V8 poor running in wet, HT lead?

L

Liam

Guest

• Mar 30, 2006

• #1

My series 3 V8 has for a while now ran poorly in damp or wet weather, one
moment its running fine the next it looses a lot of power and only just
keeps going. Over the past 6 months or so I've been trying to find the
problem and have overhauled or replaced several parts (carbs, ignition
system etc.).
Just the other day I had my head under the bonnet whilst it was raining to
see if I could spot anything, when I brushed my hand over the HT lead from
the coil to distributor I got a shock off it.
Now my thinking is that this must be the problem but these are new magnecor
leads so I tried an old lead on and I was getting a shock off that as well.
Anyone know what could be causing this?

Thanks
Liam

--
www.sumpoil.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

 

N

Nige

Guest

• Mar 30, 2006

• #2

Liam wrote:
> My series 3 V8 has for a while now ran poorly in damp or wet weather,
> one moment its running fine the next it looses a lot of power and
> only just keeps going. Over the past 6 months or so I've been trying
> to find the problem and have overhauled or replaced several parts
> (carbs, ignition system etc.).
> Just the other day I had my head under the bonnet whilst it was
> raining to see if I could spot anything, when I brushed my hand over
> the HT lead from the coil to distributor I got a shock off it.
> Now my thinking is that this must be the problem but these are new
> magnecor leads so I tried an old lead on and I was getting a shock
> off that as well. Anyone know what could be causing this?
>
> Thanks
> Liam

HT will give a shock, even through the insulation. be a bit careful, can be a tad nasty too.

It's a very high voltage mate, very high.

Nige


--

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Range Rover 4.6 HSE (The Tank!)
110 Hi Cap (Ben)

'"Opinions are like arseholes, everyones got one"

 

L

Landylover

Guest

• Mar 31, 2006

• #3

I have a V8 too - and you might have answered your own question there.
A lead shouldn't shock you if it's in good condition.

 

D

[email protected]

Guest

• Mar 31, 2006

• #4

There must be a problem with the leads or the plugs because the spark
should be easier to jump across the gap at the plug that it is to jump
through the insulation of the leads.
I also have a v8 with a high output coil (35000V) and i can hold the
ignition leads whilst its running without getting a shock.

You could also check the earth strap to the engine just to make sure
the engine is earthed correctly.

Hope this helps.

 

R

Richard Brookman

Guest

• Mar 31, 2006

• #5

....and Landylover spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...


> I have a V8 too - and you might have answered your own question there.
> A lead shouldn't shock you if it's in good condition.

Try the same trick at night. If you can see the HT leads tracking, the
leads are u/s.

--
Rich
==============================

There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary
and those who don't.

 

L

Liam

Guest

• Mar 31, 2006

• #6

"Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> ...and Landylover spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...
>
>
>> I have a V8 too - and you might have answered your own question there.
>> A lead shouldn't shock you if it's in good condition.
>
> Try the same trick at night. If you can see the HT leads tracking, the
> leads are u/s.
>
> --
> Rich
> ==============================
>
> There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary
> and those who don't.
>

I was hoping that someone could point the finger at something else, when I
pay £75 of a set of leads I expect them to last longer than 2 years (7500
miles). Having said that though I think they have a 10 year guarantee so
should in theory be able to get it replaced.
Think I'll check out the distributor and rotor arm first and make sure the
engine is earthed well.

Thanks
Liam

--
www.sumpoil.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

 

R

Richard Brookman

Guest

• Mar 31, 2006

• #7

....and Liam spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...


> "Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> ...and Landylover spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...
>>
>>
>>> I have a V8 too - and you might have answered your own question
>>> there. A lead shouldn't shock you if it's in good condition.
>>
>> Try the same trick at night. If you can see the HT leads tracking,
>> the leads are u/s.
>>
>> --
>> Rich
>> ==============================
>>
>> There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand
>> binary and those who don't.
>>
>
> I was hoping that someone could point the finger at something else,
> when I pay £75 of a set of leads I expect them to last longer than 2
> years (7500 miles). Having said that though I think they have a 10
> year guarantee so should in theory be able to get it replaced.
> Think I'll check out the distributor and rotor arm first and make
> sure the engine is earthed well.
>
> Thanks
> Liam

You could do the after-dark check now (8:52 pm), for nothing!

--
Rich
==============================

There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary
and those who don't.