Ignition Spark

Hi Everyone

The car is dead(ish) 1982 GTI.  Turns over but has no inclination for firing.

I'm checking through the Haines manual, but I'm a bit confused. It says the following:

Fault diagnosis page 23 - "crank engine and check for spark", which seems fairly straightforward with an adjacent photograph that I can't make head nor tail of.  And under neath the the photo it says "Do not carry out this check with electronic ignition".

So, how do you check that there is a spark? and what is the photograph showing? Looks like a nail jammed into the HT lead.

Thanks in advance

You remove the spark plug.

Plug spark plug into the lose HT lead.

Get some insulated pliers and hold the HT lead and spark near to the head (like in the picture)

Get some one to crank over the engine and with the spark plug about 4mm from the head you should see a spark.

Thanks for that. 

I'll give it a go tonight to eliminate that. 

I actually think I have a have a fuelling problem. Do you know if you should hear the fuel pump run when the ignition is on but not started?

Check for a spark on all 4 plugs and leads before doing anything else.
Some fuel pumps do run before starting but all depends on what type of relay you have
To get the pump to run without the engine running bridge the 2 larger spade connections, bit of wire needed.
Or pull out relay No 17? - not sure on number so check online before doing this…. And fit it where the fuel pump relay is and then when you switch on the ignition the pump should run.

Thanks for the help. 

I've checked the plugs and have a good spark on each and have eliminated that. 

I pulled the plug (no relay here) in location L on the fuse board and put a wire across 13 and 14. There was 12V to earth at this location. But when I went to the fuel pump there was no voltage. I applied 12V to the pump from a motorbike battery and the pump worked and I could start the car. 

Therefore I assume that there is a break between the fuse box and the pump. 

Does this sound logical?

OK. Now after further reading I understand better. 

The location of the fuel pump relay has a plug in it which is connected to the relay above. So now I know that that's the fuel pump relay. 

So I bridged that and the pump ran and the car started. I therefore assume that the relay is shot and needs replacing which I'll do asap. 

Thanks again