Club 80-90 Forums

Haven't used the van for a couple of weeks, and she's a non starter, took the battery off and charged it, and put an extra can of petrol in just in case but still no luck.

Turn the ignition on and everything lights up as normal, turn the key and you can hear the starter turning away but that's all we get, no sound from the engine so its not even trying to start.

Where do I start?

Take a plug out, lay it on the metal engine block and see if it sparks when the engine is turning.

CARE = do not touch the plug or HT lead whilst the ignition is on.
Our vans have very high voltages on the HT leads and plugs, it can hurt you alot and has been known to kill ( only if you have a weak heart or a pacemaker but really, take care )!

If it has a decent spark, post back for "stage 2" of checking why it won't start.

We could really do with a non stater faq on the wiki. maybe a flow chart would be nice?

I made a start here...
https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Pe ... flow_chart

Is the starter turning the engine? Depress the throttle once, check the chokes have come on fully and try starting again.

As I cant turn the key and check the spark at the same time I resorted to phoning a mate who knows what he's doing and will come give me a hand when he finishes work.

Will post more after he's been, and probably shame myself somemore with my mechanical ignorance.

Right Im officially a numpty

I'd flooded the engine, mate towed me the length of our street bump started the van and it fired up.