Lucas coils....

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps...Just wondering...My Wedge has developed an intermittent mis-fire again and i have checked the usual suspects and they are okay..Im going to change the ignition amp as the heat proof paste looks a bit dry.

When i bought the car it had a Bosch ignition coil and as protocol i change parts like ..Plugs..Leads..Coil..Rotor arm..Dizzy cap every year...I have noticed that there is a build up of carbon tracking across the points inside the dizzy cap which needs regular cleaning, At least a couple of time a month...The old dizzy cap has no signs of this but the carbon rod is missing..I could remove the spring and rod from the new cap and try the old..And if i can find the old coil then i will try that.

The rotor arm and cap sits firmly in place and the gap from the tip of the rotor arm is around 1mm away from the points...Bit strange as I've never had this with any other car I've owned and no-one seems to be experiencing it with a Wedge either?...

I have heard that for some people the Lucas coil has popped the ignition amp and the coil itself has failed quicker than it should...Unfortunately i still haven't learnt to use a multi-meter..I know...:roll eyes:

Any ideas please....


Thanks...Ziga

[pete275]

I've got a lucas coil on my Chimaera and its been fine for 2 years so far, I got the coil and the new (genuine) ignition amp from Powerspark

I did order 2 bosch coils, both of which were open circuited on arrival

I think the failure of the amp is down to heatsinking or it being a pattern part to be honest, but thats only my thoughts

cheers, Pete

[ElvisWedgely]

I recently changed the ignition module on mine as I started getting difficulty in starting, and occasional cutting out. Make sure you get a good quality ignition module. Mine came with the paste in a sachet. It has transformed the running. Starts first time and now runs really well. Carbon tracks inside the cap can happen, but usually to the base, towards the distributor. Arking between two points is unusual as high tension normally seeks an earth. Check that your leads aren't touching each other or any earth points under the bonnet. Night time in the dark when revving the engine is a good time to view any stray sparks. I am afraid the rest is just trial and error of eliminating components.

Tony. TCB.

[ukdj]

Zig,

put Lucas coil on Adam's Chim & Lesley's Griff no problems with either.

I use Arctic Silver thermal paste which is much better than the usual white goo you get with the amp's

Let me know if you need help testing the coil etc

P

[mrzigazaga]

Thanks for the replies...Couldn't change the amp as the fitting was wrong..The one i bought has two off-set pins where the plug connects to instead of three in a parallel line...Doh!!...

@: Tony...Have you a part number please mate...
@: Paul..I think the coil is okay..But if you are going to the Diner on Saturday then if you could give it a little test please...

Cheers...Ziga

[ElvisWedgely]

Hi. Mark. The part I bought, as on the invoice from CSF motor factors is
VE 520236 and this was also on the part I removed from my car. The notes on the end of the invoice is my notes for cross reference which I believe are also correct. Takes about five minutes to fit and there is no need to open the distributor cap. Good luck.

Tony. TCB.

[ElvisWedgely]

[Jack Valiant]

If I come along on Sat for a coffee I will bring you a spare

[mrzigazaga]

Thats the one Tony...Cheers....
Hi Chris....I think mines okay but you can still pop along for a coffee...

[Wedg1e]

mrzigazaga said:

Thanks for the replies...Couldn't change the amp as the fitting was wrong..The one i bought has two off-set pins where the plug connects to instead of three in a parallel line...Doh!!...


Cheers...Ziga

The two offset pin version is probably the correct original, yours will have had the later type fitted at some stage (or a lter distributor with the later amp). There's an adapter lead available so you can fit one to the other (but not, I suspect, the other way around).

[mrzigazaga]

Wedg1e said:

The two offset pin version is probably the correct original, yours will have had the later type fitted at some stage (or a lter distributor with the later amp). There's an adapter lead available so you can fit one to the other (but not, I suspect, the other way around).

I think you are right about that mate...I found this one but need it the other way round..

[mrzigazaga]

Well i thought i would have a look on the site where i sometimes get my bits and found an amp for under a tenner..(Sure i looked there before)..And it has what looks like a spare plug...Result...

http://britishparts.co.uk/products/7271-ignition-a...

[GV]

I have Mallory Unilite Dizzy and I can honestly say that it is utterly faultless. If anything its the Magnecors I have doubts about...

[ElvisWedgely]

These ignition modules are available on the Bay for under a tenner, but good quality well known makes are expensive. Make sure it's a well known manufacturer because the one I took off looks brand new but it's failed probably because it's a cheapie. With this type of thing you get what you pay for.

Tony. TCB.

[mrzigazaga]

ElvisWedgely said:

These ignition modules are available on the Bay for under a tenner, but good quality well known makes are expensive. Make sure it's a well known manufacturer because the one I took off looks brand new but it's failed probably because it's a cheapie. With this type of thing you get what you pay for.

Tony. TCB.

Definitely...The wrong one i bought was over £30...Would be good to find a lead to convert it though...I will get the dearer one and probably flea the other....

@: GV....You could always come to a "Sausage meet" again mate..We should be at the Diner this Saturday...

Cheers...Ziga

[KKson]

Mark my recent misfire was all down to failing coil. A new Lucas unit sorted it out. Old unit was failing when it warmed up under the bonnet.

[mrzigazaga]

KKson said:

Mark my recent misfire was all down to failing coil. A new Lucas unit sorted it out. Old unit was failing when it warmed up under the bonnet.

Thanks mate...My mis-fire happens before it gets hot..Previously it was the carbon build up in the dizzy cap..Its a shame the weather is so rubbish as i could give it a blast out to see if cleaning it earlier has stopped it...I might change the rotor arm and cap as the old one didn't have any carbon, It was a blue cap and the new one is black..I guess the high voltage is arcing a shorter path..Another strange thing was when i checked my plugs..They are BPR7ES when i know i fitted iridium plugs..In the old iridium boxes there are the BPR5ES which were in it when i bought the car...The plugs were a little sooty and pink but thats the result of the octane booster and injector cleaner that i use from time to time...The plugs are a mystery though..I had some work done on the car around 8 months ago but there was no mention of spark plugs being changed..They wouldn't of needed doing anyway...

[ukdj]

Zig,

iirc only 2 of the 3 pins are used, so you could make the required lead using mini lucar connectors to normal size lucar connectors - think I have a few of the correct size if you need them.

[mrzigazaga]

ukdj said:

Zig,

iirc only 2 of the 3 pins are used, so you could make the required lead using mini lucar connectors to normal size lucar connectors - think I have a few of the correct size if you need them.

Might be the way to go......Can you bring some with you on Saturday please?

[ukdj]

If I can make it, will do but not 100% sure yet