New (to me) car won't start! :(

[Gilles27]

Hi folks,

I really hope someone here can help me out. On Monday I bought a Helios Blue Mk1 mr2 from a lad in Liverpool. I drove it back to Yorkshire with no problems and I love it. On Tuesday morning it wouldn't start. I have tried rolling it down a hill to bump start it and I have tried using jump leads on it. The battery seems fine. The starter turns strongly. Last night I took the car to a local garage and the mechanic has just phoned to say he thinks it could be either the ignition amplifier or the distributor that's causing the problem. He phoned his usual supplier and they don't stock an amplifier for my car. I've had a look online and the nearest thing I can find is item number 380145986974 on eBay. Is this what I need? I would be extremely grateful of any help as I love this car, but only got to drive it for a day!

[Jaspa]

Welcome to IMOC

The ebay item you posted looks like a generic "add this to your car for super gains" type. Like an electronic supercharger.

At a guess I am thinking you are probably looking for a coil pack, similar to This one

But I'm sure the experts will be along shortly to correct me

Stuart

Edit, Here's a second hand coil if that is correct CLICK HERE

[Gilles27]

That's great! Thanks for the reply. I'm going to print the eBay ads and just take them to the mechanic so he an advise what I should be getting.

[SuperRedMR2]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-MR2-MK ... _500wt_796

This is the ignition/amplifier pack.

I've had my distributor die before but not the above.

[kevin..in]

try cleaning the earth point up first, its attached to the coil ignighter pack on the front right (IIRC) screw, might just bring it back to life!

[Lauren]

Most likely ignition related. Maybe something has come adrift?

Check dizzy cap for tracking. Tbh the first thing I did when buying a 26 year old Toyota was renew all the ignition components (well except the coil) with OEM parts. That did cost me £260 though(!).

Trouble is if it's dizzy cap, how easy it is to start tends to get worse over a time period rather than fine one day, gone the next.

[Gilles27]

Thanks folks. I went to see him and he seems pretty certain that it is the ignition module thingy which is £20 including postage so not a massive investment if he's wrong. I'll order it. It's just so frustrating to have had the car a week and driven it for just 1 day! Hopefully this is just bad luck and there won't be too many other issues with the car.

[pk_090]

simple thing like a flooded engine? Mine sometimes doesnt star but crank it open on full throttle for a few seconds and it kicks into life!
Alex

[Gilles27]

simple thing like a flooded engine? Mine sometimes doesnt star but crank it open on full throttle for a few seconds and it kicks into life!
Alex

I had the same thought and tried that.

[pk_090]

ok ill shut up and crawl back into the corner!
Alex

[Gilles27]

Sorry Alex. I probably didn't phrase that very well as I was using my phone and the kids were demanding attention!
I'm hugely grateful to you all for your help and advice. I'll report back on the success or failure of the coil thingy when it's been fitted.

[mk1 dal]

hi , this car doesn't happen to be f4**ebu does it , if so its one of my old mk1,s i saved . pm me your number if you don't get it started and i will come over and have a look and bring some spare parts with me .

gary

[Gilles27]

hi , this car doesn't happen to be f4**ebu does it , if so its one of my old mk1,s i saved . pm me your number if you don't get it started and i will come over and have a look and bring some spare parts with me .

gary

That's the one! What can you tell me about it? Someone put a link on the Mk1 forum to a 'build thread', but it wouldn't open for me. I can't put links on here yet as I haven't posted enough.

I'll PM you my number anyway as I'd love to speak to a previous owner. Are those your Elvis cassettes that were in the glove box?

[mk1 dal]

hi , glad to here its still on the road , the cassettes are definitely not mine , it should only be a simple thing stopping it starting , when i owned it the engine fired first touch every time and pulled very well .

[kgb603]

I briefly owned this car, so just want to make the point before gary starts spreading rumours (!) that they aren't my elvis tapes either, the chap who bought it from me did have a very impressive slicked back quiff... so has to be prime suspect ha ha!! In the few months I had it the car was super reliable and was a proper rocket for a NA, hopefully its an easy fix... good luck, welcome to the mk1 fold & hope to meet you at a run or show next year. Enjoy!

[Gilles27]

So it seems that there are lots of people happy to admit to owning this car, but you're all denying knowledge of the Elvis tapes! I think you all protest too much!
I see you're from Liverpool which is where I bought the car. I got it from Knotty Ash Cars (www.knottyashcarsales.co.uk/). The story I was told was that it belonged to a 17 year old lad called Greg who works there. He told me that he was selling it as he has now got a motorbike. He also denied being responsible for the Elvis tapes!
God it's frustrating having this car and not driving it! Hopefully the part will arrive from eBay today or tomorrow and I'll be back on the road.

[kgb603]

When I got it it had an MC TUNES tape in situ and Gary denied knowledge of that too... I reckon he has an eclectic musical pallet

I had it May - Aug 2010, then I sold it to a guy in Wigan when I got my 1a.. It popped up on ebay earlier this year presumably thats when it found its way back to Liverpool.

Gary did most of the work to get it into the condition its presumably still in today, new metal went into the arches, sills, floor, underseal. It had a cambelt, pulleys etc too so no worries for you there. I added the stripes & replaced the radio surround, fan switch & armrest & got a new blue gear gaiter & knob, sunroof cover etc mostly cosmetic stuff really... it had clearly seen some paint but was a presentable & more importantly solid mk1 overall. The one thing I could never seem to get to the bottom of was it idled at about 1300rpm - tried everything, but couldnt get it down any further.

Good luck with the repair, all part of the joys of running 20+ year old cars!

Kris

[Gilles27]

Thanks Kris. It's got a red gear gaiter & knob now which looks a bit odd. I'll live with it for a couple of months before deciding on any changes though. What is the sunroof cover? Do you mean a bag to keep it in when it's not in use? I don't think I've seen one with the car. I'll have a look.
You're right about the idle speed seeming a little high, but I don't intend idling it much!

[kaiowas]

The sunroof cover is a trim panel which clips in below the sunroof glass and keeps the cabin cooler when the car is parked on hot days.

[Gilles27]

The sunroof cover is a trim panel which clips in below the sunroof glass and keeps the cabin cooler when the car is parked on hot days.

Oh thanks. I'll have a look for it!