AuthorTopic: why wont my series 3 run??  (Read 2324 times)

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Offline fuzzy

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why wont my series 3 run??
« on: June 27, 2010, 16:04:51 »
hi, just before new year, my series 3 suffered head gasket failure, i started the engine to put the motor in the workshop there was an almighty bang. the fan and pulley pulled off the front of the water pump causing the fan to beat the bottom tank off of the rad. i stripped the head and replaced the head gasket and the water pump. The replacement water pump was awful, the bearings and fan were shot but the engine did start and run. I finally got round to putting a brand new water pump and fan today, but the engine wouldn't start. It seemed to run for a few seconds on a couple of cylinders but this was accompanied by fire from the exhaust manifold. It now won't run at all. I have checked that the HT leads are in the correct positions, which they are, and checked for a spark which is strong and blue, please help i really want to get the motor out on the road so i can enjoy it while the sun is shining!
1980 s111 109 ex military 12v gs soft top- waiting to have life breathed back into it.
1990 110 2.5td, waiting for crew cab conversion, mud tyres, suspension and 2"lift.

Offline Lucy1978

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Re: why wont my series 3 run??
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2010, 16:15:42 »
when you say fire, do you mean flames or a backfire?

Offline fuzzy

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Re: why wont my series 3 run??
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2010, 22:30:32 »
Both!!  :cry:
1980 s111 109 ex military 12v gs soft top- waiting to have life breathed back into it.
1990 110 2.5td, waiting for crew cab conversion, mud tyres, suspension and 2"lift.

Offline Saffy

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Re: why wont my series 3 run??
« Reply #3 on: June 27, 2010, 22:47:27 »
have you had the dizzy out ? is the static timing 180 deg out (set with no.1 cylinder TDC on exhaust stroke by mistake)?
« Last Edit: June 27, 2010, 22:50:39 by Saffy »
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Offline fuzzy

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Re: why wont my series 3 run??
« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2010, 22:57:03 »
No, distributor hasn't been moved, checked this earlier today, but still just cant figure it out, i understand where you are coming from, i thought the same thing, its really getting me down now  ](*,)
1980 s111 109 ex military 12v gs soft top- waiting to have life breathed back into it.
1990 110 2.5td, waiting for crew cab conversion, mud tyres, suspension and 2"lift.

Offline Amma

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Re: why wont my series 3 run??
« Reply #5 on: June 28, 2010, 08:01:02 »
 :-.

Certainly sounds like it's ignition related to me. But if the order of the leads is correct and the position of the distributor is also correct and there is a good bright spark then there is really not a lot more that can cause a problem!

I can understand why it is getting to you. All I can suggest is that you methodically check everything again and then double-check it all. I once thought I had it all set up right but when I checked it after it not firing up properly I realised that I had the leads for numbers 3 and 2 cylinders the wrong way round.

 :oops: :doh:
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Offline carbore

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Re: why wont my series 3 run??
« Reply #6 on: June 28, 2010, 20:38:54 »
Hi, did you do a compression test after the head was re fitted. Maybe you have cracked a ring (I assume stripped head mens done/checked valves as opposed to removed just removed head for gasket fitting?

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Offline fuzzy

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Re: why wont my series 3 run??
« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2010, 11:14:29 »
yeah, i did the compression test after lapping in the valves, new stem oil seals etc etc. compression was all good, head gasket had failed between cylinders 2 and 3, it had completely blown the gasket away between the bores. :doh:
1980 s111 109 ex military 12v gs soft top- waiting to have life breathed back into it.
1990 110 2.5td, waiting for crew cab conversion, mud tyres, suspension and 2"lift.

Offline carbore

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Re: why wont my series 3 run??
« Reply #8 on: July 06, 2010, 20:12:33 »
It sort of sounds like you have fixed the result (HGF) but not the cause, maybe the thing that caused the initial explosion is still around.

As suggested, timing is a suspect, I know that some owners report ware in the drive to the dizzy on high mileage vehicles meaning that it moves out of alignment in relation to crank (No needs a timing light check as opposed to static/turn-by-hand check). Also hows the fuel looking, is it over/under fuelling. is the carb flooding for example and leaking pools into the manifold/cyls etc ?

I cant remember if there is an auto advance/retard on those beasts, but is the vacuum hose to it leaking?
CORNISH SPRINT AND HILLCLIMB CHAMPION 2009

Lotus Elise (Tuned/lightened for sprint racing Championship winner 2009)
Freelander 1 TD4 Auto AKA the Big Black Bus (Brownchurch Roof Rack, Hatch Bag rear liner)
Ferguson T20 "Grey Fergie" TVO Tractor 1951

Offline cjcarlos1977

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Re: why wont my series 3 run??
« Reply #9 on: July 16, 2010, 10:34:43 »
yeah, i did the compression test after lapping in the valves, new stem oil seals etc etc. compression was all good, head gasket had failed between cylinders 2 and 3, it had completely blown the gasket away between the bores. :doh:

My Series 3 109 did this. I did the head gasket etc and 2 days later it was not running. So I took it all apart and it had blown the head gasket away again. Turned out the head was warped. Sent it away to be skimmed and all was good.
Carl
1976 Series 3 88 ( Sold ) :-(
1972 Series 3 109 ( New Toy )

 






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