240 General: 244GL doesn't start after fitting new spark plug wires

[mpetersen]

Hello everyone,

I'm learning how to work on my car, so I hope you will be patient with me.

I changed the spark plug wires on my 244 and now I can't get the car to start (before the wires were changed, the car did start).

The engine turns over and begins to start, but stalls and there is a noise like a compressed air release. I have checked that the rotor is pointing to the first cylinder at TDC. I'd rather not keep trying to start the car while I don't know what this noise is. I don't want to mess it up. Any ideas of what I might be doing wrong? Thanks!

Matias

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by mpetersen

Hello everyone,

I'm learning how to work on my car, so I hope you will be patient with me.

I changed the spark plug wires on my 244 and now I can't get the car to start (before the wires were changed, the car did start).

The engine turns over and begins to start, but stalls and there is a noise like a compressed air release. I have checked that the rotor is pointing to the first cylinder at TDC. I'd rather not keep trying to start the car while I don't know what this noise is. I don't want to mess it up. Any ideas of what I might be doing wrong? Thanks!

Matias

Hi Matias, any chance that you might have inadvertently got the firing order wrong when changing the leads? It's a very easy mistake to make - I've done it myself more than once!

Regards, John.

[mpetersen]

Thank you John, you are right! I did check the firing order (1-3-4-2) while reconnecting the wires to the distributor cap, and worked my way assuming the rotor moves counter clockwise, but in my mind I was 'moving' the cap, not the rotor, so I did 1-2-4-3. I've corrected the error and it's running smoothly now, thanks a lot!

Matias

[classicswede]

Tip, always replace the HT leads 1 at a time to avoid mixing them up. If replacing the dizzy cap at the same time lift it to the side and then do the leads 1 at a time from there

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by classicswede

Tip, always replace the HT leads 1 at a time to avoid mixing them up. If replacing the dizzy cap at the same time lift it to the side and then do the leads 1 at a time from there

Good tip, 'c.s.'. Another is to mark the leads and dizzy cap. I used a dab of correction fluid - one dash for the first pot, two for the second, and so on.

Sometimes a solution is as easy as this one was and I am pleased that Matias was able to sort his motor out. It's perhaps as well that he didn't have a V12!

Regards, John.

[mpetersen]

Thanks John and classicswede for your advice! My next job is to replace the cylinder head gasket.

M