Ignition system

[ozzie]

Seriously now......I have a 97 4.5 Chimp, Can someone out there explain the ignition system on these cars as I believe it is electronic ignition...so why the rotor arm? The reason for this enquiry is my interest in the Lumenition range, where I plan to get some performance 8mm HT leads with a high power coil and perhaps the magnetronic ignition system.....anyone done any of this before or considered it. Any advise would be most greatful, Anthony.

[xain]

Well... there's electronic ignition (contact breakers replaced by solid state electronics) The distribution of the spark is still done by the rotor arm and distro cap. Then there's DIS (Distributorless Ignition System) where the whole thing is done by huge great transistors (no rotor) Many early 90's cars had a very odd blend, electronic ignition (by a simple computer) but vacuum advance on the sensor that drove the computer. What a joke! Then again my old Integra had electronic engine management, but a waxstat idle speed adjust. (Hoots of derision) BTW I've yet to find a vacuum advance unit that wasn't broken. then

[GreenV8S]

Why, are you having problems with the standard ignition? (You already have a high power coil and electronic points, the main problems seem to come from the leads and suppressor caps being cooked by the exhaust.) Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

quote:Seriously now......I have a 97 4.5 Chimp, Can someone out there explain the ignition system on these cars as I believe it is electronic ignition...so why the rotor arm? The reason for this enquiry is my interest in the Lumenition range, where I plan to get some performance 8mm HT leads with a high power coil and perhaps the magnetronic ignition system.....anyone done any of this before or considered it. Any advise would be most greatful, Anthony.

[ozzie]

The car is quite erratic when at a specific rpm.....could well be to do with the heat from the exhaust (the leads are definately getting very hot - people recommend magnecor leads but at £150 plus for the set this sounds a bit extreme! Are any others e.g. lumenition leads any good?) The suppressor cap - what is this exactly? Also you say that the coil is high power...what kind is it and is it worth replacing with a higher voltage output coil? Thanks, Anthony.

[trefor]

I replaced my leads with standard 8mm items (£40 odd for nine) and also replaced the coil with the std TVR part last year - the car didn't faulter before or after this. I don't see the point in further uprating these items. (After 5 years of heat in a TVR engine bay I decided replacing these parts was cheaper than getting stuck somewhere due to them failing - both the coil and the leads looked a little aged). Trefor (the paranoid one).

[Dr chuff]

If you're buying new supressors, try your local Vauxhall/Rover parts dept. They charge half the price TVR do (about 5 GBP I think). I replaced all of them on my car after one cracked. There was a noticable improvement on pick up and smooth running. Dr Chuff Chimaera 500