Breakdown Again!

[Le TVR]

Goddammit this is the second time in nearly 410,000km (was Clarkson right about TVR?)
All the test so far indicate that the ignition amplifier unit has failed
Which is exactly what happened last time??

At least she decided to do it 50 metres from home this time.
Its good to have a LandRover and a TVR (and a tow rope)

Seems there is a company in Atlanta GA still making these, around $100 shipped should be here next week...

[greymrj]

Hard luck! Think you may have given the mileage incorrectly? If not then you are doing a hell of a lot of miles (kilometres).
Take it yours is an S1? The ignition amplifier unfortunately doesnt like getting hot, which could be more of a problem for you than the rest of us! (not that you are going to get any sympathy!). I take it you have it mounted above the footwell on the left of the car (from the driving position)? Some of these were made with cooling fins because of this problem. If it doesnt have them I would suggest raising the mountings so air can get underneath and seeing if you can add cooling fins fixed to the mounting bolts.
On my S, when we found out the amplifier was breaking down, the car would run when cold or when the bonnet was up...but would only do about 1 km before coming to a stop when the bonnet was down! Heat build up was causing the failure.

[Le TVR]

Odometer is on its third turn now so the mileage is that (Kitchski did the chassis work at 235,000 miles.)
Probably is temperature related we just had a month of 35°+ So I guess the capacitor part of the CDI unit has dried up and no longer wants to play? It was fitted 20 years ago now shouldnt complain then.

Thinking back, there were days when it was nearer 40° and I thought it was misfiring so I'll try your idea of mounting it on spacers to get better airflow.

Edited by Le TVR on Thursday 29th September 18:21

[glenrobbo]

It just goes to prove how unreliable these TVR's can be when pushed to extreme mileages in very high ambient temperatures.

[QBee]

Just plain bloody unreliable I would say.

Mine has let me down......errr......twice in 4 years.
Once I would have been able to fix and carry on if I had had the car more than 4 weeks and realised what was happening, and the other time it still got me home over 50 miles with a failing alternator (Land Rover reliability was the issue here).

Whereas my German and Swedish cars are rarely on the road for long before something else breaks expensively.

[greymrj]

So you are only getting a little over 200,000 km per ignition module!!!! Needing a new one after a mere 20 years!!! You must be . Sounds like a warranty claim to me

[Le TVR]

glenrobbo said:

It just goes to prove how unreliable these TVR's can be when pushed to extreme mileages in very high ambient temperatures.

That mileage includes driving down to Andalucia in August, nearly 50°C! around Seville. I was not optimist but she coped, Don't think the fan ever stopped though.

[Le TVR]

THis is doing my head in still no sparks.

Spent the weekend disentangling all the alarm/immobiliser circuits (All wires are coded black) and the only thing they cut is the starter motor.
IGN fuse is OK
12v from tacho to engine bay.
Coil has 12v supply
Ign module has 12v supply (and 12 starter supply) unit is new.
Distributor earth is good
Distributor and rotor arm look as new
Distributor reluctor coil measures 560 ohms (No idea if this is correct though)
Ballast resistor 1.3 Ohms

But no visible sparks

Coil is brand new if I disconnect the coil cold wire it causes a trigger pulse that makes the fuel pump run for a couple of seconds.

What have I missed?

[Top Gear TVR]

I carry a spare in my tool kit. Can't be too sure. A faff to fit though, on the back of the 2.9 dizzy

[Le TVR]

Found it

Took everything apart again to double check and lo and behold the spring on the rev limiter on the rotor arm had come off.
Now burbling away like a goodun

[glenrobbo]

Nice one, glad you found the problem.

Just be aware that you may suffer another breakdown after another 200,000 kms.

It's just the downside of TVR ownership

[Le TVR]

Just for future reference the S1 2,8 ignition amplifier module is D9VZ-12A199-A (Motorcraft P/N DY-184-C)

And curently are being remanufactured by www.rareelectrical.com in the USA for around $60+shipping

I at least have a spare one now!

[Loach1]

Le TVR said:

Just for future reference the S1 2,8 ignition amplifier module is D9VZ-12A199-A (Motorcraft P/N DY-184-C)

And curently are being remanufactured by www.rareelectrical.com in the USA for around $60+shipping

I at least have a spare one now!

Another source in the USA is rockauto.com Search for LX203, only $35! I bought one a few years ago and it worked like a charm.