Following our recent heavy rain I have had trouble starting the old boy from cold, it takes a lot of coaxing but gets there in the end. Anyway, as I was going up a particularly steep bank in town yesterday it started to loose power and spluttered with dark exhaust fumes. I pulled over, reved and pulled away reving lots ( steep hill start, lots of traffic ) and it seemed to be ok - however we have had more rain now. Im thinking damp in the distributor maybe or is there some other reason for my malaise!?! Help would be appreciated guys!

Black smoke is unburned fuel. Since your carb is unlikely to have suddenly gone mental (carbs tend to fail-lean, not rich!), I'd look at ignition. You're lucky - since I've just changed my carbs, we're not sure which is wrong - carbs or ignition. Solution...sort both out Anyhow, I digress...

First port of call with misfires...make sure the entire igntition system is up to scratch. First off, replace the 'usual suspects'. There can be other ignition faults, but these are the 'consumables'.

New...
Plugs
Leads
Distributor cap
Rotor arm

See if that makes it better. If not, let us know.

As an aside, do you know if this car has Renix, or a conventional ignition system. If the wooshing sound was that going over your head, let me know and I'll tell you how to find out. On the other hand, if I'm telling granny to suck eggs...apologies

cheers

James

Yeah - big whooshing sound Foggy! I dunno but would just love to find out which Ive got. Ta for the tips, I'll get poking!

Right....well you've got five wires running from your distributor. Four run to the spark plugs, but one runs to the coil. This is either a thing roughly the shape and size of a coke can, or it's a rectangular 'control unit' with a load of wires running from one end, and a small hose leaving a dome shaped structure in the corner. Option A is 'conventional' igntion, option B is Renix.

cheers

James

Think its option a just a regular ignition but i will check tomorrow for the fun of it!

If it is 'conventional', that's a PITA, because parts are rarer (albeit not non-existant, so don't panic!), and not many of us know anything about them!

cheers

James

1984; very likely to have RENIX.

(ignition unit id nr; 402)

Cool, I shall investigate!

Well thats just typical, its dry for a couple of days and the old boy starts like a dream!! I shall still investigate the problem though.

A faults which is worse in the wet also points us towards ignition.

I'll buy you a (half?) pint if it isn't the dizzy cap or rotor...

cheers

James

I can't remember which engine you've got.. but Kar (my 1.4) eats rotor caps. One every 10months ish. And halfords finest are only around 8 quid. Maybe thats why they go every 10 months

definitely, buy a Volvo one for all of 13 quid-ish and get a whole 3 years out of it!

Halfrauds? Chris...tsk I bought mine from a Bosch agent. Same part, less than half the price. Definitely get the price, but make sure Volvo aren't ripping you off. My radiator was almost double the price from Volvo too - funnily enough the one I got from an independant had Volvo stamped on it...

cheers

James

A whole half pint Foggy - you are all heart! Yep it looks to be the dizzy cap, and yes I only replaced it last year but at least I know this is a common fault (ta Chris)!


By the way I just got back from seeing Madagascar...funny as hell!

I'm currently trying to invlove this notion in the V3M weekend meet, Steve and Fogs having none of it though Ah well, I have my girlfriend who will see it