TVR chimaera non starter. No spark from the distributor.

TVR chimaera non starter. No spark from the distributor.

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jazzybees

Original Poster:

1,008 posts

134 months

Friday 11th August 2023
quotequote all
Hi.
Apologies for another 'non starting' thread.
Appriciate any help.
Thank you.

Spark from the coil high tension lead to distributor.
But no spark from the distributor to spark plug.

The car had not been driven for about three weeks.
Took it out on a local shop run, after the third short distance stop.
The car would not start.
I moved the ECU and loom away from the battery, to
Jump start the car with jump leads, from another battery.
Car started.
Drove it about four miles home.
Left the engine running.
After about two minutes. it stopped.
Tried starting again. would not start.
Checked fuel to engine, thats ok.
Checked spark to plug, no spark.
But there is a spark from the coil H/T lead to the distributor .
Battery as been charged was 12.3v, now about 12.8v-13v.

New coil fitted.
New ignition amp fitted.
New distributor cap fitted.
The rotor arm is very tight to come off. so not changed that yet. (it does look ok,)
The place where i brought the parts from, tested the coil, ign amp and distributor.
They said they all worked, but a bit low in power from the coil.

Thank you for any help and info.



Edited by jazzybees on Friday 11th August 19:40


Edited by jazzybees on Friday 11th August 19:41


Edited by jazzybees on Friday 11th August 19:42

blaze_away

1,582 posts

225 months

Friday 11th August 2023
quotequote all
Almost 100% its the rotor arm leaking spark to earth.

To test the rotor arm.....

Remove the cap and tie it to oneside.

Remove the king lead from the cap.

Using insulated pliers and thick rubber gloves hold the end of the king lead close to the centre of the rotor arm. Or better still use clamps so you dont jave tohold it.

Turn engine over as if starting the car.

If spark jumps across the gap to the arm it is defective.


jazzybees

Original Poster:

1,008 posts

134 months

Friday 11th August 2023
quotequote all
Thank you very much for your reply.
I will do that tomorrow.
Thank you.

jazzybees

Original Poster:

1,008 posts

134 months

Saturday 12th August 2023
quotequote all
100%.
New rotor arm fitted.
Now starting.
Blaze-away. Thank your help and info, very much appreciated.
I had to cut the old rotor arm off .
Thank you.

blaze_away

1,582 posts

225 months

Saturday 12th August 2023
quotequote all
jazzybees said:
100%.
New rotor arm fitted.
Now starting.
Blaze-away. Thank your help and info, very much appreciated.
I had to cut the old rotor arm off .
Thank you.
No probs glad its sorted hope you didn't get a jolt up ypur arm.

jazzybees

Original Poster:

1,008 posts

134 months

Saturday 12th August 2023
quotequote all
blaze_away said:
jazzybees said:
100%.
New rotor arm fitted.
Now starting.
Blaze-away. Thank your help and info, very much appreciated.
I had to cut the old rotor arm off .
Thank you.
No probs glad its sorted hope you didn't get a jolt up ypur arm.
haha, no. Too scared of that jolt to do the test. Your 100% was good enough for me.
I just change the rotor arm.