My 66 P1800 wont start

[CLIVERALLY]

The damn thing passed the MOT got home and now wont start

1) fuel OK to carbs

2) plenty of battery power

No spark from King Lead from the coil ?

Power to the coil

I have 2 wires to the coil 1from Ign to the + side opf the coil --- the other to the distributor from the Tacho on the - side


any ideas folks??

[Clan]

Originally Posted by CLIVERALLY

The damn thing passed the MOT got home and now wont start

1) fuel OK to carbs

2) plenty of battery power

No spark from King Lead from the coil ?

Power to the coil

I have 2 wires to the coil 1from Ign to the + side opf the coil --- the other to the distributor from the Tacho on the - side


any ideas folks??

a pretty basic points problem hopefully . Disconnect the tachometer wire just in case it is faulty .

[CLIVERALLY]

I would have thought so but thought you had to have a spark from the king lead from coil to distributor before the points? thought maybe coil knackered?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by CLIVERALLY

I would have thought so but thought you had to have a spark from the king lead from coil to distributor before the points? thought maybe coil knackered?

No , the points CAUSE the spark by breaking the earth lead to the coil .
take the cap off and turn the engine clockwise with a spanner on the front pulley until the points are closed . turn ignition on and with a small screwdriver prise the points open , you should get a spark at the points and the HT lead from the coil at the same time . what kind of gap have you between the contact points when the cam has them fully open ?

[CLIVERALLY]

anyboby know what the wires from the coil are suppose to attach to --?? maybe I have put them on arse backwards?

I have the + -- to 12 v ignition

the Neg to the tacho

there are no other wires -- is this correct?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by CLIVERALLY

anyboby know what the wires from the coil are suppose to attach to --?? maybe I have put them on arse backwards?

I have the + -- to 12 v ignition

the Neg to the tacho

there are no other wires -- is this correct?

yes that is correct , I assume you have the Smiths type Tachometer with a loop on the back which picks up the impulse from the points wire which goes from coil -ve via the tacho ( without having a physical connection to it ) direct to the distributor points...

[CLIVERALLY]

hi - yes I have that tacho arrangemnt although the tacho does not work -- another job for another day - just need to get it running

[Ron Kwas]

CR;

Welcome to the Forum!

I can't interpret your description of coil wiring, but if your vehicle is original and unbodged, then there are only two wires on Ign Coil visible in the engine compartment: High voltage output and (white) running off to Points by way of a pickup loop at the Tach...and since there is no galvanic connection to the Tach, only magnetic, no failure mode of Tach can disable Ignition *.

The third wire is Ign Power and it is supplied through the mounting surface of coil, by way of an armored cable and is not accessible whatsoever (not even at Ign Switch).

To clarify...Ign coil primary charges magnetically while points are closed and discharges through secondary when they open...that's the magic of a Kettering Ignition system. See also: http://www.sw-em.com/Volvo%20Ignitio...rmored%20Cable

Good Hunting from Connecticut!

* Typical failure mode of Tach is dried up electrolytic capacitors, see: http://www.sw-em.com/Smith%27s%20Tachometer.htm

[CLIVERALLY]

Thnaks for this -- the car has the white wire as in your post going to negative

The other wire looks a common bit of wire going directly to the ignition?

Not sure what armoured wiring is? do you mean the loom?

My final question at risk of being a pest is -- the coil is a standard 12 v and what other common british vehicles ran on these points and dizzy cap as my local motorfactor will cease to breath if I tell him what car I wnat it for

[CLIVERALLY]

Right

No spark from the points when flicked

So changing

the points
Cap
King Lead
condensor ----

If this dont fix it then its a box of m,atches and a gallon of fuel !!

the wire from the coil -- tach--- dizzy -- is this just a plain bit of wire? or is it low tension cabling?