Guest Anonymous Posted April 12, 2002 Share Posted April 12, 2002 A few days ago when me and my dad were pounding the back of my Z back out from getting hit, we got it running again also. It ran great finally, after all those problems, it finally ran great. So I get this genius idea to take the distributor off, the ONE thing that was giving us the most problems, to clean it, figuring it would run a little better, kinda like a poor mans tune up of sorts. All the terminals, rotor, cap, everything (yeah, I'm too poor to buy new ones ). I put it back on, in the EXACT same position asit was last time, firing order correct, etc. and it wouldn't start. Sprayed in some starting fluid, still wouldn't start, but it WOULD ALMOST start i.e. running but only when the starter is on. All I used was WD40 and I read that stuff was great to clean this kinda stuff with. It's getting spark and everything. Any ideas what went wrong? Oh, and I learned my lesson...If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted April 13, 2002 Share Posted April 13, 2002 I'd bring it up on compression stroke and see where the rotor is pointing. I'd almost bet that when you dropped it in, that it got the next set of teeth on the distributor gear (meaning its one tooth off). Pull it out turn the rotor a small amount forward or backward (one of which will be right) and drop it back in. Also as before check that its pointing at No. 1 . That should help I think. Good luck with it. Regards, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two40MuscleZ Posted April 13, 2002 Share Posted April 13, 2002 I'd have to agree with Lone. Pull and redrop the distributor. It sounds like it is off just enough to cause the non-start. Good luck. Van Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted April 14, 2002 Share Posted April 14, 2002 Well, I went outside today with a freshly charged battery, took the distributor out, checked it, put it back in, and I noticed that you can turn the rotor about an inch clockwise, but when you let go of it it goes back to where it was before. It still wouldn't start regardless, any ideas? Oh, and I still have the L28, but it has Weber DGV's instead of the stock F.I. just in case anyone was confused. I'd ask over at zcar.com but you guys are alot nicer and more helpful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted April 16, 2002 Share Posted April 16, 2002 James, Any luck yet? If not, check for spark at each plug. Also check for fuel. Remember: you need three things to start a car: Compression, spark and fuel. If you have those three, it will start (may not run, but will start), so go back to the basics. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAW Posted April 17, 2002 Share Posted April 17, 2002 Don't worry about the distributor winding up by hand and springing back, you are just working the mechanical advance springs and weights, it's normal. DAW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted April 17, 2002 Share Posted April 17, 2002 Heh, thank's for all the help, but it FINALLY started today. Each plug WAS getting spark, but the plugs themselves weren't sparking. They were carbon fouled, so a little scraping here and there, cleaned the middle of the rotor where the coil's spark is transfered to, half a can of starting fluid, and about a minute of nonstop cranking and it slowly started to "roar" back to life (if you heard my muffler you'd know what I mean ). I even discovered, that in today's extremely hot weather, my air conditioning does indeed work, unlike I originally thought! That news encouraged my dad to take it around for a test drive, after he sat in front of the vents for 10 minutes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted April 17, 2002 Share Posted April 17, 2002 Also, thanks for the tip...I'll have to keep that in mind next time one of my cars refuse to start! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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