Not Starting

Tried starting the car this morning and it started and then cut out again, after that it would turn over just not fire. Thought it could be a low battery but wouldn't jump start either There is fuel as I can smell it And there is a spark but its orangy rather than the blue I would have expected but still a spark. I'm completely confused on what it could be, has anyone got any ideas on what it could be? Need it sorted pretty urgently Cheers guys :)

I am new to the site myself and have that very same problem. if you should get resulets let me know and Iwill do the same.Good Luck

auto or manual and does your key have a transponder chip ?

No warning lights?, i would expect the car to be able to be bump started even if the immobiliser was faulty....Personally i would start with the camshaft position sensor... Cheers jod

It's a manual and don't know if the key has a transponder chip tonight we checked out the self diagnostics and it came out with no faults which I guess is a good thing we are going to try bump starting it later as thinking the battery might just be too old now and not have enough oomph to get it going

Sounds daft but is there plenty fuel in it? Reason i ask is because i thought i had plent fuel (a bit above red) but was parked on a slant and had the same trouble! I tipped a gallon of petrol in and learnt my leson!

Yep there is plenty of fuel. I don't think its the crank position sensor as it would have shown up with the self diagnostic. Isn't the battery either. Anyone else have an idea of what it could be? Desperately need the car running again.

The spark plugs don't look in the best on condition, but should it not at least try to fire as there is a spark? We have also checked fuel pressure as were told fuel relay could be it, but that was fine. I forgot to answer to a few posts up, the normal warning lights come on when you try to start it.

I've had this problem in the past. I changed the cam position sensor, the coil and the crank sensor and i've not had a pick of bother since... You should be able to pick them up from a local scrap yard for around the 50 quid mark for the lot. Before you do that tho, check the rotor arm and distributor cap, make sure they're in good nick and not covered in carbon deposits... **edit** If your struggling to find the parts, our local scrappies has a few 850's in, i'll gladly go and get them for you and ship them down to you... :)