TwoAndAQuarter
Member
- Posts
- 43
- Location
- UK
Hi all,
It's not often I find myself not able to diagnose a fault on my 1980 2.25 Petrol Series 3 - usually there isn't an easier truck out there to work on! However, recently I've been running into an issue which I can't seem to solve.
Once the mercury falls below 0'c, the starter motor still turns over fine and fast as normal, but the engine will not fire. There's not even a cough from her, she'll just turn over until the battery starts to go flat. Once above freezing, it'll fire within 5 seconds of trying.
There's definitely fuel (plugs are wet, smells of petrol) and the ignition is spot on once it's running. I fitted a new 45D copy with electronic ignition, Lucas sports coil and HT leads from SimonBBC only last month and the ignition timing was set audibly (listen for pinking, and then back a bit).
Strangely, once the battery went flat trying to start last night, I jump started it off another car and then it instantly fired into life. It seems there's not sufficient voltage/current from the battery to turn the starter motor and the ignition, but with the help of another car, there is.
Has anyone else suffered a similar issue before? I could buy another battery for it and see if that helps, but it seems very unusual that if a battery is able to turn over an engine it won't provide sufficient spark. There must be another issue. Earthing perhaps?
It's not often I find myself not able to diagnose a fault on my 1980 2.25 Petrol Series 3 - usually there isn't an easier truck out there to work on! However, recently I've been running into an issue which I can't seem to solve.
Once the mercury falls below 0'c, the starter motor still turns over fine and fast as normal, but the engine will not fire. There's not even a cough from her, she'll just turn over until the battery starts to go flat. Once above freezing, it'll fire within 5 seconds of trying.
There's definitely fuel (plugs are wet, smells of petrol) and the ignition is spot on once it's running. I fitted a new 45D copy with electronic ignition, Lucas sports coil and HT leads from SimonBBC only last month and the ignition timing was set audibly (listen for pinking, and then back a bit).
Strangely, once the battery went flat trying to start last night, I jump started it off another car and then it instantly fired into life. It seems there's not sufficient voltage/current from the battery to turn the starter motor and the ignition, but with the help of another car, there is.
Has anyone else suffered a similar issue before? I could buy another battery for it and see if that helps, but it seems very unusual that if a battery is able to turn over an engine it won't provide sufficient spark. There must be another issue. Earthing perhaps?