Cut out - now won't start

[V8Mad]

Hello folks,
Wondering who might have experienced this before.
Was driving back the other evening through town when the engine cut out. No long stutter, almost instant. Tried to restart roadside, but no joy.

When back in the garage, I started investigating (with my limited knowledge anyway). Took a spark plug out and held it to engine body, then cranked - no spark.

So, the car has new plugs, new HT leads, new distributor cap, new rotor arm and was working fine before, although a little hesitant at times around the 3400-3600 mark when booting it

Checked the coil with a spare - no joy. Then checked for voltage at the coil - nothing. Just changed the ignition module this evening as I thought it could be that, but the problem remains.

Any ideas? :/

[Etretat]

The BIG fuse maybe?

[V8Mad]

Etretat said:

The BIG fuse maybe?

Is this the 100 Amp fuse that's often mentioned?

[spikep]

Mine just stopped dead. It was found to be the rotor arm. Apparently none original JLR one are prone to failing.

[V8Mad]

But nothing is arriving at the coil when cranking with a multimeter...

Edited by V8Mad on Tuesday 29th September 21:25

[QBee]

If the 100 amp fuse had gone (driver's side chassis rail), it would have gone slower and slower until it died due to running for miles on just the battery.

If the 80 amp fuse had gone ( in the knitting near the battery) it would simply not work.

[V8Mad]

QBee said:

If the 100 amp fuse had gone (driver's side chassis rail), it would have gone slower and slower until it died due to running for miles on just the battery.

If the 80 amp fuse had gone ( in the knitting near the battery) it would simply not work.

Thanks for that QBee, will have a look tomorrow eve. It's an early 93. Pretty sure I read somewhere that the placing of fuses was fairly random over the years. What is the 80 amp fuse responsible for?

[QBee]

Most things. On my car it's up and right from the fuse board, in the knitting. In a black fuse holder, 80 amp blade fuse. Unbolt it to make sure if it is in one piece or two.

[QBee]

Clearly it turns over on the key, so the battery is ok. So not 100 amp fuse.
Can you hear the fuel pump prime when you turn the ignition on?

[V8Mad]

QBee said:

Clearly it turns over on the key, so the battery is ok. So not 100 amp fuse.
Can you hear the fuel pump prime when you turn the ignition on?

Yes, fuel pump primes as usual with that little gurgle you hear.

[67Fox]

Also I believe the 100 amp fuse was not fitted on the early ones. (I can be corrected of course )
Mine dosen't have one. (93' 430)

[V8Mad]

It's certainly an ignition related problem. There's pressure in the fuel rail...checked by slackening a jubilee clip.
It makes me think it could be pre- ignition amp/module problem.
Will try and investigate more this evening. Also flicked the battery cut off switch fitted on mine in the passenger footwell for ecu reset. Still no joy.

Will check that 80 amp fuse this evening QBee.

Edited by V8Mad on Wednesday 30th September 07:40

[QBee]

I was asking about the fuel pump in case you had triggered the inertia switch on a pot hole......clearly not, as the fuel would be cut off.
It took sideways entry to a gravel trap to trigger mine.....

[Bluebottle]

Mine did similar thing, just cut dead in traffic.
Turned out to be the 80 amp fuse holder was falling apart and just had to tighten up the case screws (when I eventually found the cause of the cutting out).
It also supplies the dashboard so if its this you'll have no gauges either. Mine dangles loose behind the battery box.

[BeastMaster]

Hiya, if the distributer cap has been off and replaced, check the spade connection which is hidden between the distributer and the head, this could have been disturbed during the cap replacement and jumped off during a drive - it is the feed to the coil

[V8Mad]

Bluebottle said:

Mine did similar thing, just cut dead in traffic.
Turned out to be the 80 amp fuse holder was falling apart and just had to tighten up the case screws (when I eventually found the cause of the cutting out).
It also supplies the dashboard so if its this you'll have no gauges either. Mine dangles loose behind the battery box.

Seems the only 80Amp fuse I have is fitted in the main fuse holder under the battery. It, along with all the others in there is intact. Only got 2x 20Amp fuses in the ECU wiring loom and they're fine too...

The dash lights were working fine when it cut out.
Now got a flat battery due to excessive cranking, so it's on charge. Hmm... any other thoughts?

[V8Mad]

BeastMaster said:

Hiya, if the distributer cap has been off and replaced, check the spade connection which is hidden between the distributer and the head, this could have been disturbed during the cap replacement and jumped off during a drive - it is the feed to the coil

Hello - Is this the terminal you mean?

[V8Mad]

Not sure if that connects to something? Can anyone confirm please?

[davep]

V8Mad said:

Not sure if that connects to something? Can anyone confirm please?

That's for an additional earth to the dissy/ignition amp.

[V8Mad]

Back to square one then I guess. Will have to check hall sensors in distributor tomorrow. If that turns out ok, I've really no idea.