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Just damp preventing starting?

 
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Dowsabella
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Joined: 29 May 2011
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 4:16 pm    Post subject: Just damp preventing starting? Reply with quote

She's been running absolutely fine recently, apart from the petrol filler pipe coming adrift from the tank and weeing petrol all over the road!

She's not been driven in a week, and we've had a lot of rain. I tried to start her today, but she was having none of it. She was trying, then backfiring, but she just wouldn't catch properly. I'm going to order in some new spark plugs (they really need doing), but apart from damp, is there anything else I should be checking out for? She has electronic ignition and a sports coil.

I know it makes me sound like a complete novice, which I am for some things, but not for others (I can change a wheel in the pouring rain in pitch black, oil her suspension and many other things).

Thanks
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TONY ENGLAND
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Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 742
Location: MALDON, ENGLAND, UK

PostPosted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi there. All of mine have done that when its damp and to avoid that problem ive found that covering the coil, leads and wiring too the coil in WD40 at least once a month works just fine. No pronlems after doing this.

Give it a go and see how you get on.

Tony.
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Dowsabella
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Joined: 29 May 2011
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 1:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Tony

I've not had this problem before, so I'll try your suggestions.

This morning after trying for ages to start, we bought some WD40, sprayed it, and she started. Unfortunately the was coughing a lot all the way in to work. Every time I slowed down she was coughing and backfiring, and trying to stall. I was not very popular when she finally conked out on the Botley Interchange roundabout at 9am!

I'm going to slope off home early if I can, as I've had a thought about all the places she could stall on the way home (Botley Interchange again, M40 roundabout, Bicester roundabout etc etc etc) and they'd all cause horrible traffic jams. Shocked

At the weekend I'll try and sort out her carport, so at least she'll be out of the rain.
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dyanut
Dropped


Joined: 05 Aug 2007
Posts: 177
Location: North Yorkshire

PostPosted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 2:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dowsabella,
I'd never recommend using WD40 or similar, as it tends to leave a residue on the coil and ignition leads which attracts dirt and water.
Once you've used the stuff, you're then locked into using it to disperse moisture which would otherwise probably would not be there...

Have you got the yellow Accel coil and is it mounted onto the light bar with metal clips?
I've found that the HT spark can arc across to the metal clips from the 'turrets' where the plug leads are attached, however replacing the metal bands with plastic tie wraps eliminates the problem.

Btw, you can test the HT system for such a problem using one of those small household plant sprays to simulate the conditions which will exist on the road in wet conditions.
With the engine running, spray a mist of water all around the coil and the HT leads until you find the spot at which the engine misfires.
Not much point in having a car which can be started under cover but will misbehave as soon as it's on the road and there's rain around. Wink

Ken
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Dowsabella
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Joined: 29 May 2011
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 3:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Ken

Now the weather's dried out a bit, she's starting ok, so I'll look at replacing the metal clips at the weekend.

It's probably a good thing though, as I was supposed to go out to visit a site 40 miles away today. Instead I had to show someone else how to use the equipment I was going to take, so that they could go instead. We discovered that the equipment is broken, and I wouldn't have known until I got to site!
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Dowsabella
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Joined: 29 May 2011
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just a quick update (I meant to ages ago, but forgot).
We replaced the metal clips with seat rubbers and cable ties, and she's been starting like a dream in rain, and not stalling in spray.
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