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MG MGF Technical - Plugs not firing after new clutch?

I've recently had a mechanic friend replace the clutch on my 96 MGF which he managed to do ok.

The car had been sitting for about 3 weeks before he was able to do the job and the battery had gone flat, however we were able to jump start it no problem. As it turns out the clutch had completely seized anyway so we had to push rather than drive it to his garage.

However, now he's fixed the clutch the car won't start. We've pulled out the leads and the plugs aren't even firing when we turn the ignition on despite working previously.

The battery has been charged and all the other electrics are fine and the starter motor is turning, but not sparks...

Neither of us can explain this as the only electrics he touched was when he disconnected the reversing lights to get to the clutch and when the battery was disconnected to be put on charge.

Help!
Ross

random thoughts - does the F have a flywheel sensor like the Montego etc to tell the ECU when TDC is, so it sparks at the correct moment ? If so, this - or its wire - could have been disturbed during the clutch change. You are resetting the immobiliser before trying to start , aren't you ?
David

Hmm, thanks for that, i'll have to check for a flywheel sensor when i get chance to have another look at it after work today.

The immobilisers fine, if you try starting the car whilst immobilised then the starter doesnt even turn over and a warning beeps.

The car has got a dit damp in the past few weeks, but i've read the page at http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/wet_starting.htm and nothing here seems that it would apply in this case as the car was absolutely fine prior to the clutch being replaced.

Also, forgot to mention, I also got him to stick a K&N57i air induction kit on whilst he had the engine covers off, but again, surely this wouldnt affect the starting?
Ross

Okay, we've had another look tonight and checked where we were getting power. The distributor's getting 12 volts but nothing's coming out from the plugs. Also the flywheel sensor has no voltage to it (is this good or bad?).

Gonna have a try at drying out the mems tomorrow (hairdryer!) as apparently they're susceptible to damp.

Any more help would be very much appreciated
Ross

Unfortunatly dieter has no values for this sensor on his site, it may well produce very low voltage sine waves and not need a feed current, unfortunatly it may require a feed current to boost the sine wave to one which can be sen't thru the wireing loom. I don't know, but I can say it might or might not be right!

Will
Will Munns

If the dizzy is getting voltage then the suspect the cap/rotor arm.
Mike
Mike

This thread was discussed on 28/01/2003

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