90 740 starting problems

Seems too obvious, but is it possible the wires were put on so they match
the plugs to the wrong distributor locations? There may be a "1" on the cap
near the point for the front plug, the third point counting from the exhaust
side. The firing order is 1-3-4-2

Mike

 

I just replaced the cap on mine a few weeks ago, IIRC the order of the
plug wires on the distributor cap looking from the front of the car from
left to right are 4-3-1-2. It's a bit confusing since the connectors are
all on one side of the cap.

 

I was reading from Haynes, which makes it more difficult. Your description
is better, since it looks like Haynes started with 1 arbitrarily. Once the
rotation direction is considered I think the two patterns are the same, but
Haynes makes us jump through all the hoops.

Mike

 

I just replaced spark plugs and wire and now the car doesn't start. What
seems to be the problem? All help and advise is greatly appreciated.

 

They are the same, like I said though it's confusing because of the
design of the cap, the connections aren't neatly arranged in a circle.

 

I bought a new cap and rotor last night just to prove the point! . . . No -
I confess. I bought them because my '85 only got me 90% of the way to work
yesterday mornng. It started misfiring under load when I left the house, and
the misfire progressed so that the engine was firing on only two cylinders
within 10 minutes. The old cap couldn't have been more than 10 or 12 years
old. 8^P

Anyway, the new Bosch cap has the cylinders marked and they are exactly as
you described (and so are the wires on the old cap!)

Mike