2500S engine reluctant to start and barely runs.

[poppyman]

Well gents, we have been testing and retesting everything on the car today.... every terminal cleaned and tested and still won't play ball when warm. The only thing i have discovered it will fire now and again when you release the key from starting and it goes into the run position...... It totally loses it's spark when you are trying to start it even with the coil wired up with a permanent live to the battery. I can't bump start it as it is auto. It still also has the misfire that gets worse the harder you accelerate... Any ideas no matter how bizzare are welcome....
Thanks in advance,

Tony.

[Forkie]

I was just going to suggest carb floats flooding or sticking but that would not answer the weak spark. Has to be electrical. Have you actually brought a brand new coil, and if so from where?
I seem to recal many years ago i had a Mk 1 Cavalier ( great car) and i had that issue of missfiring the harder i accelerate - that was the condenser. I know its going around in circles, a bit like my own issue with my Auto, but really cannot see what else would cause those issues.

[poppyman]

One brand new coil (accuspark) one of a running car. Lucas gold. Two different distributors one electronic one points and condenser. I agree electrical but what?? Really starting to annoy me now MK1 Cavaliers? Great cars, love them.

Tony.

[Forkie]

Had a Mk1, Mk 2 SR then SRi, then a Mk3 V6. All brilliant cars,all now extremely rare, wish i'd kept the lot now this might be a daft suggestion - have you changed/ swapped over the battery?

[Charles H]

One brand new coil (accuspark) one of a running car. Lucas gold. Two different distributors one electronic one points and condenser. I agree electrical but what?? Really starting to annoy me now MK1 Cavaliers? Great cars, love them.

Tony.

12v or 6v?

[poppyman]

Swapped the battery, and running 12 volts.

[Alec]

Hello Tony,

whwere are you checking for the spark?

Alec

[poppyman]

Everywhere it should have a spark Alec, at the plugs (all of them) coil, and points.

Tony.

[Alec]

Hello Tony,

try taking the king lead out of the distributor cap and compare. If it is strong there, then it must be something cap\leads and plugs? If it is weak there then between the coil and distributor.

Alec

[poppyman]

Great spark when you flick points Alec but very very weak when cranking, engine spins over quickly but loses the spark.

Tony.