Engine Running Problem 2lt Pinto - Bath Festival Targa

**Disco808** · 04-04-2018, 10:02

Whilst out competing on Bath Festival Targa Rally at the weekend I had an Engine running Issue which caused a retirement. At the start of Test 9 (up until which point the car had been running without any problems) as I dropped the clutch the engine died and then with continued cranking wouldn't start again, after around 10s the engine did fire but would not rev at which point I put the second fuel pump on but again the engine died when I tried to pull away. Finally the car did start again and the problem cleared allowing us to run over the 3 mile section without any further problems.

Then at the start of the next stage the same issue happened and again we got running but 1/2 mile up the road it finally stalled and wouldn't start, we checked all the ignition circuit connections and checked it wasn't something obvious then tried to re start after a lot of cranking it fired but would only just run at tickover and as soon as you apply any revs it would die, it was at this point we noticed that the exhaust was running red hot at which point we turned it off.

I thought it must e something either fuel or Ignition based and I have now checked the following to no avail

Engine Timing OK
Distributer hasn't moved
Fitted New Coil
Rotor and cap look good
Good Spark at the plug
Plugs look black (this could be due to it only just running at tickover I guess)
Fuel Pumping to the weber carb ok.
Main Jets Not block
Fuel spraying down through the chokes when operated.
No visible damage to the exhaust system

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I'm planning on removing the exhaust post manifold to see if it will run and will strip the carb fully tonight!

Thanks In Advance

**alladdin** · 04-04-2018, 11:20

condenser can cause a tickover run only situation if you have one. ?

**Disco808** · 04-04-2018, 11:35

Hi alladdin

currently the car won't even tick over, but I will change the condenser as it costs nothing to do this!

But I have a feeling with the fact it's so rough when it will fire up and that I'm getting good spark at the plug, that its something else???

cheers

**alladdin** · 04-04-2018, 12:27

In that case new points too and check the cable on them - old one may have chaffed.

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**Disco808** · 04-04-2018, 13:31

Everything is brand new and has only done maybe 500 miles max, The distributer even went back to Aldon a couple of weeks ago as we had a funny misfire on the rolling road at 5600 and suspected that it might be this but they sent it back full a full bill of health

I'm going to stick a new coil lead on but as it's affecting all cylinders I wouldn't have thought it could be a plug lead or plug that's going down.

**MK1_Oz** · 05-04-2018, 02:36

The red hot exhaust would point to running lean? This is backed up by it stalling when you open the throttle? = carby issue (blockage or incorrect float level?) or air leak into inlet system?

**Disco808** · 05-04-2018, 06:53

I stripped the carb down last night, which is a DCNF 40 Downdraft weber but could find nothing wrong with it, all the jets were clear and the float chamber was operating correctly and when I manually operated the throttle fuel was being sprayed down the chokes

Very strange as I had thought that this might be the smoking gun!

**alladdin** · 05-04-2018, 10:57

You have to check basics first and points etc are step 1

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**djaminhi** · 05-04-2018, 12:13

Any chance your cam vernier gear has shifted?

**Disco808** · 05-04-2018, 12:24

New points, rotor arm, condenser and dizzy cap arriving tomorrow from Aldon along with a new HT lead. I'll swap them out one at a time and see where it leads

o you know if there is anyway in which the dizzy can loose it's timing whilst still firmly bolted into position, i'e the connection with the jack shaft jumping??? I can't see how but that would lead to problems I'm seeing

cheers

**Disco808** · 05-04-2018, 12:26

Thought about that at the time but with the fault coming and then clearing for 6 minutes of competitive running probably not, also the pulley bolts are tight and there's no sign of any scoring as the pulley twists under the bolt heads.

**djaminhi** · 05-04-2018, 12:56

Originally Posted by Disco808

Thought about that at the time but with the fault coming and then clearing for 6 minutes of competitive running probably not, also the pulley bolts are tight and there's no sign of any scoring as the pulley twists under the bolt heads.

Ok Cool,
I remember once having a similar problem tho.....and it turned out to be a faulty rotor....although it looked good.
Car ran up the 1/4 mile then a backfire, barely made it back to the line, and then refused to start, only an occasional splutter on turnover......