Hi Guys,
since half a year now I've been chasing an intermittent problem whose occurrence is so seldom that I can't do a reasonable fault search. Happens about once a month - the ignition just cuts out for a split second, then picks up immediately again and runs without problems for another few weeks. Twice it actually cut out 3 or 4 times sequentially giving the kangaroo petrol effect.
I'd fitted a Powerspark Electronic ignition from LD (at the time it was "the best on the market", now Peter doesn't sell them anymore).
- When the cut out occurs I'm pretty sure the entire engine loses the spark immediately - it's not a case of rough running.
- The Rev Counter drops to zero and bounces straight up again.
- It happens when accelerating or when cruising at constant speed - up to now it's not cut out during general driving around country roads.
A few months ago after an incident I took off the distributor cap and there was a lot of black dust in there. I noticed that the black rotor had been rubbing on the spark module. Cleaned everything out and all was ok for a few months.
As a precaution, I bought another Powerspark - and decided to re-read the instructions. There should be a real gap between the rotor and module (1 - 2mm or so) which mine didn't have. The whole set up has no oval holes for adjustment, so I removed it, filed oval holes, and managed to eek out about 0,5mm gap. (Coincidentally, I just read a day or two ago a chap who alos couldn't adjust the Powerspark to get a gap to the rotor). During the refitting I dropped a small spring washer attaching the Powerspark plate to the distributor so tightened up the screw and made a note to fit a washer when I was back home. Car ran beautifully for a week, and I'll swear it was smoother and better pulling away.
I just replaced the washer and the flippin fault is back - it almost left me stranded on a run into town - so many intermittent cut outs I thought I might not make it back.
I've tried to provoke the fail by pulling and shaking all wires, dizzy cap etc., but to no avail.
Anyone else had a similar experience?
Cheers
Drew
since half a year now I've been chasing an intermittent problem whose occurrence is so seldom that I can't do a reasonable fault search. Happens about once a month - the ignition just cuts out for a split second, then picks up immediately again and runs without problems for another few weeks. Twice it actually cut out 3 or 4 times sequentially giving the kangaroo petrol effect.
I'd fitted a Powerspark Electronic ignition from LD (at the time it was "the best on the market", now Peter doesn't sell them anymore).
- When the cut out occurs I'm pretty sure the entire engine loses the spark immediately - it's not a case of rough running.
- The Rev Counter drops to zero and bounces straight up again.
- It happens when accelerating or when cruising at constant speed - up to now it's not cut out during general driving around country roads.
A few months ago after an incident I took off the distributor cap and there was a lot of black dust in there. I noticed that the black rotor had been rubbing on the spark module. Cleaned everything out and all was ok for a few months.
As a precaution, I bought another Powerspark - and decided to re-read the instructions. There should be a real gap between the rotor and module (1 - 2mm or so) which mine didn't have. The whole set up has no oval holes for adjustment, so I removed it, filed oval holes, and managed to eek out about 0,5mm gap. (Coincidentally, I just read a day or two ago a chap who alos couldn't adjust the Powerspark to get a gap to the rotor). During the refitting I dropped a small spring washer attaching the Powerspark plate to the distributor so tightened up the screw and made a note to fit a washer when I was back home. Car ran beautifully for a week, and I'll swear it was smoother and better pulling away.
I just replaced the washer and the flippin fault is back - it almost left me stranded on a run into town - so many intermittent cut outs I thought I might not make it back.
I've tried to provoke the fail by pulling and shaking all wires, dizzy cap etc., but to no avail.
Anyone else had a similar experience?
Cheers
Drew
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