V7: I don't think it'll catch on

CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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Even more annoying since I'm sure there were the more normal 8 cylinders operating when I parked up on Friday.

This morning I seem to have only 7, if not 6 :(

No CEL, no other warning lights. Slightly rough idle. Down in power. Feels better above 3k ish, but I suspect that's simply cos everything is spinning faster.

I'll try to get a reader on it tonight, but it depends on what time I get home.

Conveniently it's booked with Feli tomorrow, but in the mean time, any thoughts? Apart from damp (it's been PISSING it down here all weekend)

Cheers

C
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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Me too, Frank. Given that it was all OK on Friday, I guess the odds are good. Unless something's leaked onto something expensive :)

C
 
hodroyd

hodroyd

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It sounds more than likely to be damp got in to the ignition circuit. Squeeze all the rubber shrouds you can see and feel for damp, sometimes you might be able to see ignition tracking sparks if the engine is wet..!!
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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hodroyd said:
It sounds more than likely to be damp got in to the ignition circuit. Squeeze all the rubber shrouds you can see and feel for damp, sometimes you might be able to see ignition tracking sparks if the engine is wet..!!
Click to expand...

Cheers Rob. I doubt I'll have a chance to get too stuck in tonight. Feli will make it right, I'm sure. It's been in the car park today as well, so it'll be very very wet again!

C
 
hodroyd

hodroyd

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Best of luck with it mate, 7 Maserati Pistons is as good as anything else out there..!!
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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Cheers.

It may well simply have been a case of intermittent character. Given that she was standing in rain all day, I was expecting all sorts of issues this evening. She contented herself with pissing all the water from the onto my shoulder before I could shut the door, and then having given me a telling off in that manner for leaving her on the drive all weekend, behaved like the true lady she is.

All 8 pots present and correct, purring like a kitten at idle, and doing the right things at any other gear :)

C
 
hodroyd

hodroyd

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She was just having a hissy fit then, that's normal and the pissing on you when you open the door, I love that, shows she cares..!!
 
2b1ask1

2b1ask1

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hodroyd said:
It sounds more than likely to be damp got in to the ignition circuit. Squeeze all the rubber shrouds you can see and feel for damp, sometimes you might be able to see ignition tracking sparks if the engine is wet..!!
Click to expand...

I remember being told that many years ago so I lifted the bonnet on my MkIII cortina in a dark lane one night in the damp and it was like a video game all the sparks tracking everywhere!!!
 
conaero

conaero

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I too saw this, funnily enough on a Ford Escort, mid late 80's model.

We, being 17 year old nobs, had been out puddle hoping and basically trying to make as much of a splash as possible.

The Escort did well but gave up in the end, opened the bonnet and sparks were jumping across the ignition leads.

Had to be water in the leads.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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Conaero said:
I too saw this, funnily enough on a Ford Escort, mid late 80's model.

We, being 17 year old nobs, had been out puddle hoping and basically trying to make as much of a splash as possible.

The Escort did well but gave up in the end, opened the bonnet and sparks were jumping across the ignition leads.

Had to be water in the leads.
Click to expand...

Something to do with the angle of the rain, when parked at home, I guess.

I recall once, tracking down an ignition issue on my Giulietta when it had a 2l. Carefully gripped the plug in the pliers. Held it against the block. Asked assistant to crank engine (father in this case). Observed spark in correct place. Turned to assistant and in so doing allowed the plug to come away from the engine block.

**** ME!

Took me a while to recover from 40kv even via the insulated pliers and rubber shoes. Valuable learning experience. Next time I'll use an apprentice :)

C
 
2b1ask1

2b1ask1

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Got on the wrong end of spark plugs too many times to remember as a kid tinkering... Never seemed to learn though!
 
BennyD

BennyD

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I went up to Scotland for a weekend in Sept with 6 others, including a 6.0ltr Lambo Diablo. Every morning it would start with 6, stir up another 3 or 4 and eventually the other 2 or 3 would chime in. After about 5 miles the dash would light up like a cheap disco and it would go into limp. After a sit and sulk and an electronic reset it would be fine for the rest of the day. I guess they weren't designed to be left out overnight in a Scottish monsoon as the engine deck louvres slope towards the cabin and rain cascades over the engine electrics. Italian charm!
 
hodroyd

hodroyd

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14,150
It sounds like a few of us have had a belt from a plug, or iffy HT lead at some point, not nice at all and you always remember..!!
 
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