'81 245 Ignition/No start issue

zeffer111

I acquired, about two weeks ago a 245 in a non running condition. My girlfiend and I both love these cars, so we're pretty excited to get it running.

So far, I've drained all old gas but jumping the fuel pumps, disconnecting it after the filter, and pumped it out that way. I have some pretty decent pressure... I didn't test it, but it seems good. I also changed and tested the plugs for spark. In addition, I did a compression test and I get 185-190 across the four cylinders on a cold engine.

Today I decided to pull the timing cover to have look. I turned over the crank until I hit TDC using the "chopstick method", it basically involves removing the park plug from cylinder #1 and probing with a wooden chopstick to determine the top of the stroke. I did this because I really can't see the marks on the crank. When hit the top, I noticed that the cam seems be be lined up well with the marks. Good.
Upon inspecting the third pulley for the distributor, i couldn't find the marks anywhere on the block of the back of the timing belt cover. I do see the marks on the pulley itself, but with no reference... no luck.
I did take a pic of the inside of the distributor cap though. Does it look right? Shouldn't the contacts be closer together with the "point" for the 1st cylinder ignition wire? What is the procedure here? Thanks!

masternewb

No point there, it's electronic. So do you get any sparks out of the coil?

deleted_user_160

If injected, could be the old furlpump relay issue? Common for them to fail, cheap easy fix. A good score for those in the know when cranking no fire cars are for sale cheap.

Beyond that more information is required I think

zeffer111

The car is injected. It has the kjet injection system
I pulled each plug and tested for spark. When holding it against the block, I can definitely see it sparking.

As for the relay issue. If I jump fuse 5 and 7, and can hear the pumps (and see the fuel when I was draining the tank) does that not mean that I'm sort of bypassing the relay issue? I can also hear the pumps running when turn the engine over.
Also, I did try and start it with quick-start spray, and both times I tried, it didn't really start... maybe it turned over a couple times on its own, hard to tell. Of note though, is the fact that it backfired each time I tried with the spray. It backfired back through the throttle body... wow, burnt hand hair stinks ;)

I was just wondering if there is a manual way to set the distributor ignition timing, as I can see any marking on the intermediate pulley (if that's what it's called).

zeffer111

Ok, well let me reply to myself here... maybe my last post wasn't that clear.

It was the ignition timing that was the issue! For some reason the crank and cam sprockets were lined up correctly, the for some reason the intermediate sprocket was about eight teeth off. Maybe it jumped? Considering that I just took possession of the car, and the PO is of no help, it's kind of confusing.
I suppose I had a hunch that ignition was the issue. Those weird backfires back (when using quick-start spray) through the throttle body as well as the good compression numbers were sort a weird indication of sorts I suppose. Anyways, there's some sort of closure at least.

Now it's time get it on the road and see how bad that brakes and suspension is. I have no doubt that I'll be posting here again.

Thanks!

Ex850R

Excellent!
If any issues arise with old ones left sitting it can be the big rubber bellows, the fuel injection bellow under the inlet, they get cracks which show up when car warns up and it doesn't drive well for a while then gets bad quickly. My old 245 stumped a couple of good mechanics till I took it to a brilliant indie tech here in Melbourne and he picked it up.