Odd Sparking Problem
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- Minor Friendly
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Odd Sparking Problem
Has anyone come across this before? I replaced my dizzy with an electronic one (yeah, I know what people are going to say) and it was fine but the car then started to run worse and worse until it packed up.
On investigating, there is a no spark - unless you unclip the distributor cap and separate it a wee bit and then the plugs will spark. Put the cap back on and the spark disappears. I thought it must be the little spring loaded carbon thing in the top of the cap so have replaced by degrees the cap, the rotor and the leads but still get the same result - the car will only run if the distributor cap is not clipped shut. Doesn't make sense to me so does anyone else have experience of this please?
On investigating, there is a no spark - unless you unclip the distributor cap and separate it a wee bit and then the plugs will spark. Put the cap back on and the spark disappears. I thought it must be the little spring loaded carbon thing in the top of the cap so have replaced by degrees the cap, the rotor and the leads but still get the same result - the car will only run if the distributor cap is not clipped shut. Doesn't make sense to me so does anyone else have experience of this please?
"Aunt Toots" 1969 Smoke Grey Saloon
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- Minor Maniac
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Re: Odd Sparking Problem
Never seen that one!
Did you replace the rotor arm at the same time?
The type that are held together with a type of rivet are quite failure prone.
Did you replace the rotor arm at the same time?
The type that are held together with a type of rivet are quite failure prone.
"Once you break something you will see how it was put together"
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- Minor Maniac
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Re: Odd Sparking Problem
who was the supplier and what make
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- Minor Legend
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Re: Odd Sparking Problem
have you got a red rotor arm they sometimes have a bit of a burr on the inside cheak to see if its fully home give it a thump with your hand and see if it goes on a bit further i had this problem recentley .
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Re: Odd Sparking Problem
Thanks for the replies. I bought the dizzy from a well-known supplier on Ebay; yes, dale it has the red rotor arm. I've tried it with three different arms that I know work, a new cap, new leads all without success. Asked the seller about it who wasn't very helpful other than telling me that it's probably an earthing problem.
I think I'll go back to an old school dizzy with a spare capacitor and set of points in the glove box.
I think I'll go back to an old school dizzy with a spare capacitor and set of points in the glove box.
"Aunt Toots" 1969 Smoke Grey Saloon
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Re: Odd Sparking Problem
You know it makes senseBI8759 wrote: I think I'll go back to an old school dizzy with a spare capacitor and set of points in the glove box.

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- Minor Legend
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Re: Odd Sparking Problem
what awful customer service ,please pm me with details please,also is it shorting on the dizzy body thanks to a small spilt in the lead (s)?
Cheers Alex
all thoughts are given in good faith but..." You pays your money and takes your choice"

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all thoughts are given in good faith but..." You pays your money and takes your choice"
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- Minor Legend
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Re: Odd Sparking Problem
Have you tries a set of resistor plugs, as I previously suggested?
Talk slow, think fast!