new points, car will not start

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roley
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new points, car will not start

Post by roley »

I changed the points and dizzy cover because the car was running rough,now I cant get it started. I noticed the green light on the speedometer marked B/H did not come on when I switched on the engine, any ideas? ROLEY
mogbob
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Re: new points, car will not start

Post by mogbob »

New points sometimes come with a light protective coating on the surface of the contact points. Run a small strip of fine grain sandpaper ( not emery paper ) on both sides of the points and test again.

Is the rotor arm in good condition , with clean metal on the tip. Remove and rub it against a tyre tread to clean to clean off any muck.
It is possible that the rotor arm is duff ( replace with a quality red top rotor arm or a good known old rotor arm ).
Re check the gap on the points and check that the power supply from the coil ( white / black low tension wire ) is firmly attached. Re check the fixing of the HT plugs and king lead ( to coil ) i.e they are firm and positively held and that the metal ,either end , is clean.
If you have a multi meter , you can check the low tension side that with the ignition on ( car not started ) that you are getting battery voltage 12v DC where the black /white wire exits the coil. Don't leave the ignition on for any longer than necessary to take the reading , otherwise it will "cook " the coil.
Main battery terminals good and tight on battery and to earth ?
Give that a go and report back
aupickup
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Re: new points, car will not start

Post by aupickup »

check you have the points correctly installed :D :D
panky
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Re: new points, car will not start

Post by panky »

Check if you knocked the wire off the oil pressure switch when working on the dizzy, could be the reason for the dash light. If it was running rough before you changed the points then it could be a failing condenser that has given up the ghost.
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bmcecosse
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Re: new points, car will not start

Post by bmcecosse »

Have you plugged the oil pressure wire on the dizzy by mistake?? And are the plug leads on right order .... 1342 anticlock round the cap. Otherwise - refit the old points EXACTLY as they came off - does it run now?
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Trickydicky
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Re: new points, car will not start

Post by Trickydicky »

Also check the LT cable is connected correctly, it could be shorting out.
Richard

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beero
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Re: new points, car will not start

Post by beero »

Hi Roley, How familiar are you with changing points? If you are new to points it is easy to get the plastic washers and connectors in the wrong order.

bmcecosse
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Re: new points, car will not start

Post by bmcecosse »

The problem here is - you changed TWO things at the same time - and now we don't know which is at fault. It would have been better to change the cap first - check the engine runs ok, and then do the points. So - perhaps refit the old cap now and see if that helps?
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myoldjalopy
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Re: new points, car will not start

Post by myoldjalopy »

As above, check all connections and that the plug leads are in the correct firing order, and that the insulators, low tension and capacitor leads are in the correct order. And re-check the contact breaker gap.......if you're (maybe?) not used to fitting them, it can be easy to adjust the gap slightly too small or too big - then it won't start. The 'heel' of the points set must be exactly on one of the four 'corners' of the cam when you adjust the gap - with car out of gear (and handbrake on!), you can use the starting handle to set this position. If you overshoot, turn the handle again. Check a good manual to make sure all is as it should be.
myoldjalopy
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Re: new points, car will not start

Post by myoldjalopy »

And like Panky said, it could be the condensor was on its way out and has now failed.
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