cjhillman
Posted a lot
1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily)
Posts: 1,580
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Feb 11, 2021 22:54:47 GMT
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Bit on an odd one. Just went out to move my Escort onto the road to go to work tomorrow and it cranked slow (not unusual) then fired, ran for about 5 seconds then died. All lights died on the dash too. tried it again, turned the key, initially nothing then after a split second it fired but the same again . Did it a 3rd time but now turn the key and no dash lights... but i tested the battery and its 12.6v I'll have to try and deal with this over the next few days but i'm guessing it not the battery  tried moving the key about thinking it could be the barrel but no joy. This is the 1.1 ohv on points , not sure if failed points would do this? I'm thinking alternator or starter motor but never had this problem. |
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Last Edit: Feb 11, 2021 22:59:39 GMT by cjhillman
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,882
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Feb 11, 2021 23:00:04 GMT
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Battery earth or live not got the best contact?
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cjhillman
Posted a lot
1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily)
Posts: 1,580
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Feb 11, 2021 23:03:15 GMT
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Battery earth or live not got the best contact? I checked that they were both tight the last time I went out and gave them a spray of GT85 but nothing. Not a lot I could try tonight unfortunately . |
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Feb 11, 2021 23:11:55 GMT
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Unsure but do these have a ballast resistor in the loom to the ignition circuit, does it run if you hold the key in the start position?
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retired with too many projects!
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cjhillman
Posted a lot
1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily)
Posts: 1,580
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Feb 11, 2021 23:16:51 GMT
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Good thinking , I never thought of that. It will do on points. at the moment sometimes the battery/oil light doesnt even come on though. One of the few times i tried it it did light up and start a split second after the key was in the run position. It ran for a little bit but died. Now theres no lights at all.
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,882
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Feb 11, 2021 23:18:44 GMT
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Is there a switch at the other end of the key barrel - they sometimes go bad?
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dragon
Part of things
Posts: 148 
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After removing the steering column shrouds on my Quantum kit car I found that the ignition switch loom had melted into the metal.
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cjhillman
Posted a lot
1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily)
Posts: 1,580
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Feb 12, 2021 21:10:39 GMT
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Ok so I didnt get in till late today. I videod what I did for reference and put it as an unlisted video on my channel.
Basically...
- Tried it again first of all and it was dead. Then it fired a little bit which made me think it was the (ignition barrel) but then died.
- After this I had a poor attempt at using a spare earth lead from the negative terminal to the suspension strut using mole grips. This was completely dead but the headlights worked. I don't doubt they worked without this earth anyway.
- removed the new Earth, gave the starter a bit of a tap in case. Initially it didnt really fire but then if I kept the key turn it would fire. It also seemed that if I had the key turned and touched the accelerator it would fire but, I cant believe this car is that intelligent. IT did seem to work though.
I'm thinking I need to try a proper new decent earth on sunday when I can see and feel my fingers. Take off the cowling to the ignition and check in there. After that I'm not sure.
I did find a website a quote talking about Alternator problems if the headlights work and I did notice problems with the battery light when flicking the lights on but I duno. I've had a faint battery light on occasionally so maybe it is that... or the earth.
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Last Edit: Feb 12, 2021 21:13:23 GMT by cjhillman
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frag
Part of things
Posts: 335
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Feb 12, 2021 22:39:27 GMT
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That does have all the signs of a bad ignition switch...
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'69 Holdsworth bay
'88 T25 Panel van
‘72 beetle
‘78 vw champagne T2
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jpr1977
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 656
Club RR Member Number: 18
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Get the battery 'drop' tested (or borrow a known good battery/ try a Jump start) I have had a few batteries over the past couple of yrs that whilst showing an acceptable voltage don't have enough ooomph once you put a load on them. (including a 'new' one from ECP but that's another story...)
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tried moving the key about thinking it could be the barrel but no joy.
