Need Suggestions: Trouble Shooting

[darylfelsberg]

I am sure this has been done 100's of time's by you guys and I apologize. However, we need some trouble shooting ideas.

Bought a sitting complete DMC 12, aging owner just left it. Typical 10-20 year non running sitter. Here is what we did: bought Hervey's fuel pump, cleaned tank, replaced accumulator, fuel filter, had Hervey recon the and check the fuel distributor, air flow meter, all injectors. He checked the pressure regulator, cold start valve, and frequency valve and sent it back, and we installed it over the weekend.

It turns over, putts a little like it's trying to run. We pulled a few of the plugs and they are wet.

What do you check first? Second? Third? Etc.
Thanks, in advance.

[Spittybug]

Fuel, Air, Spark.

Fuel - yup, plugs are wet
Air - confirm that your throttle blades are opening/closing with your foot pedal. Have you tried starting holding your foot down on the gas (old carb trick to clear floods?) This would help diagnose if you have a bad arm up regulator.
Spark - Most likely. Easy to check. Pull a plug wire off and let it arc to the block (<1 inch) as you crank. Wear gloves. Check all. How do they look? Open distributor cap, is it worn?


Report back.

[Jonathan]

Spark - Most likely. Easy to check. Pull a plug wire off and let it arc to the block (<1 inch) as you crank. Wear gloves. Check all. How do they look? Open distributor cap, is it worn?

+1 on the spark avenue.

Ensure all spark plug wires are going from the right spot on the distributor to the correct number/sequenced cylinder.

Double check that the "hot start plug swap" connectors are where they should be (i.e. not reversed the way they would be if you were trying the hot start trick).

[sdg3205]

What Jonathan said. It is VERY easy to put the plug wires in the wrong place. Double and triple check and trace them right to the distributor

[Dangermouse]

Don't forget the one to the coil.

If the wires/leads are in fact 20 years old I would go ahead and replace them.

[darylfelsberg]

Failed to mention that we replaced the coil, Dist cap and rotor, spark plug lines, plugs, and vacuum hoses.

[Jonathan]

Failed to mention that we replaced the coil, Dist cap and rotor, spark plug lines, plugs, and vacuum hoses.

Ok, dollars to donuts says one or more of the plug wires is in the wrong spot mistakenly. If I'm wrong I owe you a maple dip

EDIT: or the distributor cap is installed 180 degrees off.

EDIT2: double check your vacuum hose routing as well.

[Dangermouse]

What J said

[David T]

Verify that you are getting a spark on a spark plug. If you can do that then you have to check your firing order. Do you know how the cylinders are numbered? The cap should have the cylinder numbers on it, make sure the wires are going to the correct cylinder. The cap has a notch so it is difficult to put it on wrong. Make sure the rotor is indexed correctly and fully seated on the shaft. If the ignition system is OK you can always try getting it to run a little on some Ether. Then you would know it is a fuel problem. Make sure the distributor is still plugged in and you didn't knock any other wires loose.
David Teitelbaum

[Kenny_Z]

EDIT: or the distributor cap is installed 180 degrees off.

I did this. It is extremely easy to do and it had the exact same symptoms that you described. I kicked myself for days over a very simple mistake that is a complete pain in the ass to fix.