Ignition failure?

[TheDampMan]

Hi all
Hoping for some advice, went out for a little run today the car is running great than all of a sudden without any spluttering the engine stopped my first thought was ignition failure.
On checking i find-
No spark at plugs, I have live feed to the coil but is not pulsing when engine tuning over.
My car is fitted with Lumenition
Any thoughts?

[christopher storey]

The overwhelming likelihood is ignition module failure, particularly if this is a recently fitted unit. For some reason, aftermarket ignition systems either last for ever ( see e.g. Heuer ) , or else fail within a few months of being fitted. For this reason I advocate sticking to points, which barring coil failure will nearly always be possible to repair at the roadside. The only other reasonable possibility is rotor arm conductivity, ( very common these days unless you fit a Distributor Doctor arm ) , but this usually manifests itself as misfiring and/or non starting from hot rather than grinding to a halt

[mgcjag]

Hi Steve...you can narrow it down a bit....pull the center ht lead dizzy cap and see if its supplying spark.....also have a look inside the cap...is the carbon still there that sits on top of the rotor arm they can break up.....Steve

[cactusman]

As Chris says it may be a lumenition failure. I suggest you connect a spark plug directly to the lead from the coil and see if you get a spark. If not it is probably a dead lumention module assuming of course it has a 12 volt supply in addition to the 12 volts via the coil and the sensor within the distributor is connected properly. If there is a spark directly from the coil then almost certainly the rotor arm or possibly the cap has failed. Have to say I have a lumenition in my MG that has worked faultlessly for twenty five years.

[TheDampMan]

Thanks all for quick replies
Lumenition was fitted many years ago
Centre ht lead checked no spark
Distributor cap is newish and carbon still there
Rotor arm is newish and red distributor doctor

[cactusman]

Sounds like lumenition is dead but do check it is earthed properly and has its 12 volt feed from the ign.

[TheDampMan]

I have correct feeds to the module so it looks like its gone kaput!
Where best place to get one? are lumention modules all the same or is there a specific one for the e type?

[cactusman]

The modules are not model specific but the bits in the distributor are. They do a standard one and for more £££ a sports version I think. Available from various places e.g. Moss Europe I believe.

[mgcjag]

Check SNGB....iv seen them in their glass display cabinet in their shop...give them a call however you could think about changeing...points/Pertronix/123...etc