PowerSpark reliability?

[mole42]

I've an annoying misfire, I fitted new plugs, cleaned the distributor cap and rotor arm but the Sparkrite flashy thing seems to show a slight hesitation in the spark on any cylinder that I check. I'm wondering if the Powerspark module has finally given up at last, it's been fine for the last 30,000 miles :-(. Maybe I'll refit the Lumenition.

Any comments?

[Tdafforn]

I'd check your coil and all connections and all grounds. These lecky ignitions tend to die completely rather than misfire.
tim

[DJT]

Have you tried another coil?

[JeffW]

Leads?

I have had numerous issues with the standard green ones. I have now twice fitted Magnecors (two different cars) as I was tired of one lead always failing, giving an annoying misfire.

Jeff

[Lingen]

Mole. There is another chapter running on this subject. At 30,000 miles maybe it is getting a bit tired, but a new one is only around £40. At that price I always carry a spare, which I wouldn't with something costing around £200.
Mike

[mole42]

No, I haven't ried a replacement coil yet, the one fitted is a fairly new Viper and I wouldn't have suspected that. I have a spare PowerSpark which I bought when I got the one that's fitted, it's still in the POS packaging somewhere, I'll just have to find it! I have some spare HT leads in a box, but it seems that I was seeing a missed spark on any cylinder that I fitted the Sparkrite device to so unless it's the king lead....

[Tdafforn]

No, I haven't ried a replacement coil yet, the one fitted is a fairly new Viper and I wouldn't have suspected that. I have a spare PowerSpark which I bought when I got the one that's fitted, it's still in the POS packaging somewhere, I'll just have to find it! I have some spare HT leads in a box, but it seems that I was seeing a missed spark on any cylinder that I fitted the Sparkrite device to so unless it's the king lead....

There is a big discussion about modern coils on a number of old car sites.. seems that even new ones can be very problematic

[jbuckl]

Which viper coil have you got fitted?

[mole42]

Which viper coil have you got fitted?

I wish I could remember but it's the one that's done 1½ Round Britain Runs and lots of in-between miles...all I remember is it's black, I bought it at Stoneleigh and it's probably the correct 1.5Ω coil for ballasted ignitions. An idea springs into my head is that maybe it's a 3Ω 12V coil and doesn't like running on the ballast wire - maybe I'll hot-wire a 12V feed and see if that makes a difference. The engine starts perfectly well.

[KOY 23]

I have a spare PowerSpark which I bought when I got the one that's fitted, it's still in the POS packaging somewhere,

POS? Sounds a very apt description

[Paul Kelley]

Worth checking fit and cleanliness of the spark plug caps for carbon tracking, but sounds unlikely to be all eight. Discounting the fuel side, and the pattern of electronic ignition being either on or off, the coil has to be the number one suspect. Next I guess would be the distributor cap/main Ht lead.

[wilf]

DIstribuitor cap centre contact might be a good place to look. Or rotor arm.

[mole42]

I would be looking at the fuel side except that both the Sparkrite device and my timing light suggest that there's some sparks missing. I'll be checking with a replacement coil as soon as one arrives, I've already checked the rotor arm - it's a DD one so known to be good - and the centre contact (that's been a problem before). Bearing in mind that the whole of the ignition system has been utterly reliable for the past 30 or 40,000 miles - it's my everyday car and always fires up and goes where I point it. The only change is that it's been off the road for 18 months having a complete strip-down and body rebuild. All the electrical connectors have been cleaned and assembled with marine waterproofing paste. As I said, the engine fires up immediately but it idles like a pig with indegestion and doesn't really behave in traffic.

Thank you for all the suggestions though, please keep them coming!

[jbuckl]

I did have a new powerspark failure…. Moments after an initial fire up…..heard it ‘pop’…

It was annoying… but powerspark replaced it no quibble.

afaiaa the powerspark units are usually a good alternative to points.

the Aldon ignitor may be a higher quality version…. Cannot be certain though …. But the price difference is maybe not worthwhile….

[Wheelz]

Generic 'Powerspark' types tend to have a higher infant mortality phase after which, if they are still going they are as reliable as anything else. But nothing lasts forever, especially 40 quid's worth!