QUESTION
Hopefully you may be able to give me some advice on a problem with my 1990 Esprit turbo S
Starts OK, but as soon as I put it into gear and try to drive off it cuts out.
It restarts immediately, over and over again but cuts out on attempting to drive forward.
Usually from the first start up I can rev it without it cutting out but as soon as I try to drive forward it cuts out.
I have noticed a couple of changes :
1- Usually when I first put the key in and turn the ignition on I hear a whirring noise which I have always assumed to be the fuel pump.
It is not doing that now, it is dead quiet until I turn the key.
2 - A couple of times when the car is in the garage, without the ignition key in, i.e.. just parked, there is a whirring noise, similar to the fuel pump activated.
I put the key in and turn the ignition key in and around to ignition on, all lights come on, then I take the key out (without attempting to start the car) and this kills the sound.
3) when I turn on the ignition and proceed to start the car all the usual lights come on but when it "stalls" or cuts out when I try to drive forward ONLY the battery light stays on .. all the other indicator lights are OFF
Does this sound more like electrical or fuel ???
I would appreciate any tips you might be able to give me re what may be going on
R.A. - Palm Beach, NSW.
ANSWER
I would suggest you commence diagnosing this problem by checking the inductive pickup and inter-connecting cable inside the distributor.
The symptoms you describe are typical of fractured copper wire strands connecting the pickup to the Lucas electronic ignition module
The two internal wires are subject to constant flexing as the base plate and pickup are moved by the centrifugal advance mechanism
When the engine is started and is operating at idle speed the internal copper strands make contact and the ignition system operates normally
However when engine speed is increased, the mechanical advance mechanism moves the damaged copper strands so they no longer make contact
Once the inductive pickup signal is lost, then the electronic ignition module ceases to operate and the engine cuts out
Copyright © 2019 Lotus Marques
Hopefully you may be able to give me some advice on a problem with my 1990 Esprit turbo S
Starts OK, but as soon as I put it into gear and try to drive off it cuts out.
It restarts immediately, over and over again but cuts out on attempting to drive forward.
Usually from the first start up I can rev it without it cutting out but as soon as I try to drive forward it cuts out.
I have noticed a couple of changes :
1- Usually when I first put the key in and turn the ignition on I hear a whirring noise which I have always assumed to be the fuel pump.
It is not doing that now, it is dead quiet until I turn the key.
2 - A couple of times when the car is in the garage, without the ignition key in, i.e.. just parked, there is a whirring noise, similar to the fuel pump activated.
I put the key in and turn the ignition key in and around to ignition on, all lights come on, then I take the key out (without attempting to start the car) and this kills the sound.
3) when I turn on the ignition and proceed to start the car all the usual lights come on but when it "stalls" or cuts out when I try to drive forward ONLY the battery light stays on .. all the other indicator lights are OFF
Does this sound more like electrical or fuel ???
I would appreciate any tips you might be able to give me re what may be going on
R.A. - Palm Beach, NSW.
ANSWER
I would suggest you commence diagnosing this problem by checking the inductive pickup and inter-connecting cable inside the distributor.
The symptoms you describe are typical of fractured copper wire strands connecting the pickup to the Lucas electronic ignition module
The two internal wires are subject to constant flexing as the base plate and pickup are moved by the centrifugal advance mechanism
When the engine is started and is operating at idle speed the internal copper strands make contact and the ignition system operates normally
However when engine speed is increased, the mechanical advance mechanism moves the damaged copper strands so they no longer make contact
Once the inductive pickup signal is lost, then the electronic ignition module ceases to operate and the engine cuts out
Copyright © 2019 Lotus Marques