Yesterday began well. One project finished and works better than expected. Rustic post topped by a little solar powered lamp!
I had the Jaguar out of the shop and in the drive to make working room in my shop garage.
When the morning work as done and I ready to go in a fix lunch. Twisted the key in the car. It fired instantly. It ran for about 1/2 minute or less. Not even time for me to shift from Park to Drive. Then shut down and a brownish cloud of smoke came from behind or under. It quit running.
I tried a couple of times to refire. It cranked with energy. But no start.
Not having energy, I left it to another day. today, much later perhaps a cursory look…
Late yesterday morning, I drove the Jeep to market. On the way home the radio was on a sports news station, Then it went silent !!! The time of day appeared on screen. I messed with it just a bit, trying not to divert to much attention from where I was going. .Upped the volumn. Music, Marty Robbins!! A tape had kicked in…
Stashed the groceries and began project two. Another rustic drive marker with solar lamp atop.
Cranked the Jaguar, still in the drive. Cranked nicely, but no fire. Looked under the hood/bonnet. Only one thing astray. The air cleaner element off the pipe. Backfired, for sure…
Son dropped by. Decided I could use a fresh belt on my sander and carve that way to get the 3/4" I needed. “Tom, I have belts”. Well, these are coarser, use 'em…
I mentioned the Jaguar’s illness. He an accomplished master in making things and making them run. A couple of efforts and it started!!! repeated !!! Drove it into my shop as I was done for the day.
Two guesses:
Jumped timing chain.
An oddity not likely to reoccur.
He put the air cleaner back on and on is well, so we hope…
Oh I am invited to a traditional thanksgiving diner at their house… Yum.
I attached the document that tells very clearly how to test the unit. I bought a Dynaspark or supposedly improved version… it failed three times… I have it on my Wall of Shame. Be sure to test the short section of the harness as mine failed once during the ownership.
I had a Meziere water pump and that made changing much easier. After doing it several times I could change it out and have it running in a hour.
All checks well as t the harness connections. Skipped the Optispark test. Spark is good.
No repeat of the “episode”. Starts and runs fine.
Son has a theory. The LT1 has a sturdy double row timing chain., They do wear and a blip might cause a mistime for just an instant. but, unlike the cheaper single rows, not likely to jump a tooth and remain out of time.
The “real” mileage of the LT1 is not known.
As to why it did not start up at the time, but did later. A sensor detected the oddity and tie allowed thing to return. Suspect. The knock sensor did it’s job. And the PCM responded, but with time, reset itself… “artificial intelligence”.
So, will we swap in a new chain. Not likely. Just drive it. Keep my cell handy and road service paid.
Did errands in the Jaguar yesterday. Nice weather. odd, one would think that a rainy day would be best for a car built in a country where those are prevalent !!
Purred as need and moved on out with alacrity as needed…
Another hissy fit. Or a recurrence of the original!!!
A few days ago, I fired it up. Immediate start.
Backed out of the garage. Not going anywhere, just wanted room to “mess around” with my projects. idling nicely for about 60 seconds and then just quit. No bangs, back fires or any symptom!! As it did the last time. No fire on crank.
Let it set there, days. Son came over. Pulled a plug lead and put it on my “test plug”. No spark!!! Discussed module location. I dug out a spare. Was in the left over Jaguar parts totes! Not in the extra Cadillac totes ???
Son swapped it in. Yuk, a bad and loose coil wire and corrosion!!! Cleaned the corrosion.
Checked for spark ! Spark yes, run, no.
Waited a few minutes. Crank again. fired up!!!
Fix? Bad coil module. Corrosion or both!!
Is the original coil module OK? May never know.
But, it sits til son brings over a good coil wire. why don’t I have one or more? cuz, I sure have a lot of stuff. But, as not that unusual, not what I need!!
Car left in the driveway. Out of the way. I tidied up the garage/shop a bit. Swept via leaf blower!!! dusty but beats the broom!!
Son brought over a plug wire set. Swapped in the coil wire. Fired easily!! Repeated several times with time intervals in between. Moved it in out of the sun. All seemingly well.
Mystery remains. Bad coil/module. Corroded and loose fitting coil wire? Keep the swapped out coil/module? Way to test? Preemptive toss of it!!
Nope, I’ll not test it by swapping it in with new coil wire!! It don’t need fixin…
Get only a real genuine GM Optispark…they are crap but the others far worse. Happy my LT1/700R Jag is sold and gone. No more front distributor engines, including Ford.
Onme of the preemptive things I did as I did the engine swap was to install a brand new GM Optispark. First fire up circa 2005. It does not have many miles on it.
I do have the Optispark, a GM original that came with the engine. Tucked away as a back
up.
And, it seems the danger to a GM Optispark is moisture!! usually from a leaking water pump. The weep is right over it!!
Well, in my car, that weep is gone!! Mezzierre
electric pump.
Aye, I got quite good at swapping out distributors on early flat head Ford V8’s.
Way back when.
5hew last ones. 49-53 used a more conventional unit, up top. Easier to service, yeah, but as to quality, not anywhere as good…