Your bus has stopped at the side of the road - what basic check do you do.

Don't panic just yet. Here are a few basic checks.

First of all, If either of the red lights on the dash have lit up and you ignored them it could have been a fan belt gone ( ignition light would have stayed on) If you have driven on after that and the fan was broken, the engine may have overheated and seized the engine. Game over.

If the red oil light came and you didn't stop right away. same as above, the engine may have seized. Game over. The big yellow taxi is beckoning.

Check the above by putting a spanner on the crank nut and turning. if it turns freely it's okay and will probably be one of these below...

If your van just stopped then it is likely an ignition fault. Walk to the back and open the noisy cupboard ( which will be surprisingly quiet right now ) and take off the red distributor cap on the left of the fan pulley ( it has wiry things called ht leads coming off it ) Turn the engine over by hand, either by winding the fan belt round or putting a spanner on the crank nut. check the points are Actually opening. If not clean them check the cap and rotor arm connection and reset the gap. You Should be on your way.

If the gap is okay and all is visibly fine and it still won't go it is time to check you have a spark. Take an ht lead off a spark plug, insert a spare plug if you have one ( just the ht lead will do if you don't) hold the plug or ht lead close to a metal bit of the engine and get someone to turn the engine over on the key. look at the end of the plug or lead and see if a blue spark is arcing across onto the metal. if it does you have spark ( if not it is possibly fuel starvation causing the stop- have you got fuel?) If not then you could have a condensor or coil problem. To check there is a live feed to the coil. check the fuel cut off on solenoid on the lh side of the carb. Turn the ignition on and remove the wire that attaches to the solenoid - CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE WIRE TO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE CONNECTION IT CAME OFF IT IS NOW LIVE. Re attach it to the carb and you should hear a click from it. This means there is a live feed to the coil, so it could be a dodgy coil or condensor. If you have either as a spare replace them in turn, if not call the BYT (mention the condensor or coil problem to them, he may bring one.

If there was popping, misfire or banging before it stopped it is probably a rotor arm or dizzy cap problem, replace if you have a spare. or clean contacts with emery cloth and try again. You can usually see crud on the contacts, it should be shiny and bright. a broken or cracked dizzy cap will not run smoothly. replace it.

If the van coughed and sputtered before coming to a halt, it is likely a fuel problem, apart from checking you do have fuel. check the live to the solenoid as described before. secondly, check the fuel is getting through to the carb by pulling off the black fuel line to the left of the carb, hold the end of it in a receptacle and get someone to turn the engine over for a short blast, there should be fuel pumping into the receptacle. TAKE GREAT CARE DOING THIS AND DON'T SET FIRE TO YOURSELF. TELL THEM TO LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. If you do not have fuel coming through, you have either run out, have a blocked fuel filter or line or there is problem with your fuel pump. clean and check if you can, replace it and test again. still no fuel? ring the BYT.

Finally and worst of all, if your engine made a big clattering noise just before it died, then it is likely it has seized. Game over. phone the BYT. or try the fuel pump test again - with less care.

Happy dubbing.

 

kick it

start with the simplest first & then hit it with a hammer

 

Did you stop for a brew?

 

You should have written it Mick. You're Far more knowledgeable than me.

 

Aside of when your drive shaft dropped off near Skipton - Dent Easter 2013

 

Good tip. I just wedge the end somewhere and stand back.

 

Best I can do at short notice.