Intermittant starting problem

Usually occurs at the most inconvenient time. No spark to the coil. When coil lead held against block, I get 1 spark when ignition turned on, then no spark whilst engine is spinning and one spark when ignition is turned off!!

The ignition system has TWO amplifiers!! One attached to the distributor and a second next to the coil. Both look original equipment and wired from new!??!?, but the one next to the coil is from a 1994 vehicle. Both were registering a fault and Famous Four changed the one next to the distributor (didn't change the one next to the coil as it is £200 plus to buy from Landrover!!) and the car was starting normally at the time.

Don't know where the capacitor is as I thought it would sit next to the coil. The distributor amplpifier is wired in to the coil amplifier via a 3 pin connector and small blue box. It's all very strange...........has anyone any idea.

When the car is starting it starts fine, but vcery occaisionally when it doesn't, it sinply turns over and over.


Help

Gordon Willy

Hi
If it's a 3.5 V8 then there should either be an amplifier on the distributor (small black box with 2 spade terminals) or an amp fitted underneath the coil. Your motor shouldn't have 2 amplifiers...maybe that the problem???

If it is a 3.5efi v8 then it could be the same as the problem mine had!
it was the power module fitted under the the flow meter on the right hand inner wing on a mounting plate! the plug on the bottom of this works loose and causes an intermitent fault i solved it by cleaning the contacts and putting a cable tie round the unit holding the plug in place!
My rangie had starting probs and irregular idle!
i hope it helps!!!!!!

Hi,

Did you manage to solve the problem? I have something very similar on my 3.9 Classic.

thanks, Jon.

Does your Amp look like this? Is this the same plug connection?
I had problems with my 3.9 and it was suggested that the Amp was at fault as mine ran great when cold but cut out when it was warm. Wasn't the Amp after all, but a combination poor pattern parts and lack of TLC.

carpediem said:

Hi,

Did you manage to solve the problem? I have something very similar on my 3.9 Classic.

thanks, Jon.

Click to expand...

If you have only one spark when ignition comes on and off, most likely you have trouble somewhere before the coil. I'd check all the connections coming to coil - and whether the coil receives power at all ie. you should have somewhere around 13V when ignition on.

My friend had this kind of trouble with his Volvo and the problem turned out to be the pick up plate inside the distributor. Check this and that there is no excessive play in the rotor-arm in any direction.

It could also be the ign. amplifier.

Gordon if your not as tech minded as me i have a thread you may be interested in that helped solve all my problems.
Let me know if you want it asap as i am going on holiday tomorrow.