E-type - problem - not purring at the moment!
Discussion
Hi, bit of a ramble this, but here goes..
I have a S1 E4.2 and wondered if any one can help me with an intermittent problem! I took the car for a run on Saturday, covered about 15 miles at varying speeds, no problems at all. Then parked up while my wife grabbed a bit of shopping, car standing for about 30 mins or so in the sun. Then set off to the pub for lunch and within about half a mile she (the car, not the wife) started to cough and splutter and seemed to run on 3/4 cylinders before petering out. No luck re-starting straight away, but after waiting for 5 mins started up and ticked over nice and smooth.
Set off then same symptoms after about a mile, engine stopped, waited 5 mins, re-started, etc. This happened twice more over the next 3 miles or so (decided to risk getting to the pub for lunch).
Car standing for about 90 mins over lunch, then same problem a mile down the road. After that, the car seemed to run fine until I got back home, another 5 miles or so.
I swapped the distributor last year for a 123 and replaced the coil and plug leads, all have covered about 1000 miles since then through last summer with no problems.
Any ideas much appreciated, or any specialist you might recommend in the NW to take a look!
Dom
I have a S1 E4.2 and wondered if any one can help me with an intermittent problem! I took the car for a run on Saturday, covered about 15 miles at varying speeds, no problems at all. Then parked up while my wife grabbed a bit of shopping, car standing for about 30 mins or so in the sun. Then set off to the pub for lunch and within about half a mile she (the car, not the wife) started to cough and splutter and seemed to run on 3/4 cylinders before petering out. No luck re-starting straight away, but after waiting for 5 mins started up and ticked over nice and smooth.
Set off then same symptoms after about a mile, engine stopped, waited 5 mins, re-started, etc. This happened twice more over the next 3 miles or so (decided to risk getting to the pub for lunch).
Car standing for about 90 mins over lunch, then same problem a mile down the road. After that, the car seemed to run fine until I got back home, another 5 miles or so.
I swapped the distributor last year for a 123 and replaced the coil and plug leads, all have covered about 1000 miles since then through last summer with no problems.
Any ideas much appreciated, or any specialist you might recommend in the NW to take a look!
Dom
Hi, thanks for the reply - if I could afford a second classic (and if I had the space) an Elan would be top of the list!
Good thought about fuel starvation though, I'll investigate a bit further - the problem is a bit annoying (especially now the weather is getting better) because I can't really rely on the car at the moment and I have a feeling it's something fairly simple...
I don't suppose it could be an overheating coil?
Dom
Good thought about fuel starvation though, I'll investigate a bit further - the problem is a bit annoying (especially now the weather is getting better) because I can't really rely on the car at the moment and I have a feeling it's something fairly simple...
I don't suppose it could be an overheating coil?
Dom
Hi all,
I haven't had the chance to replace the likely culprits yet, but have now got a new filter for the fuel tank plus a new filter for the glass bowl in the engine bay. I'll also double check for any sediment in the bottom of the fuel tank. I have a spare coil and will take this along when venturing out. The discussion re the carb diaphrams is interesting though.
Regards,
Dom
I haven't had the chance to replace the likely culprits yet, but have now got a new filter for the fuel tank plus a new filter for the glass bowl in the engine bay. I'll also double check for any sediment in the bottom of the fuel tank. I have a spare coil and will take this along when venturing out. The discussion re the carb diaphrams is interesting though.
Regards,
Dom
Hi,
This one may run and run (unlike the car I suppose)! I did some basic checks of the fuel system at home (inside of fuel tank, tank filter, fuel flow at the carbs) and no sign of any problem. I then took the car to the garage that looks after it for me (MOT time too) and it ran perfectly for the trip - 35 miles or so.
The guys went through the fuel system end to end (tested pump pressure, checked fuel lines, dismantled and inspected carbs) and found no faults at all!
The car then MOT'd no problem, they ran it around for a few miles with no issues, then I drove it home with no problems at all. I was really hoping that they'd find a definite cause for the problem - doh!
So, I still have the uncomfortable feeling that it may let me down again, although the coil idea is interesting jagracer. When I had the 123 fitted I changed the leads to Magnecor (reduced EM interference) but retained the 'sports' coil I had been using - I think from memory it's a DLB105, or something like that?
Might a different coil be a good idea? At least they're easy enough to fit if I keep one in the car as a spare, in case I break down again?
Dom
This one may run and run (unlike the car I suppose)! I did some basic checks of the fuel system at home (inside of fuel tank, tank filter, fuel flow at the carbs) and no sign of any problem. I then took the car to the garage that looks after it for me (MOT time too) and it ran perfectly for the trip - 35 miles or so.
The guys went through the fuel system end to end (tested pump pressure, checked fuel lines, dismantled and inspected carbs) and found no faults at all!
The car then MOT'd no problem, they ran it around for a few miles with no issues, then I drove it home with no problems at all. I was really hoping that they'd find a definite cause for the problem - doh!
So, I still have the uncomfortable feeling that it may let me down again, although the coil idea is interesting jagracer. When I had the 123 fitted I changed the leads to Magnecor (reduced EM interference) but retained the 'sports' coil I had been using - I think from memory it's a DLB105, or something like that?
Might a different coil be a good idea? At least they're easy enough to fit if I keep one in the car as a spare, in case I break down again?
Dom
Hi,
The guys at the garage had checked the feed to the pump, but thanks for mentioning just in case. I decided to go out for a run in the car yesterday, too nice a day to miss really, did about 70 miles and ran beautifully, including some fast bits and some sitting in traffic.
I guess fingers crossed, perhaps if (when?) the symptoms come back it may be more apparent what the cause might be...
Good luck with yours though!
Dom
The guys at the garage had checked the feed to the pump, but thanks for mentioning just in case. I decided to go out for a run in the car yesterday, too nice a day to miss really, did about 70 miles and ran beautifully, including some fast bits and some sitting in traffic.
I guess fingers crossed, perhaps if (when?) the symptoms come back it may be more apparent what the cause might be...
Good luck with yours though!
Dom
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