norseman · Dec 14, 2023

This one is driving both myself & my local garage nuts!
1987 Vouge 3.5EFI auto 63,000m.

Background >
Following a period of intermittent rough running back in the summer I replaced the following components:
Ignition coil, remote ign. amplifier (from Powerspark) plug leads & spark plugs, coolant temp. sensor (signal to ECU). Dizzy cap & rotor arm are of a far better quality (UK made Lucas) than the aftermarket replacements I originally purchased, so were cleaned/inspected & retained.
The car ran well for a short time, but then developed even worse symptoms & when I discovered that the V8 was only firing on just one bank I replaced the ECU with a unit I'd had re-conned a few years ago.
The car then ran better than it has ever done over the 15 years of my ownership, until 3 weeks ago when disaster struck.

Started the car from stone cold & after running at fast idle for a couple of minutes the engine just cut out. Turned off the key & attempted a restart, dashboard warning lights all light up & engine spins over freely (good battery) but will not even attempt to fire.
Garage investigated & found power to the input of the coil (primary circuit?) but nothing at the distributor. Coil substituted for a new one, same result. Spoke to Powerspark who were very helpful & suggested checking the air gap in the dizzy, passed that info. onto the garage this morning, but have yet to hear back from them.
Garage suggests trying another dizzy, makes sense but I don't have a spare & am understandably reluctant to spend £160 on an 'aftermarket' unit (OE is a fortune) just for an experiment.

nb. garage is a trusted family business that I have used for years, both for servicing/repairs & MOT's.

Any thoughts much appreciated guys.

kermit_rr · Dec 14, 2023

Ok first question, is the coil producing a spark?

norseman · Dec 15, 2023

kermit_rr said:
Ok first question, is the coil producing a spark?

Apparently not, neither the new Valeo I fitted back in the summer or a brand new replacement.
Thank you for your interest.

kermit_rr · Dec 15, 2023

Ok. So you've got power to the coil, no spark from the coil to the dizzy
A spark is produced when the magnetic field in the coil collapses, ie voltage is removed, usually by points opening

Mark Piercy · Dec 15, 2023

À dirty trick, as explained to me is to remove the coil lead from the dizzy cap. Then remove the dizzy cap and hold the exposed coil lead end near enough to the rotary arm. If it sparks the rotor is dead and earthing. It shouldn't spark.

If no spark at the rotor, clip the coil lead onto a sparkplug and earth it to the motor.
You can then determine if the coil is working as well.

norseman · Dec 16, 2023

kermit_rr said:
Ok. So you've got power to the coil, no spark from the coil to the dizzy
A spark is produced when the magnetic field in the coil collapses, ie voltage is removed, usually by points opening

EFI

norseman · Dec 16, 2023

Mark Piercy said:
À dirty trick, as explained to me is to remove the coil lead from the dizzy cap. Then remove the dizzy cap and hold the exposed coil lead end near enough to the rotary arm. If it sparks the rotor is dead and earthing. It shouldn't spark.
If no spark at the rotor, clip the coil lead onto a sparkplug and earth it to the motor.
You can then determine if the coil is working as well.

Thanks for that, I'll suggest it to the garage next week.
Their guy who does 'proper' motors only works part time, fortunately the Classic is a second car so I don't need to put pressure on him .. then of course the place will be shut down over the holiday period.

Mark Piercy · Dec 16, 2023

norseman said:
Thanks for that, I'll suggest it to the garage next week.
Their guy who does 'proper' motors only works part time, fortunately the Classic is a second car so I don't need to put pressure on him .. then of course the place will be shut down over the holiday period.

From bieng an owner of my own garage.. The minute you say "I'm not in a rush for it" it won't become a priority for them and there is a risk if they have other work it'll be treated differently!!!

Never say that to a garage

ER1C · Dec 16, 2023

Mark Piercy said:
From bieng an owner of my own garage.. The minute you say "I'm not in a rush for it" it won't become a priority for them and there is a risk if they have other work it'll be treated differently!!! Never say that to a garage

Interesting, thats my issue, then 3 weeks later I am like.... "about the car like"..

norseman · Dec 17, 2023

Mark Piercy said:
From bieng an owner of my own garage.. The minute you say "I'm not in a rush for it" it won't become a priority for them and there is a risk if they have other work it'll be treated differently!!! Never say that to a garage

I take your point, but then on the other hand the car is taking up floor space at a small but very busy garage, only the owner of the business is familiar with older motors & he's there 3 days a week.

norseman · Dec 20, 2023

Update :

RR now back on the road & running well, as of this afternoon

Fault turned out to be a faulty ignition amp. module. Simple fix I know, but we didn't immediately go for that option as the culprit was new earlier this year.

Many thanks again for all the advice guys.

May I wish you all a great Christmas along with a healthy & stress-free 2024 .. if that's possible with LR (especially JLR) ownership.

Mark Piercy · Dec 20, 2023

norseman said:
Update :

RR now back on the road & running well, as of this afternoon
Fault turned out to be a faulty ignition amp. module. Simple fix I know, but we didn't immediately go for that option as the item was new earlier this year.

Many thanks again for all the advice guys.

May I wish you all a great Christmas along with a healthy & stress-free 2024 .. if that's possible with LR (especially JLR) ownership.

Happy jizzbo to you and yours and may the new year bring plenty more repairs

Mark Piercy · Dec 20, 2023

I know mine will

Rubberknees · Dec 21, 2023

Mark Piercy said:
I know mine will

Don't they all

norseman · Dec 21, 2023

And those that look like they are more at home on a catwalk than a field seem to be the worst at wallet draining, despite their outrageous price tags.
But then I suppose everything is subjective

Mark Piercy · Dec 21, 2023

Mine looks like it's been dragged through a muddy field backwards but mechanically does its job

I'd go anywhere in it

marjon · Dec 21, 2023

Mark Piercy said:
Mine looks like it's been dragged through a muddy field backwards but mechanically does its job
I'd go anywhere in it

Was that the field before the pond

.

J

Sorry

Rubberknees · Dec 21, 2023

marjon said:
Was that the field before the pond .

J

Sorry

Its never going to go away this one is it Mark

marjon · Dec 21, 2023

Rubberknees said:
Its never going to go away this one is it Mark

No it will rear its head many more times I expect in the future

But the thing is its fixed now and not scrapped like many might do. Because somebody has the understanding and know how to say "oh well wont do that again" And get it fixed with no issue.
And Marks a good egg, so he understands a bit of banter, I hope

. I know he does.

J

Mark Piercy · Dec 21, 2023

marjon said:
Was that the field before the pond .

J

Sorry

Now ay lad

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