Idles fine, cuts out when accelerating…
Discussion
Hi folks,
I am hoping this is a well known issues with an easy answer……..
Had a great run out in my 1996 Griff 500 yesterday, running well, although it was a little slow to start, which is unusual so I put this down to a low battery as it had been parked for a week or so and I had forgotten to hook up the trickle charger. Parked it up for a couple of hours and put it on charge as a precaution. Headed out again, started fine but after getting 100yds down the road and off idle (or just above) when accelerating, it cut out, but would idle happily? I managed to nurse it back home on tick over where I had a quick look over and wiggled a few connections but nothing obvious found.
So it sat in disgrace for another couple of hours until I needed to move it. This time it ran ok for around 5 min before the same problem occurred. Again, cutting out on any acceleration above idle, but would idle just fine, so I ran it home on tick over.
Time for a cup of tea… After more connections were checked and general poking around it appeared to run fine again, although the idle took a little while to settle (not high but fluctuating 500- 900rpm until it steadied). Took it for a blast and it felt good, until at full chat in 4th gear it cuts out and dies…. (didn’t get a chance to look at the rev counter to see if it still read as I instantly dipped the clutch) and managed to coast home, where it wouldn’t restart. Time for a cup of tea…
Having built up enough enthusiasm to move the car out of the way from where it had conked out, I started cranking it over in 1st gear (as it wouldn’t start) and after about 20 / 30s it slowly coughed back into life, and idles fine again…
Standard unmodified car, with an updated Meta alarm some time ago.
Any thoughts?
I am hoping this is a well known issues with an easy answer……..
Had a great run out in my 1996 Griff 500 yesterday, running well, although it was a little slow to start, which is unusual so I put this down to a low battery as it had been parked for a week or so and I had forgotten to hook up the trickle charger. Parked it up for a couple of hours and put it on charge as a precaution. Headed out again, started fine but after getting 100yds down the road and off idle (or just above) when accelerating, it cut out, but would idle happily? I managed to nurse it back home on tick over where I had a quick look over and wiggled a few connections but nothing obvious found.
So it sat in disgrace for another couple of hours until I needed to move it. This time it ran ok for around 5 min before the same problem occurred. Again, cutting out on any acceleration above idle, but would idle just fine, so I ran it home on tick over.
Time for a cup of tea… After more connections were checked and general poking around it appeared to run fine again, although the idle took a little while to settle (not high but fluctuating 500- 900rpm until it steadied). Took it for a blast and it felt good, until at full chat in 4th gear it cuts out and dies…. (didn’t get a chance to look at the rev counter to see if it still read as I instantly dipped the clutch) and managed to coast home, where it wouldn’t restart. Time for a cup of tea…
Having built up enough enthusiasm to move the car out of the way from where it had conked out, I started cranking it over in 1st gear (as it wouldn’t start) and after about 20 / 30s it slowly coughed back into life, and idles fine again…
Standard unmodified car, with an updated Meta alarm some time ago.
Any thoughts?
Belle427 said:
Maybe check the battery is happy first and is charging ok.
this is good advice, start there.Next up would be checking ignition and its components.
could be bad coil or ignition amp failing when required to provide more spark per second as revs increase.
Get a spark tester and see if you can see weakening in the sparks at the plugs. eg one of tese.
https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwico...
Thanks Guys,
Good advice. The battery is ok, hence being able to crank it along in 1st gear. Could well be the throttle potentiometer, this would make sense as the engine is able to idle, but suddenly runs very lean (won’t run) when the throttle is opened as the ecu doesn’t know it’s opened.
I’ll have another play.
Good advice. The battery is ok, hence being able to crank it along in 1st gear. Could well be the throttle potentiometer, this would make sense as the engine is able to idle, but suddenly runs very lean (won’t run) when the throttle is opened as the ecu doesn’t know it’s opened.
I’ll have another play.
Had a similar issue with my ‘93 500 whereby it would idle fine and even accelerate fine other than occasionally would cut out like someone threw a switch briefly and for just a split second then the car would be fine again. Eventually, after a few months of this, the car died completely and after having it recovered back to the house and checking things, I found the ignition coil, although making spark, wasn’t making a GOOD spark. Replaced that and all has been tickety boo ever since. So if your coil is old or of unknown age, a new Bosch unit might be a good idea.
Also, FWIW, after I replaced the coil, I had been considering also changing the little ignition amplifier on the side of the distributor so I acquired a brand new green box Lucas one of those and after fitting it, the car ran like complete s
t so off that came and into the bin and the old one refitted. Only then that I learned the green box Lucas amplifiers are generally considered no good and either have to try to find a new old stock Redbox or I suppose go with God and try one of the aftermarket ones from Intermotor et al.
Also, FWIW, after I replaced the coil, I had been considering also changing the little ignition amplifier on the side of the distributor so I acquired a brand new green box Lucas one of those and after fitting it, the car ran like complete s
t so off that came and into the bin and the old one refitted. Only then that I learned the green box Lucas amplifiers are generally considered no good and either have to try to find a new old stock Redbox or I suppose go with God and try one of the aftermarket ones from Intermotor et al. Looks like i’m adding to my collection of ignition amplifiers!
Well, having had a good unplug and poke around the loom the car is running perfectly…. I would be happier if I had found some particular fault, such is life. Let’s hope it stays this way (I shall still be changing the coil and the amplifier on the off chance)
Many thanks for your reply’s and advice.
Well, having had a good unplug and poke around the loom the car is running perfectly…. I would be happier if I had found some particular fault, such is life. Let’s hope it stays this way (I shall still be changing the coil and the amplifier on the off chance)
Many thanks for your reply’s and advice.
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