New Owner - ‘76 ignition issues

[Scattylight]

Hi everyone, I’m a new owner of a ‘76 124 spider that I’m in love with. It won’t turn over and I’m running out of ideas with my limited knowledge - ice changed out the plugs and wires, check the distributor, and cleaned out the carb.

Here’s a short video to help the diagnosis:

https://youtu.be/q2jWnlO-HZI

Anybody got any ideas?

Thanks,

Drew

[Nut124]

Did it run OK previously?

I would suspect an intermittent ignition problem. Pull one plug wire and check for spark while cranking. When it fires it seems to fire well although very briefly. Got a timing light? Clamp the light on while cranking to verify spark at each plug wire while cranking. Also check timing mark.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Drew, it could be ignition issues as Nut124 mentioned, but I'd also check that you're getting enough gas into the engine. From the video, it fires occasionally but then dies, and that could be because the car has sat for a long time and the gas has drained all the way back to the tank. You have enough gas to get it started, but not to keep it running. Many of my spiders do this when they sit for a long while.

Before trying to start, slowly push the gas pedal to the floor several times. You can even wait a short while (10 seconds?) and repeat this again. Then try to start. If it fires up but then dies shortly afterwards, I'm thinking it's more of a fuel issue.

-Bryan

[Nut124]

To assess fuel problem, open the air cleaner and have someone pump the gas pedal. There should be some evidence of fuel being spayed from the accelerator circuit into the carb.

Also, you could pour a few drops of gas into the carb before cranking to see if tries to start. Just do not overdo the pumping and adding gas or the plugs can foul and then it will not start for some time.