calibra woes

In news:cckge3$6do$ snipped-for-privacy@news6.svr.pol.co.uk, Gary Millar decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as follows

Flat battery?

HTH

When the engine turns over on the starter, does it make any attempt to fire at all, or just continually turn over?

The rev counter symptom sounds like something electrical (IIRC the rev-counter is driven by electronic pulses which vary with the speed of the engine). Perhaps if the sensor which picks up this reading is shot, it might explain the failure to run? Just guessing.

Cheers

Dave P

Only time I've seen something like that was when one of those separate ignition amps failed - it went into oscillation and sent out a load of pulses. A DVM set to AC across the coil showed it, though, instead of a zero reading.

"Gary Millar" wrote in

First thing I would look at would be the coil, I am no mechanic, but I had a similar problem with an old Carlton. I don't know if the rev counter works from the coil on this model, but if it does, it suggests that's where to look first. Frayed wires, faulty connections, shorting out etc.

Has anyone been mucking about under the bonnet, if so back track on what they have done.

Just thought I would put in my thoughts, as I said, I am no mechanic, but I am sure someone here will help you.

Dave

I agree with you Dave , sounds like the ignition amp going down. I have also seen this if the wrong part number or unsuitable amplifier has been fitted rather than a genuine one. Mike

In this case it was an original Lucas - but replaced by a pattern one. ;-)

Yup - I'd expect to see as near as dammit zero AC. The fault on the one I saw was making it read about 9 volts AC, and the coil was warm. Of course, it will depend on the particular DVM what it reads on other than 50 Hz or so.

ECU earth, Crank angle sensor earth / engine block earth, or ECU is shagged. Did it suddenly go like this, or was work carried out prior to it suddenly playing up? (i.e. clutch change)

Tim..

Well its pretty blatently obvious that the ecu is receiving a primary ignition signal from somewhere due to the tacho showing 3000rpm. Take it to someone who has a very basic grasp of even rudimentary igntion systems and you'll get somewhere!

Tim..

You might be surprised to find how difficult that is...