4AC not cranking

[McLeod63]

Hi guys,
I recently bought an old 4AC (yeah yeah, but I don't have to money for anything better at this point) and got a mechanic to just basically bolt it in, without the carb, crank pulley and timing belt. So I towed it home and got working on the rest. I would have done it all but I don't have a hoist.
I have everything together from what I can gather, but it won't crank when I turn the key. I'm guessing I've got a couple of wires mixed up for the starter motor or something. Anyway, take a look at the pictures and see if you notice anything wrong...besides it being a 4AC :P

UPDATE: Okay, so I changed the wires around and put the right one on the solenoid. It fired up finally! Then I realised I didn't have much water in the rad so I switched it off.... Now it doesn't want to start again!! :shout:
It turns over, just won't spark. What could be the cause of this? I didn't do anything but fill the rad up.


http://imgbin.org/images/thumbs/ext2892.png (http://imgbin.org/index.php?page=image&id=2892)
http://imgbin.org/images/thumbs/ext2893.png (http://imgbin.org/index.php?page=image&id=2893)
http://imgbin.org/images/thumbs/ext2894.png (http://imgbin.org/index.php?page=image&id=2894)
http://imgbin.org/images/thumbs/ext2895.png (http://imgbin.org/index.php?page=image&id=2895)
http://imgbin.org/images/thumbs/ext2896.png (http://imgbin.org/index.php?page=image&id=2896)
http://imgbin.org/images/thumbs/ext2897.png (http://imgbin.org/index.php?page=image&id=2897)
http://imgbin.org/images/thumbs/ext2898.png (http://imgbin.org/index.php?page=image&id=2898)
http://imgbin.org/images/thumbs/ext2899.png (http://imgbin.org/index.php?page=image&id=2899)

[shift_rook]

try cranking the starter manually? or when cranking throw a multimeter on the starter and see if you're getting charge to it?

[slide86]

from the look of the first pic, you have the incorrect wire on the solenoid for the starter.

it should be a black wire with a white trace.

Infact it is, because i can see that you have hooked the coolant temp sensor to the solenoid, get that off there! and its hanging across the cam belt which is bad cause it can get pulled into the belt when its rotating

[McLeod63]

slide86- What does the wire I have on the solenoid plug on to?
Not sure where the black plug with with a white trace is.

And the cable I have running across the cam, it's always been there :S I have pictures of it there when the car was running (cam cover was on then). Where should it go?

shift_rook- Nah I haven't. I'm actually not even sure how to start it manually.

[ae71]

from the look of the first pic, you have the incorrect wire on the solenoid for the starter.

it should be a black wire with a white trace.

Infact it is, because i can see that you have hooked the coolant temp sensor to the solenoid, get that off there! and its hanging across the cam belt which is bad cause it can get pulled into the belt when its rotating

look like that one has a yellow trace too.

its possible though as they have the same type of plug.

failing that^^

dash lights come on when you switch on the ignition?

do you get at least a 'click' when you try to crank?

[McLeod63]

I hear a click when I turn the key and I see all the lights come on too

[Nikkojoe]

Wire you got connected to starter could be the oil pressure one. They usually have another small wire to plug into the loom as the sensor needs a unique style plug.

The black/white starter motor wire is on the same loom thats with oil pressure, water temp, reverse lights etc. Infact that loom is tucked up against your starter motor in the pics (also runs over the oil filter). Pull it out and have a look for the plug, its there (or near by). If not, you might have to undo the wrapping on the loom to find the black/white starter motor wire and then make a new plug if it has been chopped).

[Matt]

Try earthing out the engine better... If you have jumper cables they'll temporarily do.

Clicking like that can be the engine ain't earthed out enough.

[McLeod63]

Right, I HAD the motor going after I plugged on the right wire to the starter. Then I switched it off because I needed more water in the radiator. Now the fucker won't go again!!
Also, the coolant temp sensor bolt, it's not going in right. I think the thread may be stuffed. Where would I get another?

[McLeod63]

Any one have any ideas? I really need to get it going so I can get to work tomorrow!

[Javal]

Make sure you didn't accidentally unplug the green / white plug on the wire that goes from your distributor to your coil? (as seen in the first and second pictures)

Check all connections to your coil. Make sure you are getting power at the coil.

[McLeod63]

Yeap, I triple checked them :(

Could the timing have something to do with this? I set it pretty high, about 15. But remember, it started and ran fine once.

[Javal]

Okay. How do you know it doesn't have spark? Did you pull a lead off while cranking it?

Check power at coil.
Check for -ve pulse from distributor - run a test light between B+ and the white part of the white / green connector i was talking about before. Crank the car and make sure the test light flashes when cranking.

If the light flashes, either you've got a bung coil or the problem is on the H/T side of the ignition system. Check your coil lead, rotor button and spark plug leads

If the light does not flash, you've got a problem on the L/T side of the ignition system. Check your points and coil wiring.

[McLeod63]

Sorry, I used the wrong term. I just meant to say it's not starting, only turning.
Today I finally thought I'd fixed it. I realised it must be the timing because the other day the bottom pulley came lose, but I wasn't thinking and just tightened it up without setting the timing. So I fixed that today...and my battery went flat. So I said Fuck it! And called NRMA and just pretended I left my lights on. But even with the battery changed it still wouldn't go :(
He stuffed around with it, made it better, but still won't run. Man, I just feel like giving up on it. I'm so broke since I lost my job. I've just started a new job, but I won't get paid in a while. I reeeally need a car, trains suck. I just can't afford to spend much more on the engine, especially as it's just a 4AC and only temporary. I've seriously spent about $900 in total, including picking up the engine and dropping it in. Stupid, I know. But I was desperate. And it's STILL not running.

[McLeod63]

FINALLY have it running again. Was all down to the timing! Still not perfect though. I need to tune the carby better, but atleast it's running now. It will stall every now and then as I'm idling, but then it's also reving quite high (1500 - 2000rpm) too. Meh, I don't care, so long as it goes.

Does anyone know of an air filter that will fit the 4AC carby?? I'm currently not running one, and I don't like that as it could suck in shit and screw my engine all over again. Sounds great though.
I pissed off all the vacuum lines, as well as the charcoal canister and it looks so much better. Engine doesn't seem to mind too. I've seen it done a few times over on 4AC.com, and they all say it runs fine.

[lolwat]

ring a good auto parts store and they will have one (repco is retarded do not trust them)