not starting?

[old tiff]

Hi just bouht my 85 excel drove it home 150miles at 70 got 29.8mpg. found i had an oil leak from the cam box fixed that as previous person had forgot the rtv sealing agent . test run confirmed no leaks. fixed air box clamp test run again. went to start it today and no go! checked fuel and pump all ok pressure at carbs. checked ignition and spark at plugs looks weak. checked plugs all ok. checked spark at coil huge sparks.
obviously taking the distributor out(to check the rotor arm and cap) is a difficult task due to poor access.
i do have to take the carbs off as i have found a leak from the accelorator pump on the rear unit. before i jump in, any ideas what is causing the problem??
ps lots of amps in the battery.

[AndyC]

As you've fiddled around the air box I'd suggest you may have knocked a wire so that it's no longer getting a good connection. Try uncoupling and re-coupling the LT pick-up, amplifier and coil wiring connections.

[amarshall]

The other one that can have unexpected effects is the wire from the oil pressure sender - especially if connected to the wrong side of the sender.

[old tiff]

the oil pressure sender wire has fallen off twice!. did not expect that to be linked, will try that and check all the lt connections. I have found the white wires connecting the amplifier to the coil. i have the lotus notes and diagrams but no indications of expected voltages. i have had strange results from the oil sender. when i bought the car i was getting about 2-3 bar on the guage at tickover and 4-5 at 3000rpm. an my last run at low temp i saw 4-5 at tickover and max on guage aT 3000RPM.
PS IS THERE MORE THAN ONE TERMINAL TAGG ON THE SENDER?

[amarshall]

There are two terminals - connect to the wrong one and things earth through it, I think - resulting in a failure to start (DAMHIKIJKOK?)

[steven popay]

when you where sealing the cam covers did you disconect the throttle cable then reconnect it, when doing this it squirts petrol into the cylinders flooding it, i had to pull all the plugs out and dry them when i put on a new throttle cable.

[old tiff]

did not have trouble starting after the cam box refit i did start with the throttle wide open as i could smell fuel and suspected the pump had dosed the system. thanks

[old tiff]

all fixed new plugs rotor arm and dist cap. went to fit and found one plug lead not fully home in old cap. there is only one terminal on the oil pressure transducer, change the spade connector on the cable and now it stays in place. no effect on the ignition system!
thanks guys