Technical Question---Renault

[RENOMAD]

I recently discovered that the bad running of my 17(pinking)was due to a faulty Vacuum advance mechanism. I disconnected it and just timed the car to try and get a happy medium . I had some success with this until I found a new Distributor.Luckily I found a brand new Ducillier distributor on Ebay specifically for my 17.Was I chuffed When I put it on the car, making sure that I had TDC lined up correctly and the rotor firing on 1,,,,,no start,,not even a spark. Brand new part,and I am worse off.HELP--ANY IDEAS.I put the old one back on,turned the key and off it goes...still pinking a little of courseJohn

[mouseflakes]

A few things to check off the top of my head.Check the central graphite contact hasn't dropped out of the cap.Could you elicit a spark at the points just by opening and closing them manually?Is it worth trying again but with the condenser from the old one fitted (though you'd probably just get a weak spark if that was failing, rather than none at all)?

[Ratdat]

I known some new points to come coated with a light oil on the contacts to stop them corroding in storage. That's enough to stop them working and needs to be cleaned of before use. As Tim says, check the function of the points manually.

[RENOMAD]

OK Guys..will ahve another go this weekend. As I have the new distributor back out I might as well stick the new points and condensor on it before I try.

[Station]

Try TDC at 10°.Are you sure you're put the HT leads on correctly? I did this on mine, had them wired 1-2-3-4 instead of the 1-4-2-3 firing order!

[Andrew353w]

Is the firing order on 17s different from other 4 cylinder cars? It's always 1,3,4,2, on every "straight four" car I've ever worked on. You'll also need to see which way the rotor arm turns (clockwise or anti-clockwise) when you're connecting the H.T. leads.Andrew353w

[Guest]

1-2-4-3 on ohv Fiestas, 1-3-4-2 on the ohc models...