Starting issues

rockdemon

rockdemon

Administrator
Staff member
Hi All,

I've recently got sleipnir running with new heads, however i'm having issues getting the car to start/ run.

Basically I'm finding that if i go out to start it from cold, I cant get it to start without loosening the dizzy and advancing the timing slightly. I then need to retard it slightly to have it run correctly. Obviously it's had new range rover 3.9 heads, new timing chain (although it started ok on this until i put the new heads on). So is this likely to be an ignition fault? Clean plugs, dizzy cap, rotor arm, or is there likely to be something more untoward amiss?

It's running an electronic dizzy with built in electronic ignition from simonbbc.

Really want to drive it now. It has it's MOT but i dont seem to be able to get it into a state where i can rely on it.

THanks in advance,

Rich
 
With it running disconnect the vac advance and set it to TDC at tickover with a timing light. Then do a static check of the timing (or if thats not possible turn the engine slowly with the plugs out and see where the marks are when the plug sparks).
I doubt the timing can move enough to make a difference to starting,sounds more like a connection/ignition fault.
 
If you have a spare points dizzy and you can swap it easily, then do the swap to confirm that it is a matter of dizzy / ignition timing.

As far as i know, the engines actualy start easier with the ignition timing retarded, not advanced, but if it is out, i am not surprised that it doesn't want to start altogether.

It seems to me that a lot of people had troubles with this kind of replacement distributor. Perhaps just a points replacement module in the original distributor ought to offer better reliability.
 
What coil are you running?
Electronic dizzy needs a different coil, without the ballast resistor.

Ask me how I know...............

Jim.
 
It's got a proper 12v coil. came as a kit...

The dizzy/coil combo has worked great up till now ( a couple of years), so unless I've damaged something....
 
rockdemon wrote,...
or could it be an issue where twisting the dizzy actually brings it to life? earthing?
Click to expand...

Hi Rich,

Check the continuity between the distributor and and the engine. By the sound of it, as it was starting and running well and now isn't, I would be looking at the distributor. Have you another that you can trial fit so as to rule out the current one?

Ron.
 
not one that i know is good...I'll try a jump lead between the dizzy body and the engine i guess...
 
Slightly dodgy connection on the spade from the ignition module on the dizzy... Easy win I think.... See if it starts tomorrow morning... :)
 
rockdemon said:
Slightly dodgy connection on the spade from the ignition module on the dizzy... Easy win I think.... See if it starts tomorrow morning... :)
Click to expand...

Are these the teeny-weeny Lucar imposters on the module, that you can't get sausage-fingers to?

Was yet another reason why I ditched the dizzy, and went back to Lucas/Pertronix.


Good luck in the morning, Rich....hope your problem's sorted.
 
It's the wire that's faulty that runs back to the coil. My 'handiwork' rather then anything to do with the dizzy.
 
Ran great yesterday and starts on the button every time. Need to get the carbs tuned better but we're not a million miles away from how it should be. New heads seem good....
 
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