PLEASE READ LAST BIT Engine cuts out after 5-10 mins urgent help needed

Evening chaps

Need your help and suggestions please - got a 1600tp totally standard apart from new Vacuum advance dizzy with Pertronix. After driving for about 5 to 10 minutes it starts to hesitate, then starts to cut out and backfire then after a few minutes dies completely. Called RAC out (guy was incredibly rude) but fitted a new coil (made no difference). He thinks its the Pertronix module and suggested tapping the dizzy with a hammer whilst cranking which does get it to start then the same thing happens again after variable periods of time. Am in Camelford Cornwall and need to get back to Kent so have dumped it at local garage until Monday. Any suggestions PLEASE

 

He might be right. I always thought they either work or don't but recently came across a pertronix doing exactly as you describe. Try a set of points to see.

 

Can you see the fuel filter and is it empty when it dies, have you tried opening the petrol cap to see if you hear a loud hiss?

 

Near to where we broke down, RAC guy was spot on with us thou, what local garage you at? It's not live vw is it.

 

Check all the ht leads PROPERLY
Check cap and arm for crack or arcing particularly the carbon Rod in the cap.
If you hit it with a hammer and it goes put a hammer on your key ring

 

Its in Camelford

 

Just to add, it may be coincidence but on the way down here it started to hesitate a bit after going through the car wash. Since that its been in Cornwall for 5 months for resto

 

Backfiring = fuel but no spark?
I spent a really pleasant evening with a chap in Norfolk a few weeks ago with this problem He'd tried everything already and said he'd changed the distributor too. A few days later he reported back it was the pertronix - I hadn't twigged that when he changed the distributor he moved the pertronix across to the replacement.

 

Resto = welding. I wonder if they left the battery connected and welded without thinking. My example above had just renovated his too.

 

I feel for you bud, camelford wasn't the best place to get stuck in, and we were only waiting an hour for the bus.

Hope you get it sorted.

 

Hi Zed

Can you put normal points into the pertronix dizzy? Bought it from jk as a complete unit with electronics built in

Thanks

 

As you can put a pertronix unit in a regular distributor I'm imagine so.

 

Points are super cheap so it's a good first thing to try, but could also be
Poor battery or G'Box earth
Ignition switch
Basically anything electrical/connections between the battery +ve and the coil, which routes via the fusebox, though not through a fuse. A poor connection will get hot and the resultant increase in resistance will make the connection even worse. There must be a point when electronic ignition says no, so replacing the pionts may make it go, but ultimately might not be the actual cause.

 

The fade out does sound like the timing moving a long way off, maybe as the distributor warms up with the engine block.
Points should be in your kit of stuff for when the Pertronix fails as you blow it up one day.

The points will fit - If I remember correctly , the only difference was the Pertronix had a slightly fatter locating pin than a set of points on the base of the sensor unit. So a set of points and a condenser outside the distributor will fit. But remember to take off the black magnet ring or you will not get the points in easily.

Other avenues of thought - lean running counteracted by choke holding richer mixture until the choke comes off and an air leak from a split vacuum hoses kills the mixture.
Vacuum in fuel tank caused by blocked or misrouted breather hoses - fuel starvation.
Label from fuel gauge sender blocking tank outlet - fuel starvation.

 

I'm just suggesting something that's really quick and easy to eliminate, I never trust an OPs description , one man's spluttering could be another's backfiring, you never know he could change everything only to find out he's put some dodgy fuel in or some water from the carwash has got in the tank

 

How would that explain it only starting when you tap dizzy with hammer ? Tried to be as descriptive and accurate as possible

 

Will try that thanks

 

It would seem at the moment you've got a reasonable diagnosis with the Petronix, but to be fair a few posts later you've added in that it's been in resto for 5 months so presumably not driven far and potentially could be any manner of problem.
Eliminating fuel supply problem just ticks one off.
I hope you get it sorted quickly and keep us informed

 

thanks all - will let you know tomorrow

any thoughts on why it springs to life when you hammer the dizzy while cranking?

 

sticking ?