Why can't I alter my ignition timing?

Mar 20th, 2003, 22:28

Hi,

Can anyone tell me why my ignition timing refuses to be altered. To cut a long story short I recently changed my intake manifold and carb on my 240 GLE. The car fired up fine and even managed to be driven home that night with no problems. The next day I jumped in and drove off to do some shopping. After a couple of hundred yards and whilst going up a slight incline I started to lose power. I stopped and looked in engine bay. hooray, Just a kinked inline fuel filter. Got a new one, Changed it. Still have the problem. Back in the engine bay. Oh the choke is slightly closed. that's it. Pulled off, No problems. Later that evening off I go again. 2 miles down the track, No power. Sounds like fuel starvation. Back to the drawing board. Anyway I've swapped and changed carbs 2 or 3 times now and still the problem persists. This morning I thought I had it when I adjusted the distributor timing. The engine went from pinging to normal Idle. Great, I jumped in it and off for a test run. 2 miles later the pinging was back. I re-adjusted the distributor. Nothing, no matter how much it's turned it makes no difference. I've even changed the spark plugs, but that made things worse. It seems like the car is re-setting the ignition itself. At the moment the car won't even run properly. it just splutters, coughs, misfires and occasionally just stops dead like someone putting a stick in a bicycle wheel. Please help.

Mar 22nd, 2003, 22:55

Problem solved. It turned out to be a cracked distributor cap. I had'nt checked there because I only changed it last month. Thats wat you get I suppose for choosing a cheap alterative.

Mar 22nd, 2003, 22:59

Hi Ian.
First things first. What model year is the car? What engine is it 2.1 or 2.3? What carb is fitted? What ign system is fitted?

I don't understand when you say "The engine went from pinging to normal Idle".
Pinging (or pinking) normally occurs when the engine is under load running weak and/or ign timing too far advanced.

If the car sometimes just stops dead as you say, it's more than likely an electrical fault I suspect.

Mar 20th, 2003, 22:28	#1
Ianpearce112 Guest Location:	Why can't I alter my ignition timing? Hi, Can anyone tell me why my ignition timing refuses to be altered. To cut a long story short I recently changed my intake manifold and carb on my 240 GLE. The car fired up fine and even managed to be driven home that night with no problems. The next day I jumped in and drove off to do some shopping. After a couple of hundred yards and whilst going up a slight incline I started to lose power. I stopped and looked in engine bay. hooray, Just a kinked inline fuel filter. Got a new one, Changed it. Still have the problem. Back in the engine bay. Oh the choke is slightly closed. that's it. Pulled off, No problems. Later that evening off I go again. 2 miles down the track, No power. Sounds like fuel starvation. Back to the drawing board. Anyway I've swapped and changed carbs 2 or 3 times now and still the problem persists. This morning I thought I had it when I adjusted the distributor timing. The engine went from pinging to normal Idle. Great, I jumped in it and off for a test run. 2 miles later the pinging was back. I re-adjusted the distributor. Nothing, no matter how much it's turned it makes no difference. I've even changed the spark plugs, but that made things worse. It seems like the car is re-setting the ignition itself. At the moment the car won't even run properly. it just splutters, coughs, misfires and occasionally just stops dead like someone putting a stick in a bicycle wheel. Please help.

Mar 22nd, 2003, 22:55	#2
Ianpearce112 Guest Location:	RE: Why can't I alter my ignition timing? Problem solved. It turned out to be a cracked distributor cap. I had'nt checked there because I only changed it last month. Thats wat you get I suppose for choosing a cheap alterative.

Mar 22nd, 2003, 22:59	#3
Beardy Rich Guest Location:	RE: Why can't I alter my ignition timing? Hi Ian. First things first. What model year is the car? What engine is it 2.1 or 2.3? What carb is fitted? What ign system is fitted? I don't understand when you say "The engine went from pinging to normal Idle". Pinging (or pinking) normally occurs when the engine is under load running weak and/or ign timing too far advanced. If the car sometimes just stops dead as you say, it's more than likely an electrical fault I suspect.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)