Starting issues

[JimmyT25]

I have had some issues starting my van (a 1.9dg engine with original pierburg 2e3) for a while and put it down to an issue I was having with my timing as I have replaced/reconditioned everything else recently including new starter and wiring, sorted earth points, new battery, dizzy cap and rotor arm, plug leads, new plugs, new coil, new fuel pump and reconditioned the carb/set it up!
A couple of weeks ago I got hold of a timing light and proceeded to set the timing correctly using my Haynes manual, I immediately had an issue, the manual says attach to plug 1 which didn't work, but it did work on plug 3!

The starting problem still remains, I turn the engine over, and it won't fire until I turn the key off then it fires, sometimes starting sometimes not, could the issue I had setting the timing be anything to do with this or is it more likely to be something else?

Any help would be much appreciated as I'm running out of ideas and although the van starts eventually and runs well it's very annoying having to keep turning it over all the time.

Jimmy

[kevtherev]

what didn't work?
The timing light flash ?

first off is it wired right



No 1 should be about the 5 o'clock position

[JimmyT25]

It's wired up as per the diagram.
The timing light flashes fine but when i put it onto plug lead going to cylinder 1 the marks on the flywheel are not visible, I put it onto lead 3 and the marks are then visible.

[kevtherev]

Looks like you distributor has been put on wrongly at some point.
It's 180 deg out

it needs to come out and turned

[bigherb]

It could be the ignition switch check with a multi meter or test light tha the black wire on the coil is powered when you are cranking the engine, if not then the ignition switch is at fault.