Going thru condensers & points like toffees - Help neede
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Going thru condensers & points like toffees - Help neede
Hi
Have changed points & condenser and car was running fine for a couple of weeks. Then started playing up so changed points etc again...running OK again but occasionally she just cuts out for no apparent reason. She's restarted each time.
Could I have an electrical problem or is it fuel??
I'm stumped
Have changed points & condenser and car was running fine for a couple of weeks. Then started playing up so changed points etc again...running OK again but occasionally she just cuts out for no apparent reason. She's restarted each time.
Could I have an electrical problem or is it fuel??
I'm stumped
Phil
"cuts out" infers an electrical problem.Fuel problems/symptoms are are usually described as " it coughed and spluttered....ground slowly to a halt, etc.".
Cause ?...multiple possibilities.Check...with the ignition off, battery disconnected for absolute safety.... the low tension circuit ( the thin wires ) first.Poor fitting /loose lucar connectors at the coil and distributor ? Take off the connectors, one at a time.Make sure the metal is clean ( clean with emery paper, if not ) and non oilly and that the connector is a good firm fit when you replace it.Examine the wire along it's length for any breaks or abrasions.Is the earth wire inside the distributor sound and screwed securely to the body of the distibutor ?
Is there any pattern to the cut out ? It may be that the new condenser was duff...ditto, the rotor arm.Putting the old bits back on , one at a time ( if they were known to be alright before ) may crack it for you.
Still a long llst of other things but give the visual checks a go first.
Good luck with the hunt.
Bob
"cuts out" infers an electrical problem.Fuel problems/symptoms are are usually described as " it coughed and spluttered....ground slowly to a halt, etc.".
Cause ?...multiple possibilities.Check...with the ignition off, battery disconnected for absolute safety.... the low tension circuit ( the thin wires ) first.Poor fitting /loose lucar connectors at the coil and distributor ? Take off the connectors, one at a time.Make sure the metal is clean ( clean with emery paper, if not ) and non oilly and that the connector is a good firm fit when you replace it.Examine the wire along it's length for any breaks or abrasions.Is the earth wire inside the distributor sound and screwed securely to the body of the distibutor ?
Is there any pattern to the cut out ? It may be that the new condenser was duff...ditto, the rotor arm.Putting the old bits back on , one at a time ( if they were known to be alright before ) may crack it for you.
Still a long llst of other things but give the visual checks a go first.
Good luck with the hunt.
Bob
Check the low tension wire as if it's 'shorting out' it gives the symptoms that you've described. It's possible that some of the outer braiding has worn away or frayed leaving part of the wire exposed. Might have been caused by your friend fiddling about trying to fit the electronic ignition.
Eric - 1971 Traveller
I am starting to share the views of bmcecosse regarding electronic ignition. I fitted it because I happened to have acquired it, to try it out as I'd never tried it before. Since I fitted it, the car has done some weird things.....suddenly running rough for a few moments.......a big bang as if the timing was way out.......cutting out unexpectedly......then being okay......then almost cutting out but coming back in just in time.
I drove to Warsaw from Devon with standard ignition, and had no problems at all en route.
I drove to Warsaw from Devon with standard ignition, and had no problems at all en route.
To add a bit of balance, since I fitted a Magnetronic module in my Minor several years ago the ignition has been 100% reliable and it's stayed in tune without having to clean and adjust the points every few months. I've now done the same for the Sprite even though it only does about a fifth of the mileage.
Philb, your problem does sound like an intermittent connection (as mogbob says) or the little wire inside the distributor shorting out (as Louise says).
Philb, your problem does sound like an intermittent connection (as mogbob says) or the little wire inside the distributor shorting out (as Louise says).
Phil
I'm " tuning into " Moggies with my friend's 1966 model.
Do they have a standard earth strap....engine to bodywork somewhere ?
I came across an " iffy" earth strap connection, which matches the symptons.i.e whenever the engine was thrown around, coming to a stop, going around the roundabouts (because of poor engine mounts ) the earth cable was stretched.Poor electrical connection therefore engine cut out.At rest the strands of wire made enough contact and got warm in the process.It was difficult to spot with a very oil covered strap.
Just a thought.
Bob
I'm " tuning into " Moggies with my friend's 1966 model.
Do they have a standard earth strap....engine to bodywork somewhere ?
I came across an " iffy" earth strap connection, which matches the symptons.i.e whenever the engine was thrown around, coming to a stop, going around the roundabouts (because of poor engine mounts ) the earth cable was stretched.Poor electrical connection therefore engine cut out.At rest the strands of wire made enough contact and got warm in the process.It was difficult to spot with a very oil covered strap.
Just a thought.
Bob
Swapped it all over. Had it tuned at the garage. Purring & running like a dream.....for a day!!!!!!
Wife took her out today and she is really bad...ignition red light on....stalling...sounds terrible.
Could it be a problem with fuel supply through carb? As car has been stopping on heavy braking could it be a seal problem?
Any thoughts?
Wife took her out today and she is really bad...ignition red light on....stalling...sounds terrible.
Could it be a problem with fuel supply through carb? As car has been stopping on heavy braking could it be a seal problem?
Any thoughts?
Mechanic from garage is friend of wife's and has been working on car with her for a while now. I'm confident he's done it properly. He's an enthusiast and is restoring an old VW camper himself. He is being very thorough with the work he's done.
I can't understand why Patsy canbe great one minute and back to square one the next!?
I can't understand why Patsy canbe great one minute and back to square one the next!?