Flickering MIL Light

[lafr]

I have just purchased a 97P 500, and due to an untidy garage and a trip to Helsinki she had to live out in the torrential rain for a couple of nights. The next time I went for a drive, still raining and at night, I noticed two things, firstly a misfire that improved as the engine warmed up and secondly the MIL light was flickering dimly, so dimly in fact in daylight I can’t tell that it is flickering. I am not sure if the MIL has always done this and nor is the previous owner. When I start the engine all the warning lights, including the MIL, flash brightly and visibly in bright sunlight

After consideration I decided that the light was due to a poor connection and I should not worry too much about it.

On my next outing, however, the engine cut out twice, once at about 3000rpm on the out side lane of the M6 and once idling at traffic lights. On both occasions she would not re start immediately but after half an hour re started and ran well

I have been reading the bible and suspect the coil, although, after a long run it is warm but not hot, at least no hotter than the plenum chamber. I have checked the HT and LT connections and they seem sound. The LT leads looks new(ish). I have check the distributor, the cap is a little loose and I am not sure if this is normal (water ingress may have caused the first misfire) other than that it looks to be ok.

I am cautious about changing the coil, as I know it was new in 2003 and I don’t want to start chasing around the engine bay replacing everything I suspect could be at fault. I ask, therefore, has any one experienced these symptoms before or have any experience that may shed light on the problem

Thanks

LAFR

[parrot of doom]

You've not had the mother in law sat in the passenger seat have you?

[rfisher]

www.pistonheads.com/sales/48467.htm

[icb]

This happened on my 450 when I had it. Nobody could find the fault as intermittent, but eventually Mark Adams traced it to the ECU,2 of the pins that had something to do with the fuelling were dirty. Cleaned up end of problem. Worth a look anyway.

[LAFR]

parrot of doom said:

You've not had the mother in law sat in the passenger seat have you?

No, but she was in the boot!! Maybe that explains the flickering

[raw-sewedge]

It could be an earth problem.

The chassis earth in the drivers front wheel arch caused my MIL light to come on dimly accompaninied by started problems.

Worth double checking this earth as it's fairly easy to get at and get a fair amount of crud slung at it from the road.

[seajayare]

I had similar sounding problem. Turned out to be a bad connector to the ECU. Pins cleaned up and no further problems (related to this)
cheers

[BeVo]

Yeah my mil light started to flicker at night. It was coz a little fuse had bust. It runs frm the alternator.

[LAFR]

I not sure what I have done but the MIL light is no longer flickering, she has not cut out again but is mis firing when warm.

I have checked the earth and that seemed ok.
Next on the list is the ECU pins and then i shall replace the coil and secure/replace the distributor cap.

LAFR