390 SE Serious engine faults

[maston]

Well my problems with my 390 continue.............
Drove it to the cinema this morning, drove fine.
Fired her up after the film and woeful, probably running on 2 cylinders !!!!
Somehow managed to get it home....just. Was stalling at the lights and everything.
Chronic miss firing.
Had to use the handbrake to brake whilst revving it, not a pleasant journey !!!
Put £10 of fuel in just in case, no change.

Now, the exhaust manifold for cylinders 2 and 4 were cold when I got home so obviously they were not firing, there may have been more ?

So, it clearly isn't the temperature sensor and doubt it is anything to do with leads or plugs as I have cleaned and checked all the plugs and leads

I checked the resistance on the power resistor packs, all have the same reading of approx 6 ohms.

So any other help or ideas would be appreciated, I am seriously considering setting fire to it as I have had enough of it quite frankly.

Many Thanks

Regards

[adam quantrill]

Check that last things you changed/fiddled with is my rule of thumb.

[maston]

I wish I could mate but I chucked the old temp sensor away early this morning.
I was born unlucky.

[adam quantrill]

You can still check the new one though.

Don't forget to also check it at the multiplug end on the ECU in case the wiring loom is playing up.

Have you had the ECU re-soldered before? Sometimes when all else fails it turns out to be the ECU - the circuit boards can get bad joints.

[carob]

Check the dizzy cap and rotor arm are fixed correctly.

Rob

[mrzigazaga]

Ian…What did we say about those cheap nasty HT Leads????????..Get a decent set and try that first..After that did you change the ignition amp??????…Please do not start thinking along any other line until you have addressed this first…Ziga

[V8 Fettler]

Any sparking from HT leads at night, in the dark?

If loss of 2 and 4 is consistent, swap plugs 2 and 4 for 3 and 6 (for example). If the fault doesn't transfer to 3 and 6, then try the same with the leads (might be easier to change all leads if doubtful). As per others, ignition amp should be a service item.

Do you have a laser thermometer for measuring header temperatures? Easier to see if a cylinder is working.

Always throw old components into the corner of the garage, never the bin!

[pwd95]

Nice Chimaera you want.

[maston]

Thanks for the replies, as I said I have checked the leads and plugs and they are fine.
I wish I had not said that they were cheap leads really (I was only comparing them against Magnecor leads to be honest) they were not cheap cheap, about £50 IIRC. I am not a mechanic but I really do not think it has anything to do with the leads.

Anyway what doesn't make sense is that it was driving perfect to the cinema, 8 miles, and then 2 hours later it's kn*ckered ????? What has happened in the 2 hours that it was parked ???????

I have a Multimeter and will try a more logical approach and carry out the testing as per Ramon's website. If all else fails then I will sell the FG thing.

[carob]

The expensive leads have let loads down including myself. I changed back to the original Bosch (cheap £37.00) ones and never had a problem. My problem as wedg1e and I found out at the BBWF last year was the Distributor. That is why I was angling towards the car & arm. Pull the cap & arm off and see if there is any vertical movement in the pole in the centre of the dizzy, not supposed to do that.

ETA...Probably way wrong, just I had very similar symptoms that you are having.

Rob

Edited by carob on Tuesday 29th October 21:48

[maston]

Thanks Rob, will have a look.
Forgot to say that my dizzy does NOT have an amp.
It is a fully electronic Mallory set up which does not have an ignition amp.

If anybody is interested in buying it then just PM me.

Regards

[maston]

pwd95 said:

Nice Chimaera you want.

Hi Wyn, yes I do, if I can find some reasonable insurance ?

[QBee]

maston said:

pwd95 said:

Nice Chimaera you want.

Hi Wyn, yes I do, if I can find some reasonable insurance ?

Classic Line insure mine. Mannings are also good.
My cover for. 5 litre Chim, unlimited mileage, classic policy (ie no separate NCD requirement) with all track days is £420. With 5000 miles a year and no track days would be £250.

[wild rover]

Are you getting the correct connection at the rectifier pack. Are you getting a voltage at the injectors.

[pwd95]

maston said:

pwd95 said:

Nice Chimaera you want.

Hi Wyn, yes I do, if I can find some reasonable insurance ?

Hurry up then. Haven't owned a 390........

[smash]

No strong smell of fuel? Just wondering if your cold start injector has gone nutz.

To fudge the coolant temp sensor stick a 200ohm resistor across the plug terminals to fool ecu into thinking engine is hot.

[maston]

wild rover said:

Are you getting the correct connection at the rectifier pack. Are you getting a voltage at the injectors.

I will have to check the voltage at the injectors, thank you.
The rectifier pack, is that the power resistor ? If so I have checked the power resistor itself and its all good, but I haven't checked the wiring yet.

[maston]

QBee said:

maston said:

pwd95 said:

Nice Chimaera you want.

Hi Wyn, yes I do, if I can find some reasonable insurance ?

Classic Line insure mine. Mannings are also good.
My cover for. 5 litre Chim, unlimited mileage, classic policy (ie no separate NCD requirement) with all track days is £420. With 5000 miles a year and no track days would be £250.

Thank you, I will ring them.

[maston]

smash said:

No strong smell of fuel? Just wondering if your cold start injector has gone nutz.

To fudge the coolant temp sensor stick a 200ohm resistor across the plug terminals to fool ecu into thinking engine is hot.

Slight smell of fuel yes.
Just thought, wonder if my fuel filter is blocked ?????????

[carob]

pwd95 said:

Hurry up then. Haven't owned a 390........

Sorry to Hijack.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C383333

Not far from you either Wyn.

Rob