won't start and is backfiring.

[Rust Bucket]

i have a 1972 240z with a stock l24 engine. today i went outside, started my car, and then when i felt that it was running rough, i checked under the hood.

what i saw was that my distributor cap wasn't clipped on for whatever reason,

so i decided that a good solution to that problem would be to clip it on.

well, as soon as i pressed down on the distributor cap, the car died..

now the car won't start, and it backfires, which is has never done before.

i bought this car to restore, and teach myself about how cars work, so i don't have all the tools i need for everything, i am saving up for a timing light, because my car's timing was off, but i am still a novice at this..

is this also a timing problem?

how would the distributor cause backfiring?

can anyone help me?

[geezer]

Just a guess, but if you pushed down and clipped the cap while the engine was running you probably damaged the rotor or cap. Carefully inspect them and replace if nessesary.

[ktm]

When you pressed down on the cap, you may have shifted the rotor. Pull the cap and inspect the rotor. Also look at the contacts inside the cap. If both look fine, try putting them back on properly.

Also check the plug wires incase you may have accidently dislodged one or the coil wire.

[Rust Bucket]

When you pressed down on the cap, you may have shifted the rotor. Pull the cap and inspect the rotor. Also look at the contacts inside the cap. If both look fine, try putting them back on properly.

Also check the plug wires incase you may have accidently dislodged one or the coil wire.

inspecting the rotor and contacts. the contacts looked fine, and the rotor looked fine.

tomorrow im going to take it out and inspect it more closely, because it was dark outside.

i also checked for spark, and there is spark, which would mean that it's getting to the spark plugs.

would a distributor problem cause backfiring?

[sblake01]

Look inside the dist. cap and make sure the button isn't stuck on the spring in such a way where it's not making contact with the rotor. Sometimes they even come loose and fall down into the distributor.

[Curtis240Z]

Yes a distributor can cause backfiring usually if the timing is way off. Did you have to turn the distributor cap to get it to clip on? If you did you just changed the timing which could mean that the PO installed the distributor drive in wrong.

[JohnB]

I am having a similar problem. I replaced the cap and rotor (Beck Arnley brand) this past fall along with a new coil after some surging issues. The car sat for a few weeks and it stopped starting. The Cap is loose. I can move it a few degrees each way. It seems as if the cap is not seating or the clips are loose. The contacts on the inside of the cap look a little chewed for a few months old (I plan on replacing it). The car will crank and fire a little or not at all. Starting fluid does almost nothing. If I leave the starter on, the car will fire and back fire but die as soon as I turn the key to on from start. Plugs are wet with fuel and black in color.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

JohnB

Chicago

[Curtis240Z]

The cap has a indent that fits into a tooth on the distributor. Are you sure you put the spark plug wires back in the same order? Backfiring is usually caused from extremely lean fuel mixtures, incorrect ignition timing or not syncronized carbs.

[JohnB]

Car ran for a few months after putting on the new rotor cap. Now the cap feels loose so I am assuming it is now the problem...I will check the rotor next and then the carb floats and then the timing.

Thanks,

JohnB

[Diseazd]

Put a timing light on it first. If timing is off everything else is for nothing. Also check the adjustment bolt on distibutor base. If that is loose or missing your distributor could have shifted and your timing could now be off.