RRC 86 starting problems and missfire

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trunkie

New Member
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HI everyone, I'm new here, and new to the world of Land Rover. Last week I picked up a bobtailed 84 RR 3.5 V8 twin carb.

It's been running fine for a week until yesterday morning, after running for about 25 mins it developed quite a bad missfire/bogging down. Got to work fine, tarted fine last night and didn't really have any issues on the drive home. Once home I took a look at the leads/dizzy etc. The connection on the lead to plug 1 had come off from the lead. I've bodged it back together. Dizzy and arm look fine. Whilst I don;t know how old they are they look pretty new. I've not taken the plugs out yet.

Since I've reconnected the connector to plug 1 it's been difficult to start. Took a long time to fire up last night, even though it was pretty warm. Turns over fine just takes a while to fire up. When I came to start it this morning when I turn the key there is a loud clonk but it wouldn't turn over. After a bit of gentle key wiggling, if I tease it round to the point where it just engages the ignition it turns over. Again it did start eventually. Was ok again for about half my journey to work (10/15 mins - mostly on dual carriageway so no stop start) but developed the same missfire again toward the end of my journey. It seems to be drinking fuel like there's no tomorrow as well, even for a V8!

I have new leads, dizzy cap and arm on order but is there anything else I can look at until they arrive?

Many thanks in advance.
 
firstly welcome to the wonderful world of range rovers ?

i would check condition of plugs, oil, airfilters, fuel filters etc etc

also if it has twin su carbs check that they have a small amount of oil in them (undo cap on top of carb should have some resistance when putting needle back in) and fuel lines,, years ago i had a 2.8 ghia x granada that was a pig to start and every time i tried to accelarate she died,, turned out to be very very small hole in the fuel pipe!

hope this helps

also if you put your rough location on your profile there may be someonenear who can take a look
 
Thanks Rob!

Carbs were overhauled and balanced a few months ago. Will check them tonight though. Oil seems ok, could maybe do with a top up. Not thought of fuel filter, where is it located? Could quite possibly be a fueling issue since the tanks been relocated inside the cab.

I'm in sevenoaks in Kent.
 
The leads are crossing over each other quite randomly, I'm going to try to separate them tonight with cable ties or similar.
 
not sure where your fuel filter will be,, sorry never had a classic,

theres lots of other members from around the kent area..

get your self a copy of rave (rr bible) and google rangerover.net both very helpfull..

search on this site for rave someone was emailing out copies.
 
Not sure if it's at all related but my wipers/wash are fairly temperamental. They can stop working altogether for 30-45 mins then all of a sudden be fine again. Guess that's just another connection to check!
 
Hi and welcome trunkie.
Firstly I would check your timing. Had a similar problem last year.
Also check the coil, amp etc. Do you have a good spark. (remove king lead from dizzy and arc it to the engine. NOt sure on wipers, possibly a loose/broken connection somewhere, or it could be worn out.
Oh, and fett lives near portsmouth. Nice guy though.
But, your not that far from me. East Grinstead.
 
Check and clean the earthing points, check battery voltage and alternator output.

If it was running EFI I would have suggested temperature sensor but you won't have that on carbies. It might be worth checking the ignition timing, vac advance and mechanical advance. Apart from that I wouldn't like to say. Somebody will know better I'm sure.
 
Is somone talking about me lol.

These are all problems it will take you about a year and 2k to get sorted, but dont worry its happened to all us RRC owners (hey Garath lol)

I would start by getting some new leads, I have a set you can have £10 if your on budget I only used them for a month before gtting some genuine LR ones, which are best but are also £80!

If it seems like its drinking fuel dont be surprised I have had v8s before but not in Rangies and my EFI only gets 12.6mpg round town and 16.5 on the motorway and it has been set up by an expert it is a shock and yours on carbs will be even worse on fuel. The only things to check are emissions for that but also that there is no leaks in the rusty fuel tank or in the lines under the car. Mine had one and it made my MPG 7! but it was only a damp patch under the car.

With the starter is the solonoid working and the starter/battery just doesnt have the power to turn it or is it not engaging the ring gear?
 
Thanks for the offer fett but I have leads, plugs, dizzy cap and rotor arm on order. Been told to check the coil too as these can suffer in the heat?

Could a hole in the exhaust be adding to my woes? I've not had a chance to look into it yet but it sounds like it's blowing between the manifold and centre section. Do these engines require back pressure?
 
trunkie said:
Do these engines require back pressure?
Click to expand...
Yep, but should give you a loss of compression and power but nothing too bad.And not the conditions you describe.Id suspect the coil but cant help any more than that.The "random" HT leads sounds dogy, are they any good?ARe they in the right firing order?
 
Can't vouch for quality, but the firing order is correct. I've separated them all with some plastic strips and insulating tape, should do the trick for now. Guess I'll just have to be patient until plugs, dizzy cap, leads and rotor arm get delivered. If no joy then, then I'll try the coil next.
 
I have to say that after feckin with mine for ages and having new lucas leads cap and rotor but not genuine LR parts it did not behave as well as now with the LR ones, especailly when cold.

I actually sent the lucas leads back and am awaiting a refund, I know genuine LR lucas parts are over the odds but they are worth it, I would never have believed it though.
 
Ok well this morning she wouldn't start at all. Heard the loud clonk again when first engaging the ignition, think the starter motor was sticking. By the time that was free I'd nearly drained the battery so wasn't enough power to turn the engine over fast enough. Think it will catch if I recharge the battery.
When I first went out to the car I noticed a puddle at the near side front wing. Traced it back to petrol leaking from the front of the carbs through the 2 pipes in the below photo. What could be causing this leak? I was parked facing downwards on a hill if that helps?
 

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if you have leaks on fuel lines it could be sucking in air which will screw up the mixture and could be causing missfire n starting probs...

think also u need new starter sorry
 
They're not fuel lines, they look like overspill. Been told floats could be stuck?

Man I've got myself a fast track to a world of pain hey!

Really want to get it sorted so I can go play at dartford 4x4 this weekend!
 
can anyone recommend a good place to get a replacement coil. Am I right in thinking it's part no RTC5628?

Thanks
 
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