The car stop and don't restart

[Djul35]

Hi,

I need your help!

This week end, I was driving my Chimaera.
I was driving slowly and when I push the pedal to accelerate, the car stop immediately.
Impossible to restart !!!

After few tests, i have electricity on the lead connect at the distributor cap but not after ( nothing at the sparks plugs).

Sparks plugs, leads, distributor cap, rotor arm are recents (2016 and not driving the car a lot).

Last spring, I changed again the rotor arm because the car won't start...

What do you think about this problem ?

[mcosh]

Start by checking the the two relays in the wiring loom. Make sure they are Bosche. I recommend you always carry a spare anyway.

[Classic Chim]

Replace rotor and cap again
Check your distributor shaft has no free play when you remove rotor arm.

[Steve_D]

mcosh said:

Start by checking the the two relays in the wiring loom. Make sure they are Bosche. I recommend you always carry a spare anyway.

Good advice but unfortunately, in this case, not relevant.
The OP has identified he has no spark after the dizzy and the ignition system is completely separate from the function of those relays.
As has been said rotor arm and cap will be likely culprits.

Steve

[phillpot]

Steve_D said:

As has been said rotor arm and cap will be likely culprits.

Were the old ones faulty, did you keep them as spares?


Is the centre contact in the cap definitely touching the rotor arm?

[trev4]

Probably the rotor arm, I had three go in quick succession, all brought from reputable TVR dealers. I got so fed up with this sort of thing that I am having an Emerald system fitted.

[Chimp871]

exact same thing happened to me 2 weeks ago on the M42!!!

It was the dizzy cap/rotor arm that were also less 2 years old. I'd start there as its cheap to fix, but has been said try your old one first if you kept them.

What happens to the rotor arm/dizzy cap for it to loose spark?

[Brithunter]

Sadly whoever now owns the Lucas brand let's anyone make whatever rubbish they feel like and place inside the green Lucas boxes. Often is total junk brand new out of the box.

[skiver.]

Try www.distributordoctor.com
I use them and have had no problems with their products.

[Djul35]

Thank you for your answers.

I kept the old parts, so I will try them this week end.

I hope, it is 'only' this !

[N7GTX]

Chimp871 said:

exact same thing happened to me 2 weeks ago on the M42!!!

It was the dizzy cap/rotor arm that were also less 2 years old. I'd start there as its cheap to fix, but has been said try your old one first if you kept them.

What happens to the rotor arm/dizzy cap for it to loose spark?

The spark travels down the centre terminal in the cap. It is carbon and it touches the centre of the rotor arm. The spark travels along the rotor arm to the tip. As the tip passes one of the spark plug terminals the spark jumps the gap, through the terminal, along the plug lead to the spark plug.
The usual causes of failing are poor quality materials which cause a short. So the spark gets to the rotor arm then passes straight through and goes down the distributor shaft to earth. Or it jumps from the rotor arm to the wrong terminal and reaches the wrong spark plug at the wrong time.
The centre terminal in the cap can break up if poor quality and the spark will struggle to jump the gap. Hairline cracks in the cap can make a path for the spark to travel away from the terminals. Also any dampness may allow a path for the spark to take a random course.
Best to replace both together with quality made parts and replace every year on high mileage engines or 2 years on TVRs