How embarassing.......

[Wingnut]

I having been talking with an English chap who lives down in the south of France about my Excel after he noticed for sale. Provided loads of info/pictures and have been more than honest about it. We made arrangements for him to come over and view the car with the view that if it was suitable he would have it. He was due to come this afternnoon and I was to pick him up from Stansted, I had checked him into the Travelodge in Chelmsford for tonight and booked the morning off work tomorrow to do the money/paperwork with him before waving him on his way.

That was until I took the car to work this morning and the sodding thing brokedown on me

Plan was to go straight from work to Stansted but after about 30 miles on the M25 this morning travellling to work it starts to hesitate when given some gas. It slowly gets worse and by the time I stop at the trafficlights coming off the A1 in Hatfield it dies on me. Manage to get it going again and limped to the office car park. Had a proper look around and a fiddle, including disconnecting the rev limiter but it is still running like a dog.

Bit the bullett and called the chap who was just about to set off for the airport, and explained. He was most understanding (more so than I had expected) and I was obviously very embarassed. Dispite the inconvience and the cost he has incured (as well as my cost of putting him up) he is still keen to see the car when it is fit again.

Two purposes for this post. One if Tony is frequenting this site then I am so so sorry to put you out. And two what the fek could be the problem.

The rev limiter has done nothing by being disconnected. I am not sure if it could be the vacum advance cold to hot as the car was already hot for a good while before the problem. The wires to the amp and the amp to the dizzy all seem fine. Fuel shouldn't be a problem as it was filled with lovely V-Power this morning. To top things off I went out to the car later on this morning and it started and ran fine I guess since it has cooled down. (It will be just my luck that I have called the chap off and it run fine from now on.) The car had been running perfectly since I changed the fuel pump over to an electronic one and that still appeared to be working when I checked it this morning.

HELP..........

[amarshall]

When did you last replace plug leads ? Last time I had this behaviour on my Westfield (hesitation under load when warm), I pretty much rebuilt the ignition system replacing all bar one component - guess which one ? Problem always seems to go away when cold, but gets progressively worse as things get warm.

[Wingnut]

Leads replaced less than 2 years ago

[amarshall]

Leads replaced less than 2 years ago

But more than 2 services...

[Wingnut]

Leads should last longer than that. They certainly aren't a regular service item!

[amarshall]

Leads should last longer than that. They certainly aren't a regular service item!

OK - don't try it then.

[Wingnut]

Of course I'll try it and am truly greatful for the advice. I was simply stating that I haven't known plug leads to not last less than two years, not questioning your suggestion. Soz.

[Pete Boole]

Ice in the carbs? My previous Excel used to behave just as you describe when it was particularly cold and damp - ran fine again after sitting in a layby for twenty minutes!

Pete

[amarshall]

Sorry - I'm having a cr*p day here.

[Wingnut]

Bad day? Know how you feel! Currently sitting in a layby on the A12 awaiting the AA.

Did exactly the same thing. Fine for 30 miles then cough and splutter then cut out. Not wanting to die on the A12 (which has no hardshoulder) I got it going again and chugged to the next layby.

By the time AA man gets here it will be cold again and will run fine no doubt!

[amarshall]

That's why I'm suggesting plug leads - same symptoms exactly. Runs fine while warming up then dies under load and just gets worse until it cuts out completely. Feels like its running on only 2 or 3 cylinders at most, but seems to rev fine if not in gear.

Leads don't last forever and are a relatively cheap and easy thing to try before going down any other route.

[Wingnut]

Cheers Angus. I will be on the phone to SJS firstthing in the morning!

[Pondlive]

If the leads don't do the trick, then try a new coil.

[Redexcel]

I think the guy who suggested ice forming in the chokes of the carbs probably put his finger on the problem. Conditions are ideal at the moment for this phenomen i.e. damp air and a few degrees above zero. Later Excels had a revised induction system to overcome this very problem where hot air is taken from the area around the exhaust downpipe.

In my experience, shot HT leads only cause a problem when the engine is under load. They would have to be practically falling apart to prevent the engine ticking over. Have you tried measuring their resistance? I can't remember the exact readings, but the longest should be in the region of 20k ohms or less.

[lambert.john]

I had a similar experience with my Elite a few years ago. It was many frustrating months before the problem was revealed - a fuel tank rusting on the inside and rust blocking the fuel lines. Have you checked the fuel filter recently?