T25 not starting

[ukkaapie]

Hi,

I am fairly new to this forum and would like to say hit to all. Have read so many interesting articles here and now I need some help. I am not a mechanic but have tinkered a little in the past.

I have a T25 1984 DG 1.9 petrol engine. I have had the push rod shafts replaced on the left side and 2 on the ride side of the engine.

She has been going nicely for a couple of months albeit a bit rough when cold but now this morning I was idling her to warm her up and she suddenly died after about 2 minutes.

Since then I have not been able to start her. She used to struggle most times to turn first time ie she turns but not smoothly. Almost like a flat battery but then switch off and try again and she turns and fires almost instantly.

I have checked and there is 12v leading to the coil. I have checked the output side of the fuel pump and there is fuel (not sure if this is indication enough that the pump is working). I have not yet checked for spark.

I have had experience in the past when a car of mine's timing belt wore out and I hadn't notice. This car died in pretty much the same way.

Is there a possibility that the valves could be bent? I know this engine has push rods and no timing belt/chain but I just want to verify if this is a possibility.

Any help here is so much appreciated. Thank you all.

[kevtherev]

when you describe not starting do you mean not turning over well on the starter or just reluctant to start running but turning over well?

The wiki covers reluctant starting quite well I think... take a look

[ukkaapie]

She turns over very well on the starter. No struggling to turn at all but she never takes.

I have seen some starting issues but have not seen anything related to the valves. I am not 100% sure how the valves work using push rods but I just want to find out what the symptoms are for valves that are bent or damaged in any way so that I can remove that from any possibilities. That is my major concern at this point as it can turn out to be quite expensive.

If it is just electrics or the fuel pump then that is ok but I cannot test for that just yet.

[sarran1955]

Hello,

If the engine turns over then the valves are ok.

To start engine you need petrol, air, spark

That's all 3 by the way

Sorry its been that sort of day

Cordialement,

[kevtherev]

She turns over very well on the starter. No struggling to turn at all but she never takes.

I have seen some starting issues but have not seen anything related to the valves. I am not 100% sure how the valves work using push rods but I just want to find out what the symptoms are for valves that are bent or damaged in any way so that I can remove that from any possibilities. .

Bent valves are caused by timing belt failure, since your engine has no timing belt it is impossible to bend a valve.

The crank shaft gear drives a camshaft gear
the camshaft turns and has lobes that push the hydraulic lifter,
which the pushrod sits on
the rod pushes the rocker arm
the rocker arm pushes the valve stem.
the valve opens.
A spring returns it and closes the valve

As is stated here many times.
make sure the basics are in place, not guessed at, but properly checked.
They are..
Timing
spark
fuel

[Mushr00m]

You say you have fuel. Are you absolutely sure you have?

You don't by any chance park on the left side of the road on a camber do you?

I do & when empty, the fuel gauge reads about a qtr full. If your not sure put about a gallon in & if your battery's up to it turn it over till it starts.

It's happened to me twice. The first time I spent about four hours messing about ending up so confused I put some petrol in to prove to myself it wasn't that. I flattened the battery trying to start it & gave up. After putting the battery on charge I left it till the next day.

The next day I put the battery back, pressed the throttle & tried it. It fired but didn't start. Tried it another couple of goes & finally it started.

The second time I just went & got a gallon of fuel.

[ukkaapie]

@Mushr00m,

I took the pipe off the fuel pump side that leads to the carb. A little petrol came out although when I tried initially taking the pipe off the carb side then no petrol came out at all.

I park on a flat surface and my guage measures about a quarter tank.

I am waiting for a buddy of mine to help me so that he can turn the engine while I check for a spark. I will try adding some more fuel in the meantime. Having looked at the fuel filter, which sits underneath the car about halfway between the tank and the engine, it showed about 5/6th filled with fuel (one of those plastic see through types).

@sarran1955 & kevtherev,

Thanks for the clarification. I really needed to clarify that first as it was starting to freak me out a little. Now I can calmly move onto the rest of the diagnosis.

Hope your day gets better sarran1955.

Thanks again all for your input. Much much appreciated. Will get back to you on how it goes.

[kevtherev]

I took the pipe off the fuel pump side that leads to the carb. A little petrol came out although when I tried initially taking the pipe off the carb side then no petrol came out at all.

the engine has to be running to check fuel delivery from the pump to the carb

[sarran1955]

Hello,

Charge your battery.

Release the hose FROM the pump TO the carb AT the carb end , put it into a jam jar.

Disconnect the -ve to the coil.

Get trusty assistant to spin motor on starter.

Within 2 to 3 secs you should have petrol coming through.

If not: no petrol in tank

Bunged up filtre (replace anyway only a few euros)

Pump not working. If it is a traditional mechanical pump with a screw on top, then it can be opened to see if the lift valve has dropped out of its seat. Replace with known good one,

Refit wire to coil.

Throttle flat to floor

Start.

(yes thanks my day was better, an idiot free zone )

Cordialement,

[CovKid]

Try this.

Remove bolts securing air cleaner and lift it to one side of carb. splash say an egg cupful of fuel straght into carb (ie down hole). Now try and start it. If it doesn't cough into life it'll be spark probs. If it does, you're not getting enough fuel to carb either cos line is dry, float valve stuck, filter blocked or pump knackered.

Finally, a totally clogged air cleaner can also make an engine difficult to start and/or idle. If you've neglected replacing this, get a new one although lifting it from carb should rule that out.