Wednesday, 20 December 2017

​Own Goal


Well I went from Hero to Zero in 5 miles.

I finished the electrics on the distributor - and then noticed it said for negative earth systems only...

Having used all the tools I could, I impatiently decided to have a go anyway, suspecting a total failure.

To my surprise nay delight it worked ... and after some adjustment it even ran well.

It ran so well that after two short test drives I decided to risk putting more petrol in it and set off for the station.

It went well at slow speed but not so well under load. Anyway we made it to the petrol station but  lost power and stuttered just beforehand, which was a worry. I filled up with a few gallons and set off home.

It died 100 yards later.

So I suspect the electronic unit has broken down. The coil was very hot too.

I parked up in a lay-by and wondered what to do. I even got offered a coffee from a nice lady who said her husband heard me break down. I phoned home, got a lift, collected some tools and the old distributor and also called the Brakedown Service who had no record of the car. They found it and so eventually I was sitting in the SAAB, waiting by the car for a man to come and look at it. On balance I decided to leave it to him and not try anything myself.

Anyway - three hours later he arrived, checked the spark and it was ok so we started the car - it seemed to run ok again.

He followed me home luckily as I only just made it, as the car was loosing power all the way. Then he helpfully took me back to collect the SAAB.

So we live to fight another day.




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