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Don't always think the worst !!!!

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KLUTZ

KLUTZ

Luke Skywalker
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Well, I got the call last night; my TR7 was ready for pick up and running, "Better then ever." following my last thread, it ended up that my electronic ignition had fizzled out, thus, getting no spark of course. Well, my specialist got a Pertronix in from the States and installed it. Shortly after... it too died. He managed to locate one of the same kinds that was on it previously, close by this time, that was used as a tester. He spent six hours with the car trying to find the short causing the module to fry. He finally found the reason, fixed it and installed the replacement. He told me where the short was, but I forgot. I was too happy to hear it running again to listen. Well, I drove it for a couple hours last night. Stopped quite a few times, and it started up right away each time. I parked in the driveway over night, got up this morning, washed, waxed, did the windows, and got in to take it for a nice summer drive with the sunroof off.
WELL... it would not go. Same symptoms as before. I couldn't see a spark from the plug, figured Elect. Ign. again.
I spent two hours with it until I gave up.. slamed the hood, wanted to kick it, but resisted. I had my son help push it into the garage to let is sit for the weekend.
I just couldn't get it out of my mind, so out to the garage I went. I took out the plug again and looked for a spark. Guess what... You can see a spark a lot easier in a dark garage then in the sunshine /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
I then remembered that I told him not to re-attatch the choke cables since I was replacing it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif I opened the chokes on both Carbs manually, got in the car, turned the key.... And you all know what happened. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Brought it to work tonight, ran like a charm.
Next time I will not jump to conclusions, and look for the simple things first.

Paul
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
OH, by the way; What do you buy your mechanic for Christmas who spends 6+ hours on your car, Replaces ignition system, sets timing... And sends you on your way for $250.00 ? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
"OH, by the way; What do you buy your mechanic for Christmas who spends 6+ hours on your car, Replaces ignition system, sets timing... And sends you on your way for $250.00 ? "

A nice bottle of Scotch comes to mind.......that and referring all the business he can handle to him. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif When you find a good guy like that, you have to nurture him.
 
KLUTZ,

"Don't always think the worst" is a good phrase to keep in mind when a car goes on the blink. I installed a radio last year in the 1993 XJ6 and heard something fizzle... the car of course had no ignition thereafter. I thought I had pulled and tested all 2,256 fuses (well, almost) from the three fuse boxes and was just sure that I had fried the entire electronic ignition system.... big $$$ to replace. After 2 days of pouring over the car again and again, I had it towed to a shop and braced myself for the thousands of dollars I was about to spend. It turned out that I apparently kept skipping one fuse during my testing, a fuse that cost 15 cents and 2 minutes for the mechanic to find.... The total repair was $90.00, $80.00 of which was the tow charge.

Glad you are back on the road and running smoothly!

Brian
 
I always liked the white color on tr7's. my favorite color for this body style.
 
Yep, its really the nature of the beast. When your car stops running, with no apprent reason why, its probably something little, stupid and insignifigant. Always drives you crazy, but its just the way it is. Im glad you caught it without too much pain! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Great!!! Glad the last problem turned out to be minor, and that you got it going again while summer is still around (at least in some parts of the country) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
Two of my cars have a Pertronix ignition. I love it, but if it frys I sure will miss setting the points, although with the Webers, the distributor is real hard to get to on a crossflow.

I'm glad you are having fun. It sounds like you have a decent mechanic there.
 
Thanks.. Actually the colour I had it painted is Mercedes Arctic White. Had it done at Maaco up near me last year. The colour does look great on it.
By the way.. I would take my coupe style any time over the rag tops.

triumphcropped.jpg
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/canpatriot.GIF
 
Twice I've thought the worst when dealing with electrical problems on the Spitfire. Once I was having the exhaust system repaired and the car wouldn't start. The mechanic came over and checked and it sure enough was dead. By chance I checked the battery terminals and the negative cable was so loose it came off by just an easy pull. The second time I was with friends and they took apart the ignition switch, pulled the starter, and had the electrcial meter running tests. We put stuff back together and still it wouldn't start. As and after thought, I wire brushed the terminals. Yes, it roared to life. T.T.
 
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