Turn on AC... spark is screwy from then on
- Thread starter sreams
- Start date
sreams
Well-Known Member
I changed the high tension wire with one from my Volvo which measure at about 5800 ohms. Still no better.
The plugs are all the same... blackish with a bit of wet fuel on all of them. I would expect this given the uneven spark and the resulting unburned fuel.
The plugs are all the same... blackish with a bit of wet fuel on all of them. I would expect this given the uneven spark and the resulting unburned fuel.
Throw
those platinum plugs away.;-)
Ok, let's try the carbs. Clean your plugs, disconnect the fuel line to the pump. Run it. Gets better before it dies? Or you can check the procedure in the carb section next to the fuel pump. Which basically is pinching off one fuel feed to each carb in turn. The object of the excercise is to determine if the float valves are holding presssure.
Let's assume no flooding by taking off the air cleaner and looking.
When a car/ engine sits extensively, there tends to be a bunck of junk released everywhere when it gets back up to temp. Get it to run and go run the hell out of it.( As recommended by the Owner's manual.)
those platinum plugs away.;-)
Ok, let's try the carbs. Clean your plugs, disconnect the fuel line to the pump. Run it. Gets better before it dies? Or you can check the procedure in the carb section next to the fuel pump. Which basically is pinching off one fuel feed to each carb in turn. The object of the excercise is to determine if the float valves are holding presssure.
Let's assume no flooding by taking off the air cleaner and looking.
When a car/ engine sits extensively, there tends to be a bunck of junk released everywhere when it gets back up to temp. Get it to run and go run the hell out of it.( As recommended by the Owner's manual.)
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Voltage please at all 3 terminals of the coil with key on and not running.
sreams
Well-Known Member
After working on this tonight, I am absolutely positive it is an ignition problem. Tonight, the idle was fairly even. I gave it a little gas and tried to hold the engine at about 1500rpms. I had the lights on... and noticed that the headlights and dash lights were pulsing. Dropped back to idle... and the missing stopped and so did the pulsing of the lights. So far, it seems to be 100% consistent. If the lights are pulsing, the car won't run well. When they go steady, it runs fine.
I had previously tried to run the car with the alternator completely disconnected... and the problem remained. I'll try that again now and see if the lights pulse running without the charging system.
sreams
Well-Known Member
No pulsing without the alternator. My current theory is that the alternator has been the problem all along, but when I previously disconnected it, the engine still ran poorly because the plugs were gummed up. That may have led me to incorrectly rule it out as the source of the problem.
I drove the car around a bit tonight with no alternator, and things seem to be improving. I'm picking up a new alternator tomorrow and hoping for the best.
-Scott
I drove the car around a bit tonight with no alternator, and things seem to be improving. I'm picking up a new alternator tomorrow and hoping for the best.
-Scott
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sreams
Well-Known Member
Fixed!
It was the alternator after all. No more pulsing lights... and the car runs perfectly. Thanks for all the input!
-Scott
It was the alternator after all. No more pulsing lights... and the car runs perfectly. Thanks for all the input!
-Scott
TADA!
Two questions:
- Does it work with the AC on also?
- Can I claim 85% credit on my answers? (Given it was AC load triggered involving lower voltage and wet plugs)
The main takeway of E9 ownership is captured in the Children's Book "If you give a mouse a cookie"...
As soon as you improve something you realize it now wants something else.