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DesertSprite
Jedi Warrior
Offline
A few weeks ago I posted about my Sprite's engine just stopping while driving down the road. I would be at about 35mph and it would sputter a bit, then cut-out completely. After I pushed it a bit, it seemed to just start up again and go for a while, then cut-out again.
Well, after that incident it didn't happen for about two weeks. Then, this Wednesday it happened again, but under different circumstances. This time it happened when I came to a stop. It happened really abruptly too. The engine didn't sputter and try to keep it's idle, it just revved down and cut-out. Of course, being in an intersection making a left-turn when that happens isn't the greatest thing. So, I immediately cranked it over and it started right back up. ??
Later on that day while driving home on the freeway (in stop and go traffic) it seemed to want to cut-out on me again. But, once I got it up over about 45mph and had the rpm's up it ran fine. Didn't happen again that day or since.
The one thing I did notice when it would begin to die on me is that the oil pressure dropped down to between 20 - 30 psi, but would then go back up to 40 psi once it began to hold the idle or once I began to drive a bit faster.
When I got home, I took a look at the engine while it was idling (by that time it was idling perfectly fine, holding oil pressure, etc.). I could see a bit of bluish smoke coming out of the oil filler cap/vent. It was VERY faint and I had to look for it to see it. If I wasn't looking for something wrong with the engine I probably wouldn't have noticed it. Is that smokiness normal?
Anyway, previously a few of you guys mentioned I should look into a ballast resistor for the ignition. I did some reading on the Lucas sports coil, and it says not to use a ballast resistor. I tested the resistance cold and hot on it and got 2.7 ohms cold and 2.9 ohms hot (that is after subtracting the 0.3ohms registered by touching the leads together before actually testing the coil - as per the instructions provided with the tester). The Bentley manual says it should be around 3.0 ohms.
Well...if anyone has any suggestions as to what to look for, I'm listening. Thanks again.
Joel
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/patriot.gif
Well, after that incident it didn't happen for about two weeks. Then, this Wednesday it happened again, but under different circumstances. This time it happened when I came to a stop. It happened really abruptly too. The engine didn't sputter and try to keep it's idle, it just revved down and cut-out. Of course, being in an intersection making a left-turn when that happens isn't the greatest thing. So, I immediately cranked it over and it started right back up. ??
Later on that day while driving home on the freeway (in stop and go traffic) it seemed to want to cut-out on me again. But, once I got it up over about 45mph and had the rpm's up it ran fine. Didn't happen again that day or since.
The one thing I did notice when it would begin to die on me is that the oil pressure dropped down to between 20 - 30 psi, but would then go back up to 40 psi once it began to hold the idle or once I began to drive a bit faster.
When I got home, I took a look at the engine while it was idling (by that time it was idling perfectly fine, holding oil pressure, etc.). I could see a bit of bluish smoke coming out of the oil filler cap/vent. It was VERY faint and I had to look for it to see it. If I wasn't looking for something wrong with the engine I probably wouldn't have noticed it. Is that smokiness normal?
Anyway, previously a few of you guys mentioned I should look into a ballast resistor for the ignition. I did some reading on the Lucas sports coil, and it says not to use a ballast resistor. I tested the resistance cold and hot on it and got 2.7 ohms cold and 2.9 ohms hot (that is after subtracting the 0.3ohms registered by touching the leads together before actually testing the coil - as per the instructions provided with the tester). The Bentley manual says it should be around 3.0 ohms.
Well...if anyone has any suggestions as to what to look for, I'm listening. Thanks again.
Joel
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/patriot.gif