Hi - my car drove without fault previous night, the next morning it would not start! had been very low on fuel and assuming it had run dry topped it up - no difference!
The battery is now fully charged, there is fuel in it, oil is full, water is full, starter motor is turning fine, the ditributor is clean and the rotor arm spins no problem.
Given how low the fuel was i was guessing i have a blocked line or filter but after removing the airbox to get to the carb and pouring in a capfull of fuel it will still not fire up.
All the sparkplugs have been removed and cleaned of any deposits, which by a haynes manual were normal - no oil etc.

what should i try next?

can i try n spark the plugs while out of the car ?
if they are sparking what would the next step be?
if they dont what would the next step be?
and finally, is it safe to assume that because i have tried fuelling directly in to the carb that it is not a fuel issue??

ok thanks for reading this, any help would be greatly appricated
thanks
nigel

nigel, September 2007

try the hall-effect transistor in the distributer

John Duggan, October 2009

If you cannot even hear it try and turn over (meaning you turn the key and ..nothing..), try making sure all of the wires/plugs are attached firmly. I have a passat that does this all of the time. I have to open the hood, and push the plug into the socket. I think it may be connected to the distributor but I really don't know. It's located toward the front of the car, slightly to the right. Let me know. e-mail svap1@verizon.net

Mary Ann, October 2007

You need to confirm if plugs are sparking. Take out one plug and connect it to plug lead. Hold body of plug against cylinder head whilst assistant cranks engine. If no spark carefully check connections of three pin plug to distributor.

Beyond this diagnosis gets a bit complex.

Dann, September 2007