My wifes Felicia 1.6 wont fire up,I removed the distributer cap to check it and managed to put it back in the wrong way round ie at a 180 degrees .I turned the engine over and obviously nothing happened,I then put the cap back the right way but it still wont start.I have a good spark and fuel is reaching the cylinders,the leads are nearly new,any ideas?

When you say you have a good spark, where do you mean? At each cylinder? An engine which is getting fuel and a good spark will usually start.

When you say "won't fire up", do you mean at all, or that it won't stay running?

putting the dizzy cap on 180 degrees out wont make any odds assuming the leads go to the correct cylinders because the cap is symetrical. you wont be able to put it on 90 degrees out because they normally only have the flats for the spring clips on 2 sides

hope this helps, shows which cylinder the leads go to

I checked 2 plugs both sparked,it does not start it just turns on the starter.

Dear Teflon Tom, I did not remove the leads just put the cap back in the wrong place.

ok, so as darren has said before me, if you are getting a spark and fuel it will run... it MUST be a fuel supply issue. how did you check you are getting fuel through? have you tried using some easy-start?

When the plugs are removed they are wet with fuel, I can hear the pump "charging" when I turn on the ignition.

the pump will prime when you turn on the ignition, at least that proves the fuse and relay are working... wet plugs... that'll be the problem.. whip em out and spray them up with carb cleaner to get rid of the fuel

I have taken them out and dried them over a flame but it made no difference.Prior to my tinkering the car always started first time ,have I triggered the immobiliser perhaps?

not likely no, if it were the immo it WILL start and run for a few seconds and then die...

i suppose it's remotely possible you have popped fuse number 1 (ecu permanent live) by the spark backfeeding through the ecu.. i think it's a 10A one from memmory... fuse 20 must still be intact otherwise you'd have no spark

I have checked the fuses,all are OK.

ok, there's something fishy going on... start from the top, i'm struggling to understand why it wont go.. what was the reason you took off the dizzy cap in the first place? was there an underlying fault to start with? done any other work recently?

was it even a runner before you took the cap off?

I have taken them out and dried them over a flame but it made no difference.Prior to my tinkering the car always started first time ,have I triggered the immobiliser perhaps?

Sorry, did I read that right. You took plugs wet with fuel and dried them over a flame ? :eek:

hello, new here but i have the same problem with 1.6 pick up! do you have a constant spark? as i lose mine after a couple of rotations. i'm thinking coil breakdown or maybe ecu but the fuel is getting through the injectors and the every thing seems to be priming as it should. can't get a coill pack till monday so will let you know the outcome.