Engine intermittantly cutting out.

Technical advice Q&A

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Ausie E type
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Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2016 12:03 am
Australia

#1 Engine intermittantly cutting out.

Post by Ausie E type » Wed Dec 20, 2023 3:43 am

This has been going on for a while, I am pretty sure it is electrical because it cuts out immediately then in time starts immediately without pump noise. So far i have replaced the coil, had the electronic distributor checked out by the manufacturer and disconnected the Tacho, all to no avail. Apart from the ignition switch and a faulty fuse, am i missing something else?

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cactusman
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#2 Re: Engine intermittantly cutting out.

Post by cactusman » Wed Dec 20, 2023 8:19 am

If it suddenly cuts out is electrical. I'd suspect a fuse to start with. Old fuses had the wire soldered to the end caps. Cheap modern ones have the wire fed through the glass tube and the end caps interference fitted. They come loose. The wire doesn't connect well to the cap. If not the fuse the old Lucas fuse holders are not brilliant. The clips tarnish and corrode leading to intermittent loss of connection...
Julian the E-type man
1962 FHC
1966 MGB....fab little car too

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AussieEtype
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#3 Re: Engine intermittantly cutting out.

Post by AussieEtype » Wed Dec 20, 2023 8:22 am

Ausie E Type - not to be confused with the real AussieEtype :shock:

I cannot help with your question but welcome to the forum :bigrin:

Garry
1971 Series 3 E-type OTS
1976 Series 2 XJ 12 Coupe

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cactusman
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#4 Re: Engine intermittantly cutting out.

Post by cactusman » Wed Dec 20, 2023 8:26 am

As originally wired though the coil supply is not fused (white wire) so it may be the ignition switch As they do fail. As you have an electronic ignition fitted it may be a fused supply to this that is the issue...
Julian the E-type man
1962 FHC
1966 MGB....fab little car too

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chrisfell
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#5 Re: Engine intermittantly cutting out.

Post by chrisfell » Wed Dec 20, 2023 9:29 am

If no fault can be found with the live feeds to the ignition, check all the earth connection to the frame. In fact I'd check those first.
Chris '67 S1 2+2

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malcolm
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#6 Re: Engine intermittantly cutting out.

Post by malcolm » Wed Dec 20, 2023 9:48 am

I had this once on another vehicle, and it was the king lead from coil to dizzie. The wire inside had broken and made contact most of the time, but didn't if the lead moved. We traced where in the lead it was by bending the lead with engine running, then cut it and screwed a steel screw (get you home stuff) into each end of the lead before taping up. Then forgot after getting back from France and drove it like that for next 2 years.
Malcolm
I only fit in a 2+2, so got one!
1969 Series 2 2+2
2009 Jaguar XF-S
2015 F Type V6 S

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Allrand
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#7 Re: Engine intermittantly cutting out.

Post by Allrand » Wed Dec 20, 2023 11:38 am

Had this on my 3.8, it was the LT Lucar connecter to the side of the distributor, had to wiggle it a bit to get it to start again.
Randall Botha
'64 3.8 fhc & '51 Mk 7

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Ausie E type
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#8 Re: Engine intermittantly cutting out.

Post by Ausie E type » Wed Dec 20, 2023 8:56 pm

Thank you for all your replies! You have given me a few more things to check. Also thank you Gary, you are a better speller than me !!!
Ian

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Ausie E type
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#9 Re: Engine intermittantly cutting out.

Post by Ausie E type » Thu Dec 21, 2023 10:34 pm

Thank you all, when the engine cuts out I am measuring only 4 volts at the coil and 13volts at the switch so the switch needs replacing. Power to everything else in the switch is working including the starter motor.
Have a Merry Christmas.
Ian

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oldak
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#10 Re: Engine intermittantly cutting out.

Post by oldak » Tue Dec 26, 2023 7:49 pm

I helped a friend with this issue. It turned out to be a loose nut on the 12 volt connection bolt under the heater box. The nut was loose allowing some rust to build up between the connections resulting in the engine dying and then coming back again. We cleaned up all the contacts and then tightened down the nut. Problem solved. But as mentioned above check the fuse boxes. Those prongs get loose.

Mike From over the pond.
Mike Oldak
67 series 1
Bethesda, MD USA

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