Uploaded March 2019 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Some useful tips for checking why your old car won’t start. By old I mean a classic car with a simple carburettor, ignition coil and distributor. When it wont start or breaks down, usually it is something simple. In this video I talk about my experience when I broke down and how I got going again by diagnosing what the problem was. The usual reason is some fault leading to no fuel or no spark.
For checking the spark it is very useful to have the neon strobe light like that shown in the video. Sadly those neon ignition timing lights that i used are not so popular now (mine was pretty old!). You could try searching on the internet for “gunsons timelite” to find one or this should be a good alternative spark tester to do the same job:
Amazon UK: amzn.to/2SDycRc
Amazon USA: amzn.to/2EJXGZP
Alternatively there are plenty of xenon based ones that have a much brighter spark, the only trouble being that the intensity of the light wont change much. They will show if you have a spark or not though. Plenty of these on Amazon uk: amzn.to/2TaflCz
Or Amazon usa: amzn.to/2TgpTjO
If your coil is failing, the generic sparkrite ignition coil that I used can be found here on ebay uk: ebay.us/Iou6hO
Rubber disposible gloves are also useful, here's the links for
eBay USA: ebay.us/GGqmTJ
eBay UK: ebay.us/cE1BHK
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3aikbl8
Amazon USA: amzn.to/3cdwjpD
Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2Q0VHZm
Amazon Australia: amzn.to/2QlUawX
If anyone wants to show appreciation for any money savings, or just help support the channel and future videos then you now can. Use this link: paypal.me/comeinhandy
Subscribe to the channel for similar DIY, fixing stuff, car bits and tech reviews here:
youtube.com/user/comeinhandynow?sub_confirmation=1
Note, if you want to be notified of new videos click on the bell symbol on my home page.
The video is about my personal opinion and experience and contains no paid for product placements. No responsibility is accepted for any perceived recommendation for or against a product or feature nor any consequential damage or harm since this video is just my personal experience. You accept by watching this video that you accept any responsibility for any subsequent actions or decisions that you take.
Note on copyright / licensing: This video was created using Apple iMovie and as such any music or video content is fully licensed by their terms and conditions for free publication and distribution.
See the Apple iMovie software license agreement at:
images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/iMovie.pdf
Which states"all Sample Content included in the Apple Software may be used on a royalty-free basis in your own video projects"
Additional background music free used royalty and copyright free (no copyright songs) from the following source:
Beyond -whitesand:
youtube.com/watch?v=f2bXIBxWOMI
Some useful tips for checking why your old car won’t start. By old I mean a classic car with a simple carburettor, ignition coil and distributor. When it wont start or breaks down, usually it is something simple. In this video I talk about my experience when I broke down and how I got going again by diagnosing what the problem was. The usual reason is some fault leading to no fuel or no spark.
For checking the spark it is very useful to have the neon strobe light like that shown in the video. Sadly those neon ignition timing lights that i used are not so popular now (mine was pretty old!). You could try searching on the internet for “gunsons timelite” to find one or this should be a good alternative spark tester to do the same job:
Amazon UK: amzn.to/2SDycRc
Amazon USA: amzn.to/2EJXGZP
Alternatively there are plenty of xenon based ones that have a much brighter spark, the only trouble being that the intensity of the light wont change much. They will show if you have a spark or not though. Plenty of these on Amazon uk: amzn.to/2TaflCz
Or Amazon usa: amzn.to/2TgpTjO
If your coil is failing, the generic sparkrite ignition coil that I used can be found here on ebay uk: ebay.us/Iou6hO
Rubber disposible gloves are also useful, here's the links for
eBay USA: ebay.us/GGqmTJ
eBay UK: ebay.us/cE1BHK
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3aikbl8
Amazon USA: amzn.to/3cdwjpD
Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2Q0VHZm
Amazon Australia: amzn.to/2QlUawX
If anyone wants to show appreciation for any money savings, or just help support the channel and future videos then you now can. Use this link: paypal.me/comeinhandy
Subscribe to the channel for similar DIY, fixing stuff, car bits and tech reviews here:
youtube.com/user/comeinhandynow?sub_confirmation=1
Note, if you want to be notified of new videos click on the bell symbol on my home page.
The video is about my personal opinion and experience and contains no paid for product placements. No responsibility is accepted for any perceived recommendation for or against a product or feature nor any consequential damage or harm since this video is just my personal experience. You accept by watching this video that you accept any responsibility for any subsequent actions or decisions that you take.
Note on copyright / licensing: This video was created using Apple iMovie and as such any music or video content is fully licensed by their terms and conditions for free publication and distribution.
See the Apple iMovie software license agreement at:
images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/iMovie.pdf
Which states"all Sample Content included in the Apple Software may be used on a royalty-free basis in your own video projects"
Additional background music free used royalty and copyright free (no copyright songs) from the following source:
Beyond -whitesand:
youtube.com/watch?v=f2bXIBxWOMI
