Running issues, and Lucas Super Coil???

[stagmark]

I wonder if anyone can help please?

I have a TV8, with luminition ignition. There is a Lucas Super (with numbers: B.Y.S. 15P6 45336A 10 87). I have been trying to work out whether I can just replace with a standard coil off EJ Ward/Rimmers etc, or whether I need to use something more specific.

The longer story is that I was very nearly stuck out in the car with the wife. The car started to develop a few problems after a little while when we took the car out for a drive when it was really hot a few days ago. It would act like it was hesitating when trying to accelerate, and would then pick up when putting the accelerator down a bit more.

There was also a point where it wouldn't start - this seemed to turn out to be an air pipe that feeds the carbs being pushed down by the bonnet when it was closed (I noticed the engine cut out when I closed the bonnet once which was weird - and found the elbow touching). Turning the elbow slightly seemed to sort that issue out. The car however has got worse with the hesitating and pulling away from standstill was not fun. Overall the journey back was pretty stressful.

After a quick call for ideas/trying to diagnose, it seems like electrical was thought likely - and the coil seems a good place to start, hence my question...

Thanks in advance for any pointers. Any other thoughts would also be appreciated - the engine has just been rebuilt and was running perfectly before this.
Mark

[Lingen]

Mark. Lumenition advise that their system should be fitted to the manufacturer's existing ignition system, so a standard Ballast coil from a Stag parts supplier would be ok if you need a new one. I think it is very unlikely that the hose has anything to do with the problem unless it is being pushed up against the coil wiring somehow when you close the bonnet. From your description of the fault I would suspect the lumenition system is failing. I had exactly those symptoms when mine broke down. I know that some specialists have equipment to test it, or you could return it to Lumenition for them to check it.
Mike.

[stagmark]

Thanks Mike - appreciate the quick response.

It appeared to have two separate issues - one was stopping it from starting (something to do with the bonnet pushing down or something - this manifested itself in the middle of the drive out resulting in the car refusing to start after lunch), and then something making the engine run not right (missing/lacking power/hesitation etc).

I will give a standard coil a go and see if that makes any difference and then will have to work up to the ignition itself...

I am hoping for an easy fix, but wonder if I am now in for try something and see if it works, and then try something else!! Let's see...

Thanks
Mark

[flying farmer]

The other option is a sticky float chamber needle valve causing flooding of one of the carbs, usually most noticeable when stuck in traffic. This is because fuel is leaking past the valve faster than the engine is burning it.
The extra rich mixture often will not let the engine start when hot.
This happened to one guy on our club run last weekend, the giveaway being the clouds of black smoke from his exhaust when trying to rev it.
Pulling the knob on the inertia switch to cut the fuel pump, then running the car at a fast idle resulted in the engine dropping on to 4 cylinders after about 30 seconds as the good carb ran out of fuel. It took another couple of minutes running on 4 cylinders before the flooded one ran out, but the rush of fuel into the empty float chamber when the pump was turned back on dislodged the stuck valve and all was good again. These were apparently newish valves in recently rebuilt carbs.
Neil

[stag8manod]

Hi Mark, My car had a similar fault recently and we struggled home, replaced the coil, no difference. Replaced the Lumenition module all good again.
Cheers Ian A