74 1.8 - cranks strong won’t start?

[xrayfigaro]

I can’t get my 1974 1.8 to start. The car cranks but won’t start up. I’ve pulled a plug and there is spark.

I hear the relays (?)click when I turn the key, but don’t hear the fuel pump prime or whir. I hear the same click when I pull the relays out as well though.

I pulled the air mass flow meter out and the fuel pump starts going when I push the flap in and the ignition is on.

I had the car in a shop after it had sat for awhile with the same problem. The guy got it running but it ran extremely rich and very poorly. I drove it about 45 minutes and 25 miles or so and then it’s been parked since. I just didn’t have the money to give him a blank check.

The battery was done so I put a new one in. There’s a half tank of gas.

Any ideas about what’s wrong? Hoping it’s somethinh obvious! Thanks!

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

The L-jet FI does not run the pump when the key goes to "on", just when the air flow flap moves or when the starter cranks. The pump is run by the dual relay that hangs off the battery tray; an L-jet 914 does not require any relays in the relay board to run!

You have spark, and we can guess you have compression. Check for fuel. First make sure there is a white FI wire plugged into the four-pin connector on the relay board; this carries the starter signal to the FI and tells it to run the pump. If that is present, next check that you are getting fuel going into the motor. If the tailpipe smells of fuel after you try to start it for a while, that's an indication. A more sure one would be to stick the injectors in jars and crank the starter. You can see if there is any fuel there, and if you have someone else crank the starter for you, it is possible to check the spray pattern as well.

If you have fuel, air, and spark, then the only possibilities are when the spark is occurring (anywhere near TDC should be enough to start) or how much fuel is going in. For the latter, you need to inspect all wire and hose connections. Things like the CHT sensor being unplugged will cause the mixture to be so rich the car will not start. And so on.

--DD