel, with provisions on each.
Compression --- Needs to be 125 PSI on all cylinders.
Fire ---------- Needs to be a thick blue spark at the correct time.
Fuel ---------- Needs to be a combustible fuel available to the combustion chamber in close to the correct air/fuel ratio.
Always the first and the most important thing is compression and you can't ASSUME it is ok. So do that and get it out of the way. If it fails you are wasting time looking at fire or fuel.
You say you bent the jet assembly. Does this car have two SU carburetors? if so and you bent the lower jets that will effect the starting and running. To test if the carb is the problem take a spray can of starter fluid or something like WD-40 and spray it into the intake when someone else tries to start the engine. If it runs for just a second or two with the spray, then the problem is the carb/s.
Spark should be a thick (1mm) blue spark (not in bright sun light) and as you say you checked the timing so that should not be a problem.
