Sherlock Holmes needed...help appreciated!
Discussion
Hi All,
Weird problem here, with lots of strange coincidental occurrences.
First up, I had my car washed in my local "hand car wash" type place. Normally I would do it myself but stupidly busy with lots of things, the car needed cleaning so I gave in. Before I could say anything, they pulled out a pressure washer (I know, I know...). Drove the car out and it immediately cut out at idle. Managed to nurse home, with it wanting to die at low revs. Figured that water has got in somewhere causing an electrical problem.
Anyway, next day it was fine as it seemed to dry out.
Two months later, problem occurs again, out of nowhere. This time there was no way I could keep her going and rolled into a car park. Problem then becomes much more regular but still inconsistent as if the car is left for a bit it starts again! Until it decides to die again, at any point in the journey. So I have an intermittent problem which at a guess may be to do with fuel. Tried swapping the two relays round with each other in the passenger footwell on the advice of Dave Batty, as apparently these can stick. Haven't tried brand new ones though.
Anyone else had anything like this? Maybe its fuel pump related because of late it has been making a quiet whining noise.
Help much appreciated, because if its something simple then maybe I could get myself out of trouble simply and easily.
By the way, when it is running, its absolutely fine! No other symptoms.
thanks loads!
Russ
Weird problem here, with lots of strange coincidental occurrences.
First up, I had my car washed in my local "hand car wash" type place. Normally I would do it myself but stupidly busy with lots of things, the car needed cleaning so I gave in. Before I could say anything, they pulled out a pressure washer (I know, I know...). Drove the car out and it immediately cut out at idle. Managed to nurse home, with it wanting to die at low revs. Figured that water has got in somewhere causing an electrical problem.
Anyway, next day it was fine as it seemed to dry out.
Two months later, problem occurs again, out of nowhere. This time there was no way I could keep her going and rolled into a car park. Problem then becomes much more regular but still inconsistent as if the car is left for a bit it starts again! Until it decides to die again, at any point in the journey. So I have an intermittent problem which at a guess may be to do with fuel. Tried swapping the two relays round with each other in the passenger footwell on the advice of Dave Batty, as apparently these can stick. Haven't tried brand new ones though.
Anyone else had anything like this? Maybe its fuel pump related because of late it has been making a quiet whining noise.
Help much appreciated, because if its something simple then maybe I could get myself out of trouble simply and easily.
By the way, when it is running, its absolutely fine! No other symptoms.
thanks loads!
Russ
Sounds similar to a problem I had - accelerating in 4th up to 5th (50/60mphish) and she stopped dead, practically stood on her nose (b****y good job it was am & silly o'clock with no-one else about)then fired up again and was able to limp off the bypass with what felt like a tank full of kangaroos.
Dealer diagnosed a "throttle pot switch" problem - whatever one of those is - replaced it and she's fine. I'm not mechanically minded so I wouldn't know how you could tell if it was the same problem.
Good luck with it.
Dealer diagnosed a "throttle pot switch" problem - whatever one of those is - replaced it and she's fine. I'm not mechanically minded so I wouldn't know how you could tell if it was the same problem.
Good luck with it.
Russ,
My punt is it's the spark amplifier, you can change this yourself. I've just had a flash back to my old chim doing the same thing as you describe and this was the fix. It's worth paying for a decent one, a genuine Lucas item. You can get an intermotor pattern part if you have to, but the heat under the bonnet will kill it quite quickly.
Steve.
My punt is it's the spark amplifier, you can change this yourself. I've just had a flash back to my old chim doing the same thing as you describe and this was the fix. It's worth paying for a decent one, a genuine Lucas item. You can get an intermotor pattern part if you have to, but the heat under the bonnet will kill it quite quickly.
Steve.
Thanks everyone, thats a big help!
It would explain why swapping the relays made not much difference. Similarly, the fuel pump was priming up again when I tried to restart, so must be worth a punt for the spark amp.
Yeah, the fuel pump whining is completely weird, sometimes audible, other times not.
Will let you know how I get on. Does anyone have a part ref number or anything like that?
Thanks again, such a good thing to have advice available when things go sideway!
Cheers,
Russ
It would explain why swapping the relays made not much difference. Similarly, the fuel pump was priming up again when I tried to restart, so must be worth a punt for the spark amp.
Yeah, the fuel pump whining is completely weird, sometimes audible, other times not.
Will let you know how I get on. Does anyone have a part ref number or anything like that?
Thanks again, such a good thing to have advice available when things go sideway!
Cheers,
Russ
There are different types iirc. You'll need to take yours off the car to work out which type it is. My old one had one 3 pin and one 2 pin connection to it.
Steve.
ETA: I've found replacements for standard ones at Rimmer Brothers, they're cheap, so think they may be a pattern part. I've also found an all singing all dancing replacement for the standard item from RPI, the A&R item they mention on their website (http://www.v8engines.com/electrics-1.htm), the price is pretty eye watering though! You could also try local suppliers of spares like Austec and Racing Green.
Steve.
ETA: I've found replacements for standard ones at Rimmer Brothers, they're cheap, so think they may be a pattern part. I've also found an all singing all dancing replacement for the standard item from RPI, the A&R item they mention on their website (http://www.v8engines.com/electrics-1.htm), the price is pretty eye watering though! You could also try local suppliers of spares like Austec and Racing Green.
Edited by Steve_T on Tuesday 18th March 23:02
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