Starting Trouble

[garethashenden]

I have a 1979 528i. I bought it as a project on November 1, 2009. I'm only just getting to it now. I'm told it was running in September, but it has never run for me. It cranks strongly, there is spark and when I removed the spark plugs I can spell gas. I replaced the spark plugs, the distributor cap and rotor. I check the placement of the spark plug leads on the distributor cap and they seamed to be 180* form where the Haynes manual said they should be. I moved them all with no effect.

It is puzzling, because there it spark fuel and air, but it doesn't even sputter.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Gareth

[Mike W.]

Sounds like it's out of time one way or another. If the distributor has been out it isn't necessarily where it should be. Pull the valve cover so you can see when #1 is at TCD and replace the wires in the proper order then. They might be now or might not.

[cpalmer]

Hey.

Take the distributor cap off again and look around the exposed rim of the distributor for a small space machined in. That's the mark for the #1 cylinder. I think you said you have a manual, but the firing order is also marked on the valve cover rear passenger side. Check the timing after that and see what happens.

Good luck!

[cpalmer]

What Mike W. said, and then check what I said.

He's da' man.

[T.Hanson]

You will find reading the FAQs most helpful. Color photos (see ignition timing), faster than waiting for replies. Google search the archives for ten years of extensive replies to just about every question possible.

[alotawatts]

I check the placement of the spark plug leads on the distributor cap and they seamed to be 180* form where the Haynes manual said they should be. I moved them all with no effect.

Haynes manual (pg. 92?) has the plugwires to cap diagram wrong.....or confusing for USA cars. Use the diagram (right side) that shows the plug wires.

Are you getting any backfires ?

[garethashenden]

I removed the valve cover today and saw that cylinder 5 was close to TDC. I then set the spark plug lead accordingly. The car is now backfiring, but still not running. I suppose that is progress.
In other news I replaced all the fuses and now the headlights work.

[T.Hanson]

Check the FAQ on ignition timing, see photo of distributor wires.

If the car ever ran reasonably well for you, and you never messed with the distributor, you probably don't need to do the FAQ on TDC, installing the distributor properly.

On the other hand, I don't know what #5 being anywhere has much to do with anything. The cam lobes on #6 need to be pointy ends up, evenly spaced under the rockers,...to have the cam, rockers, valves closed on #1. Because the cam lobes are round in that position, it's easier to see the pointy ends of the opposite #6 cylinder in their position.

Then you can see the mark on the outside of the front pulley disc is under the little aluminum pointer on the front timing cover: Top dead center (TDC).