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I can't get the car to start. It turns over but doesn't fire. I can actually see a puddle of fuel resting in the bottom of the intake manifold when I look down the carb barrel. Running fine yesterday and never really had any starting/ignition problems before (pump the pedal twice, start - bingo) - but this morning I may have been a little enthusiastic with the pumping.

I left it a few hours while I was at work but came back and no dice. I've taken the carb off now so hopefully the excess fuel will evaporate. I also disconnected the line to the mechanical fuel pump so it didn't keep pumping when the engine was turning over. Is it worth me taking the plugs out too? Anything else I should check?

If there's fuel, then it's the spark that's missing.

Take out one spark plug and using rubber or plastic insulated pliers, earth it against the cam cover and turn the engine over on the key. If there's no spark it'll most likely be the ignition module (little black thing mounted on the inner wing with 2 screws)

If you don't feel confident in doing this check yourself, call the AA or RAC? It's most likely something very simple.

Thanks Mark - when you say earth it against the cam cover, do you mean have the spark prongs touching it? Will I see the spark? Probably a test to do at night I guess. There's definitely fuel, I could see it spraying from the jet after I removed the air filter and pulled the throttle arm.

Also, I think I have a spare ignition module somewhere so I may just swap it and see. [edit] Yeah just found it. Knew I stacked boxes of spare parts for a reason!

Yes, just touching and you'll hear a spark too. You should see it in the day without a problem. It could also be a cracked dizzy cap or rotor arm? Or the coil. If you have a Haynes manual there's a trouble-shooting section with piccies. Worth trying the other module for sure.

A couple of years back I bought a 316 near Blackpool. As we headed home I realised my phone was in my Mrs car behind me, on the motorway. She pulled out and overtook me and the second she passed by, the engine died and I coasted to a halt. Bollocks. It was the ignition module and it took me hours to get relayed home.

Ideally youd want to remove all the plugs. Dry them out too.

The dizzy cap terminals were all messed up. Spare cap fixed it.