Not a great start

[johnnym]

Hi guys

I need some help, I picked up my stag today...at last.... At what should have been a fun day took a turn south fairly quickly.

Drove about 8 miles on back roads and as I began joining the motorway for the last bit home....disaster struck....total loss of power and engine cut out. I coasted to a stop and checked fuel, electrics etc....all worked but engine would not fire, let it cool down just in case but same result.....and then the torrential downpour started (good old Irish summers) and I had to get the car collected....not a great start and not the story I wanted to tell the misuses on the very 1st day of ownership.....I can still hear the words "I told you so" 😄😄

Anyway I was hoping some of you guys may have an idea so I can order parts and get her back on the road

Cheers

J

[wilf]

What bad luck.

Check for the worst thing first - see if the distributor rotor arm is turning when you turn the engine over on the starter (only do this if it is not making nasty bangs and knocks, because if it is you already have a failed cam timing chain or jackshaft drive).

If that is OK then the usual things - fuel, spark and compression - if they are all there it should start!

I am hoping it will be something simple, a failed electrical connection somewhere (like in the inertia switch).

[flying farmer]

Did it cut out suddenly or fade away?

If it faded out it points to fuel starvation, a sudden cut is most likely an ignition problem.

Check for a spark while cranking the engine, either use a spare plug or remove one if you don't have a spare.

If no spark is present, try fitting the plug direct to the main coil lead as this will rule out a knackered rotor arm.

If the car still has the original points check the settings, more likely it will have some form of electronic ignition.

While the distributor cap is off, crank the engine and make sure the rotor arm turns, if it doesn't you have big problems!

If it is a Lumenition system the problem normally lies with the 3 pin plug where the wires come out of the distributor, the female sockets some times get a bit loose but can be closed up again fairly easily, and check the earth to the lumenition unit, sometimes the alloy case corrodes under the earth connector, another easy fix.

Make sure you are getting power to the coil in case you have a dodgy plug in the wiring loom.

The coil itself could be at fault, but they normally cause problems when hot and start working again when cold.

That should keep you entertained for an hour or two!

Neil

[tjk]

Hi

Have sent you a pm
Tim

[johnnym]

Hi Guys

It was a sudden cut out....had 2,000 rpm and accelerating and then nothing....except a red face, dented pride and soaked shoes :-)

thanks for all the advice, will try those when I get the car back on Monday (thanks Tim, I pm you back)

J

[Jim and tom]

Mine did that two weeks ago found the wire spade connector had come off the coil.
good luck
Jim

[edd]

The exact same thing happened to me. Me and my wife firstly popped into a pub on route back from Norfolk lucky for me my dad was following us for the first part of the journey.
Dads AA membership saved the day and it's was the altinator at fault. Some people fully charge a batery and once you set off it doesn't take long to drain with lights on together with most probably a poor battery.
It's a good omen I think as since then I have had no problems as I basically replaced everything

[johnnym]

Seems like the coil....fingers crossed��