Magnecors failing less than a year later?

[shorty123]

I bought the red magnecor HT lead set from ACT less than a year ago and having done less than 2000 miles, the main HT lead (dizzy to coil) has failed. Any others suffered this?

This is in response to a thread i started last week about very significant random power loss.
I verified the problem by fitting my old OEM HT lead and guess what - the prob went. Now im concerned that i should only be using one sort or the other due to impedance matching or something?

The leads havent given me any probs until last week, maybe others have had the same problem?

be interested to know.

[Bomber Denton]

Have you spoken to Tim from ACT directly on this subject? If not it might be an idea to before posting on here. Tim is a top bloke and I'm sure he would help you all he can.

[Nuggs]

Agree with Corin.

FWIW - I fitted the blue Magnecors (supplied by ACT) over a year ago and have had no problems with them...

[shorty123]

Are the blue magnecors the same as OEM blue ones?

[shorty123]

Bomber Denton said:

Have you spoken to Tim from ACT directly on this subject? If not it might be an idea to before posting on here. Tim is a top bloke and I'm sure he would help you all he can.

Sure i'll call him, just to clarify this posting was in no way directed at ACT, i have had great service and advice from them.

[Steve_T]

I had Red Magnecors on my Chimaera, no problems with them and to my knowledge nor has the next owner. I'm sure your problem will be resolved promptly.

Steve.

[shorty123]

Just spoken to Tim at ACT, he is sending a replacement King lead - nice chap.
Tim suggests that problems can only really occur where the conductor meets the metal connectors. Chances are its a one off.

So thats that one sorted.

[Nuggs]

shorty123 said:

Are the blue magnecors the same as OEM blue ones?

The OEM leads on the Chim when it rolled out the factory weren't Magnecors

Pleased to hear it's all sorted now

[Wildfire]

Yep I had the blue ones on my S3, no probs and the red ones on the Griff, no issues at all. Probably just a one off.

[David H]

Brand new reds caused erratic tacho readings and rougher low speed running on mine. I replaced the king lead with standard and it totally went away.

[Nuggs]

David H said:

Brand new reds caused erratic tacho readings and rougher low speed running on mine. I replaced the king lead with standard and it totally went away.

The erratic readings could have been a problem with an amplifier not liking the new leads (IIRC Magnecors don't need an amplifier)...

[topsparks]

I had problems with the blue leads,miss firing @high revs,upgraded to the red KV85's and have had no more problems.

Edited by topsparks on Monday 26th June 18:01

[Cider Andy]

What state are the distributor cap and rotor arm in? The problem may lie there. Despite the fact that (if you could insulate it properly) a piece of wet string would work adequately as a plug lead, premium leads such as the Magnecor KV85 may show up a problem in the cap and arm that wouldn't manifest itself otherwise.

I've been using an aftermarket distributor cap and rotor arm, but after a couple of thousand miles the car developed a hard misfire at low revs. By reverting to the original six-year old Lucas components the problem went away. It showed up more with the KV85 leads than the originals.

[shorty123]

Cider Andy said:

a piece of wet string would work adequately as a plug lead, premium leads such as the Magnecor KV85 may show up a problem in the cap and arm that wouldn't manifest itself otherwise.

Cap and arm appear ok, as a precaution i will change them anyway as im not sure of the history.

Re: your wet string theory - i tried this, but it kept bloody drying out

[chassis 33]

Nuggs said:

David H said:

Brand new reds caused erratic tacho readings and rougher low speed running on mine. I replaced the king lead with standard and it totally went away.

The erratic readings could have been a problem with an amplifier not liking the new leads (IIRC Magnecors don't need an amplifier)...

Is this correct, if so it would appear to be the Holy Grail to anyone who has ever had the frustration of a failed amp. unit.

Regards
Iain