Ignition Issues

[stiffy]

Guy's,

My Cobra has had cold start issues for a while now, lots of cranking

and running like a dog until its warm, then it runs and starts normally.

I have been away for a few weeks and wanted to sort the Cobra out

before the next run. I charged the battery on Saturday and tried to start the

car on Sunday. It cranked for a while and started but then stopped. It cranked

again then smoke came out and it wouldnt fire. I called the RACV and while I

was waiting the coil exploded. He replaced the coil and said it was dizzy

related. He put a long stick with a wodden end onto the dizzy and made it

spark, so he said it was one of the sensors in the Scorcher dizzy. I dropped

the dizzy to Scorcher and they are saying it is OK, it is 18 years old so they

are giving it a birthday. So where to from here????

I am running an MSD and MOTEC M48 also.

Could it be the MSD? or a switch ?? NFI

STIFFY

[albanycobra]

check your ignition modules as well. Maybe just replace them if they are 18 years old. Do the usual checks like voltage when cranking cold, earths, plug connections , plug leads and plugs. Ignition components normally play up when hot not cold. Do a compression test as well.

[Gaz64]

Out of Scorcher, MSD, and Motec, my bet is the MSD component is the culprit.

[ICCARS]

it sounds to me like you are running extremely rich on start up, so what I would do if it was me is to pull a plug or two and see what your engine is doing i.e. black plugs - rich as hell // clean or slightly greyish plugs OK. Then while you have the plugs out test for a good spark - that will eliminate the MSD.
It almost sounds like you have a change in state in the M48 - I have seen this happen with my M800 as a short or something like that can cause the program to corrupt - it has happened to me and I had to re-load the program and it was all good again.. Computers.
I'm not suggesting you do this at this stage, but keep that in the back of your mind if all else fails, but just keep eliminating every possibility one by one, not 2-3 things at once otherwise you may never find the culprit.

Cheers
Wil

[ICCARS]

Originally Posted by stiffy

"I called the RACV and while I

was waiting the coil exploded."


STIFFY

Can I ask a question mate :- did you leave the ignition on while you were waiting for the RACV - LOL

[stiffy]

Will,

No, I disconnect the battery charger also.

I just happened to touch the coil and noticed it was hot, and getting hotter.

The dizzy is ready so I can refit it in Saturday, I have an MSD

In another car so I can test this also.

Stiffy

[ICCARS]

Originally Posted by stiffy

Will,

No, I disconnect the battery charger also.

I just happened to touch the coil and noticed it was hot, and getting hotter.

The dizzy is ready so I can refit it in Saturday, I have an MSD

In another car so I can test this also.

Stiffy

I only ask as I had a good mate of mine take one of my 1975 P5 Ltd's to a car show some years ago now and he left the ignition on all day and killed the Coil - it was red hot when I got there; needless to say I had to trailer it home....
Just make sure you see a good spark - with an MSD you should see lightening bolts.

[stiffy]

Guy's,

Well the saga continues, the dizzy could not be faulted, so they gave

it a 21st present and its all new again.

I am collecting a new 6A MSD today and will hopefully fit them

tomorrow.

Is there anyone around that has more mechanical knowledge and

a timimg light as i'm not confident in putting the dizzy back in the right spot.

The usual Beer and BBQ will apply.....

Stiffy

[Modena]

you're supposed to mark it before you remove it stiff

[Rog246]

Struth.............if I tried that I reckon my Missus would get really pissed at me !

[stiffy]

Benny,

I did, but I don't think it was TDC, hence the timing light

And someone who knows what they are doing.


Stiffy

[Modena]

doesn't matter if it wasnt TDC so long as it goes back in the same spot, but yes a timing light to fine tune.

[Gaz64]

Originally Posted by stiffy

Benny,

I did, but I don't think it was TDC, hence the timing light
And someone who knows what they are doing.


Stiffy

You must have a mate down your way to help.

I have a good timing light.

[stiffy]

Guys,

We replaced the coil for the correct MSD compatable unit, replaced the

MSD and installed the dizzy.

It flattened the battery big time on initial crank then it killed the battery.

We hooked up another, it cranked but still no spark.

So back to the drawing board tomorrow.


Thanks Ben and LoBelly for their assistance today as it's way out of my

Comfort zone.

Stiffy

[Gaz64]

Have you got a circuit drawing for how it all works on your car?

AS far as spark is concerned, is the distributor locked out (no advance), it then signals the MOTEC, the Motec then triggers the MSD module, is that correct?

Gary

[Rossba]

The MSD likes 10volts or more or it won't fire under crank.
Often it will crank and crank then when you stop the crank it does a quick fire just before you turn the ignition off.
We have had lots of MSD blaster coils fail so have upgraded them to to E core.
There are numerous people having trouble with MSD products and are going back to basics.
If you battery is dead try it with the new battery.

[ICCARS]

So from poor starting to no starting!!
I would be checking for poor earth connections as it seems as though it's a deteriorating condition that you have.

[Modena]

Is that a 408 rumbling I can hear?????????

[stiffy]

Benny,

It started, warmed up but then it wouldn't run so I couldn't

Adjust the timing with the light.

So I cleaned it instead.....


Today is another day.......


Stiffy