rover 200 not starting.

If you put the car in top gear and push it you will be able to see the engine turn, if it doesn't then the engine is seized (in all probability) First check if so would be whether the cam belt is still intact.

Mrcheerful

the cam belt is indeed intact and pretty tight with no cracks or shiny surfaces. I will try that other trick to see if the engine has seized.

The car has also been randomly stalling when you put your foot down on the clutch and your still rolling. would this be a sign of the engine starting to seize? or is it just plain coincidence?

coincidence.

watch to see whether the cambelt turns with the engine, it is quite feasible to lose the teeth at the bottom pulley but the rest looks fine, it just doesn't turn !!

Another possibility is that the engine has water in one cylinder (very common 200s) take the plugs out and see if it will spin over then.

Mrcheerful

so take one spark out at a time and try to turn it over and see what happens right. what happens if i do find there is water or oil in one of the cylinders. will i need to take it to a garage.

The message from jeff contains these words:

Yes. Get it up to a good speed and drop the clutch in first or second. Ignition on, of course.

If you can't do the infamous "K" Series head gasket change. Yes, you will need to go to a garage and then probably decide to scrap the car when they give you the quote.

Does the engine turn over at all?

Either there or a scrapyard unless you fancy doing a head gasket yourself

I would take out all of the plugs at the same time as it makes the engine much easier to crank

However it not clear from your original post what is wrong.

Does the engine turn over on the starter or not. If it does not then could be starter solenoid, starter or seized engine

When you push start it in 3rd gear with the clutch depressed when the car is moving and you release the clutch do the wheels lock? If so something's seized if not then not seized

Looking at the cam belt with the engine turning over is the cambelt turning the top pulley? If so then probably not cambelt but it could have slipped if not cambelt gone

and that's just for openers

Tony

A Scrapyard would be more appropriate.

Tim..

I would take all the plugs out and try to spin it over, a fountain out of one cylinder will occur if it has filled with water. With the water out it will probably be able to start, but the fault will recur.

If it is headgasket then it is usually about a 400 pound job at a garage when done correctly and carefully.

mrcheerful

If the starter is turning the engine over you can usually see the engine rock slightly in its mountings. If the starter is just spinning it has a whole different sound and the engine won't move.

How to push start a car...

Spark plugs: Remove one and put the cap back on the plug. Rest the body of the plug on the engine to complete the electrical circuit and crank the engine. You should be able to see if there is a spark. While the plug is out check it's colour..

Repeat for other cylinders. If no spark look for the cause.

If it's tirning over and there are sparks then the problem looks like the fuel side.

nope it does not turn over. It sounds like its on the edge of turning over but doesnt quite do it.

I have tried push starting and droppping the clutch into gear but it still wont start. not sure what you mean by lock but the car stops suddenly. both pulleys are moving and belt seems fine.

The head gasket went on my old escort its only a £1.50 part but its a pain to fit right. luckily it isnt my car it's my brothers. the silly sod just bought it as well.

tried that already thats what i meant by push start. it didn't work and left me out of breathe and a good walk from my can of beer.

nope sounds like its on the verge of but not quite.

will try the sparks after work. i dont think its the fuel side of things there was a potent smell of petrol after trying to push start the motor so im assuming petrol is getting to the engine.

Crankcase sensor....!

PDH

jeff wrote in news:454b457c$0$1376$ snipped-for-privacy@news.zen.co.uk:

Do you mean the engine *is turning over but *not firing, or the engine won't turn over at all?

What year is the car? It could be the immobiliser.

Chris