Cranks but won't Start

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courtenay
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Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000
Location: Courtenay, BC, Canada

Cranks but won't Start

Post by courtenay »

'80 fuel injected car. Just finished replacing the brake booster. As part of that job, I disconnected the fuel line to the fuel rail to get enough room to get the old booster out and the new one in.
Line reconnected, but now, while the engine cranks like a champ, it won't start. Fuel pump is working.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
Bruce Shearer
'80 Spider Fi
'10 Volvo XC70
'06 GMC 1 Ton PU
'72 Spider a long, long time ago
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RRoller123
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Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Cranks but won't Start

Post by RRoller123 »

Make sure that the two FI System Injector ground wires are connected at the plenum, they were probably disconnected to make room, and the injectors won't fire without them making good ground. They connect through the bolts that mount the top of the intake plenum to the base, at the corner near the driver, and the next one over. Usually not stacked, probably for better contact, not sure..
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
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courtenay
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Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000
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Re: Cranks but won't Start

Post by courtenay »

Thanks, Pete. I did disconnect one of them, but reconnected. Onward....
Bruce Shearer
'80 Spider Fi
'10 Volvo XC70
'06 GMC 1 Ton PU
'72 Spider a long, long time ago
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courtenay
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Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:41 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000
Location: Courtenay, BC, Canada

Re: Cranks but won't Start

Post by courtenay »

OK - success!! Went back to basics. Fuel and Spark. I could smell fuel when the engine was cranking and the fuel pump was working, so I moved on to spark. Pulled a plug and cranked - no spark. Checked coil - it was firing. Moved to distributor - lo and behold, one of the screws that holds the cap down was loose and the thing was off kilter. Took off the cap and found a little piece broken off the rotor. Put the cap back in place and the car started - running a bit rough, but it hasn't run since September, so I suspect that would be expected. New rotor coming Monday.
Very happy!!! A neighbour is coming over tomorrow to help me bleed the brakes - then all I need is some decent weather and I'm good to go!!
Bruce Shearer
'80 Spider Fi
'10 Volvo XC70
'06 GMC 1 Ton PU
'72 Spider a long, long time ago
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