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Van wont fire - Yellow Spark

Posted: 10 Apr 2010, 12:16
by albertramsbottom
I have just fitted my missing tinware and got a new battery and me van turns over be it a bit slow

But it wont fire up

I have removed one spark plug and tested for a spark which was fine but the spark was yellow. Shouldnt it be blue and if so what would cause this?

Also the plug was dry even though I can hear and smel fuel being squirted in to the carbs

Any suggestions? Plug gaps, could this cuase the spark to be yellow

Cheers folks

Re: Van wont fire - Yellow Spark

Posted: 10 Apr 2010, 12:27
by rugchucker
Are you using cheap chinese spark plugs? :roll:

Des

Re: Van wont fire - Yellow Spark

Posted: 10 Apr 2010, 12:33
by albertramsbottom
Well JK ones so was probably :D

All i can say is it was firing and few weeks ago, so it shouldnt be the plugs

Dry sparkys though suggests that there is no fuel getting in to the cylinders even through I can clearly see fuel squirting in to the carbs

Strange

Re: Van wont fire - Yellow Spark

Posted: 10 Apr 2010, 12:36
by VWCamperfan
Do the usual... wang a bit of fuel down the carb and see if it fires up.

Re: Van wont fire - Yellow Spark

Posted: 10 Apr 2010, 13:43
by albertramsbottom
Yeah tried that but as I said there is fuel being squirted in to the carbs anyway

Cheers

Re: Van wont fire - Yellow Spark

Posted: 10 Apr 2010, 15:00
by ghost123uk
The plugs shouldn't appear wet under normal conditions.
If they did it would mean the engine is flooded.
Remember the petrol is in a gas state when it gets to the cylinders.

I note you mentioned recently that you had some confusion re dizzy caps and leads, have you got that sorted, if not that could cause a weak spark.

Thinking about it, I reckon most sparks I have seen are not really blue, more yellow, I think :roll:

Re: Van wont fire - Yellow Spark

Posted: 13 Apr 2010, 19:46
by j4jon
When I had yellow sparks it turned out to be a lack of decent earth. You also state that you have put on a new battery so I'd double check the connections to battery and body. If that doesn't turn up anything then a jump lead between the engine and the negative on the battery may help show up and issue.

That's what fixed my slow cranking and yellow sparks anyway