How do you check the HT leads are fitted in the correct order. Mine have numbers on them (1-4). But somebody has installed them as 1,2,3 and 4. When the Haynes manual says they should be fitted 1-3-4-2. I don't suppose it matters as long as they are fitted right at the other end.
the 1342 bit is the firing order, the leads are refitted with the lead numbers going 1234 from one end of the engine to the other
The firing order will be 1-3-4-2, the leads themselves must go onto the correct plug. No 1 piston is at the crank pulley end on most cars. The plugs should be numbered 1-2-3-4 along the engine.
The leads go from them to the ditributer and if you follow them round the distributer then you will find that the order of rotation will be 1-3-4-2
The person who marked them 1 2 3 4 probably did so before they removed them from the plugs so that they would know which ones went where when they re-fitted them. It does make a big difference where they go because if they're wrong you'll have spark plugs firing on the wrong strokes and you don't want that now, do you?
I don't mean any offence but do you know anybody at all who knows a bit about engines? It might be worth asking a neighbour/friend to have a look at it for you. It won't take SWK long to establish whether the engines broken or not.
Si
There are sometimes (but not always) numbers on the ignition coil. My one has numbers to indicate which cylinder they go to. So the numbers on the coils should match up to the cylinder numbers which are numbered in order. Of course, if the ignition coil isn't numbered then this info is useless. If they weren't the correct way round then the car would probably be barely driveable, and you'd know.
The message from Chris Street contains these words:
But only if you know which way round the rotor goes!
And how the engine is numbered. Most are number 1 at the front, but Volvo, for example, number them from the back.
The message from snipped-for-privacy@spamcop.net (Andy Hewitt) contains these words:
As do Renault. Wonder if that's 'cos ovloV used to use Renault engines?
They numbered them that way long before they used Renault engines.
Actually they need to be fitted right at both ends so the rotor arm lines up with the lead connected to no1 cylinder at the same time no 1 cylinder is at the firing point of its cycle otherwise you get a spark in either the induction power or exhaust phase which is about as much use as a chocolate firegeuard.
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