MOTOR NOTES.

Hutt News, Volume 5, Issue 22, 19 October 1932, Page 2

MOTOR NOTES.

ENGINE FAILURE.

LOCATING TROUBLE

In the operation of a motor car certain conditions sometimes arise which cause poor performance or failure of the engine or power system to function properly and frequently the owner is unable to locate the cause. If it is impossible to reach a service station immediately, the owner should have some simple suggestions which will enable him to urge his car to further efforts, and the following are given as hints a3 to what to do until he can reach the service station;—

If the Engine Fails to Start When Cranked. —(a) Cylinders flooded with fuel by keeping choke button out too long. To correct, push choke button in points, the metal adhering to the face of the point may be scraped off to provide temporary relief and points adjusted to .018 inches. If the spark plugs are fouled, they should be cleaned and adjusted to proper gap .025 inches to .030 inches.

If the engine stops or misses at high speeds or under heavy loads —(a) Make sure that there is fuel in the fuel tank, and if this is established it is then necessary to determine if it is reaching the carburettor. Examine all connections particularly into and out of the fuel pump to make sure that these connections are tight. It is necessary that "these connections be kept tight as any looseness will interfere with the proper functioning of the pump. If all connections "are tight and the condition is still not corrected, disconnect the pump connection of pipe leading from pump to carburettor. Then crank engine, and if ' fuel flows from the pump connection it may be assumed that fuel is reaching

the carburettor and the cause of the trouble will have to be sought elsewhere. If, in cranking the engine with pump connection 1 loose or disconnected, completely and continue cranking with throttle closed until excess fuel has been expelled from cylinders when ignition

should occur. Not more than twenty seconds should be required to clear the cy-

linders. (b) No fuel in fuel tank, (c) Weak or no spark plugs. The probable causes are discharged battery terminals, burned or improperly adjusted breaker points in the distributor, loose or broken wires or connections or spark plug points set incorrectly or fouled. The

Btrength of the spark may be determined by disconnecting one of the spark plug connections and holding is ab,out one quarter of an inch from the plug base while the- engine is being cranked. In case of a discharged battery it may still be possible to hand crank the engine and obtain sufficient spark to start. If loose or corroded terminals are found they should be tightened and cleaned. In case f burned breakerfuel does not flow from the pump, then it may be assumed that there is an air leakage or stoppage in the main fuel line from the tank to the pump, (b) Test for spark at spark plugs. If a good spark is obtained regularly, the trouble does not lie in the ignition system. If no spark occurs or the Bpark is weak, it indicates a discharged battery or loose connections. An examination should be made of wire connections at

switch, ammeter, coil andi distributor.

If these are found tight and in good condition it is well to examine the battery terminals ana ground wire. If the enigine mijaOes regularly on one or more cylinders ,the mbsfc probable cause is dirty spark plug or plugs. To locate, first idle engine slowly with

retarded spark, then hold screw driver

I against plug terminal and top of engine thus short circuiting the plug. Be careful to hold screw driver by wooden handle, else a shock will result. On the other hand, it will cause the engine to slow down or stop if the shortcircuit is rstablished with a working plug. After the dead plugs have "been thus located, they should be cleaned and adjusted, or replaced by new ones.