Panda (Classic) Charmanda(er) The Panda

[purple haze]

I bought a brand new sports coil for apple when I was at the NEC. £10.

I fitted it in 4mins just as we were about to leave. I'm now going down the more expensive electronic route.

Get yourself to vern's and it's yours for a fiver.

 

[Didge3]

I bought a brand new sports coil for apple when I was at the NEC. £10.

I fitted it in 4mins just as we were about to leave. I'm now going down the more expensive electronic route.

Get yourself to vern's and it's yours for a fiver.

Sounds excellent.

 

[VmanC]

I bought a brand new sports coil for apple when I was at the NEC. £10.

I fitted it in 4mins just as we were about to leave. I'm now going down the more expensive electronic route.

Get yourself to vern's and it's yours for a fiver.

Easy Kev, turns out the new system uses the original coil.

I can get you one though Didge if you want to fit it here.

 

[purple haze]

Easy Kev, turns out the new system uses the original coil.

I can get you one though Didge if you want to fit it here.

So I did remember right..:slayer::devil:

I have to say that the trip home from the NEC apple went like a rocket with that coil.

 

[Didge3]

Right, went for another little test tonight, also confirmed the oil loss is so minimal its not a problem at the moment.
She started on minimal choke after about 3 attempts, seems to like less choke in the winter
Not exactly an instant go like she was all summer but we're getting there...

Now please excuse my ignorance but is this my coil I literally have no idea

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Yep, thats the bad boy

 

[Didge3]

Yep, thats the bad boy

Thanks

In which case VmanC I'd like one your 'sports' coils if you can get hold of one for me. How much are they?
Also I move back home for Christmas break next Saturday (14th) so it'd need to be before then.

 

[Didge3]

Had a busy weekend but will hopefully get round to bolting my new sports coil in tomorrow

Vern already told me but have since forgotten, which side do I connect to the positive/negative on the coil?

 

[VmanC]

Had a busy weekend but will hopefully get round to bolting my new sports coil in tomorrow

Vern already told me but have since forgotten, which side do I connect to the positive/negative on the coil?

Wire from ign. switch goes to +ve on coil, -ve on coil goes to distributor.

 

[Didge3]

Well its been quite eventful, over the road we have a garage and the guy who owns it came over when he saw me fiddling about with Char', he complimented her good condition etc.
Then gave me his insight, he doesn't reckon the problem is my coil but we connected it up anyway and didn't make any real difference...
He thinks its my 'cheap looking' distributor cap (to be honest does look pretty worn inside). He recommended new plugs/leads/dizzy cap/rotor arm, which I wouldn't disagree with entirely the leads do look pretty old and give slight electrical shocks when you hold them.

Once I got her started on the old coil he said she sounded a bit lumpy, thought she was running on 3 cylinders, I informed him she certainly wasn't and she just doesn't sound as refined as a modern engine, after proving that all 4 cylinders were working (disconnecting each spark plug at a time and seeing the running of the engine get noticeably lumpier) So he thinks the timing might be slightly out, I have no idea to be honest so he said I could drop in next time i'm free and he'll check the timing for me. (Might I mention all free of charge so he's not trying to con me thus far)

Ugh, cars

EDIT: Forgot to mention, carb has an air leak, by spraying starter fluid stuff near the base of the carb the revs just pick up on their own. Wonder what else I can add to my list

 

[blu73]

well you shouldn't get shocks from HT leads, that means they defo need replacing asap. I think if you change them parts it may run alot nicer in general and the timing is more than likely alright. But you can let him check i suppose, but when he says its out and demands money to sort it, will you believe him without letting vern or something check as well....? Leak from around the carb will not help none at all either!!

 

[VmanC]

Well its been quite eventful, over the road we have a garage and the guy who owns it came over when he saw me fiddling about with Char', he complimented her good condition etc.
Then gave me his insight, he doesn't reckon the problem is my coil but we connected it up anyway and didn't make any real difference...
He thinks its my 'cheap looking' distributor cap (to be honest does look pretty worn inside). He recommended new plugs/leads/dizzy cap/rotor arm, which I wouldn't disagree with entirely the leads do look pretty old and give slight electrical shocks when you hold them.

Well I guess if you renew everything it should be fine!

Most distributor caps get crusty on the contacts pretty quickly so I wouldn't condemn it for that. Definitely don't try to scrape off the contacts in the cap in an attempt to clean them though as this will make things worse. The crust will conduct electricity much better than a larger air gap will.

Have a look under the bonnet at night to see if the leads are shorting out on tickover, the sparks should show up easily then.

 

[Didge3]

Well I guess if you renew everything it should be fine!

Most distributor caps get crusty on the contacts pretty quickly so I wouldn't condemn it for that. Definitely don't try to scrape off the contacts in the cap in an attempt to clean them though as this will make things worse. The crust will conduct electricity much better than a larger air gap will.

Have a look under the bonnet at night to see if the leads are shorting out on tickover, the sparks should show up easily then.

Will have a look, to be honest not really sure anymore. The odd thing is, I'll go out in her after getting her started up after several attempts, make my journey, she'll sit for about 2 - 3 hours doing nothing and have lost all temperature (as you'd imagine) and fire straight up first time like she does in the summer, so I'm thinking the starting issue is more to do with air/fuel now, what with the air leak somewhere in/around the carb

 

[blu73]

there will still be residual heat in it even after the gauge is at the bottom and its been sat for a few hours.. Say 10-15 degrees, its not alot but it is what it would be in summer on first start..

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Have a look under the bonnet at night to see if the leads are shorting out on tickover, the sparks should show up easily then.

:yeahthat:

Like this

 

[blu73]

do it in the dark and its even more obvious

 

[Didge3]

Not happy
Wen't to go out expecting the usual, takes a few attempts to start but we'll get going. She had done a 70mile journey on Tuesday and had no issue.
However today, nothing, wouldn't start or even get close to catching like she usually does. Was out for 10minutes spraying WD40, adjusting the choke slightly but nothing :bang:
After a while battery started to get low and I have no way of charging it here so I've left her
Will try again tomorrow but doubt she'll have enough battery to get going anyway, will have to call recovery I imagine.

Really need to get to the bottom of this because I need her a lot right now to get me about.

 

[Palio]

They are easy to flood if you keep trying to start with choke & hitting the accelerator. If so it might fire first turn of the key now! :idea:

If it does turn out to be that, you will need to modify your starting technique to suit. I had one which was fine on choke in the Summer but needed to start on the accelerator in Winter then quickly pull the choke out!! It's called character, amongst other words.......

 

[Didge3]

They are easy to flood if you keep trying to start with choke & hitting the accelerator. If so it might fire first turn of the key now! :idea:

If it does turn out to be that, you will need to modify your starting technique to suit. I had one which was fine on choke in the Summer but needed to start on the accelerator in Winter then quickly pull the choke out!! It's called character, amongst other words.......

I've been using no choke to start for the last 2 weeks, starts after couple of attempts with no choke, hold it on the throttle and then pull the choke out to get idle. I don't use more than 1/2choke ever as I know she'll flood.
Not sure why today would be any different to starting her up on Tuesday, started normally Tuesday in the same temperatures as today with the same technique. Something is wrong.

 

[kolza]

Not sure why today would be any different to starting her up on Tuesday, started normally Tuesday in the same temperatures as today with the same technique. Something is wrong.

Was it really damp morning at your place? I.e. fogy or raining, if its releated to the dampness its clearly an electrical fault - HT or bad earth on the hedgehog closer to the battery.
If still not sorted, give him a snifff of "back to black"dash/bumper spray or easy start. If will stars from the first turn - air fuel mixture or compresion issue.