Rover 200 & 400 Owners Club • Engine won't start
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Engine won't start

Posted: Sun May 19, 2019 4:44 pm
by dale214
I Have a 1.4 k series in a 214.
I changed the cambelt a while back and since then
the engine will not start.
The imobiliser swithes off as it should and it has fuel and spark.
Ive cheched the timing and it all seem correct but
it still won't start.
Tried easy start and it does nothing.
Dead as a door nail.!!
Any ideas are appreciated.
Thanks.

Re: Engine won't start

Posted: Sun May 19, 2019 4:52 pm
by RoverRevival
i'm sorry but its timing, if you have fuel and spark it can only be.

make sure the timing is correct by putting two rods down bore 2&3 and finding TDC (or look on the pulley but its hard to see)
Then check your markings, all should be right ie left pully should say ex and in and the right pulley ex and in.

Sorry if this sounds patronizing but i don't know your skill level.

Re: Engine won't start

Posted: Sun May 19, 2019 7:36 pm
by crepello
Maybe a slip of the keyboard there?
Shouldn't we be looking for mid-stroke to align the camshafts to?
In which case, a pair of equal length rods (I use a pair of used head bolts) in 1 & 2 bores would sit at identical heights.
The manuals are a bit vague on the pulley markings. I have deduced that 'IN' and 'EX' on the centre boss identifies the slot for the respective camshaft's roll pin.
The "EXHAUST" spoke marking needs to be the same way up on each pulley with the rim ticks in line.

Re: Engine won't start

Posted: Sun May 19, 2019 11:25 pm
by dale214
I believe the top end is ok timing wise.
Ive timed the crank using the mark on the front of the pully .
Its on the mark to the right of TDC.
Before i had it on TDC.
This made it run like a bag of bolts.
where should the mark on the back of the pully be facing.?

Thanks for all advice.
Cheers.

Re: Engine won't start

Posted: Mon May 20, 2019 5:25 am
by RoverRevival
You only need to be 1 tooth out to make it sound like a diesel.

Re: Engine won't start

Posted: Mon May 20, 2019 7:36 am
by 220 GSi turbo
According to my Haynes manual for the Rover 25 (I can't say if there are any major differences between the earlier engines in the 214 and the later ones in the 25, as far as timing is concerned):

All marks on the camshaft pulleys should sit in a horizontal line with each other and the 'Exhaust' markings should be towards the rear of the car.

The notch on the inner rim of the crankshaft pulley should align with the vertical 90 degrees BTDC mark on the timing belt lower cover.



Do bear in mind that when you are setting the belt tensioner, things can move slightly, so do a final check on the timing marks after you have set the tensioner and rotated the crankshaft by hand a couple of times.