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Re: Petronix Troubleshooting

To: "Neil Trelenberg" <neilberg@telus.net>,
Subject: Re: Petronix Troubleshooting
From: "tom felts" <tomfelts@earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2004 21:38:54 -0400
FWIW,I was told that if the Pertronix was going bad, it doesn't give any
warning--just goes---either works or it doesn't.  Anyone confirm?  As far
as them failing, I have used it in my Healey for 6 years and in my E-Type
for 5 years---never a wimper.

tom




> [Original Message]
> From: Neil Trelenberg <neilberg@telus.net>
> To: Healey List <healeys@autox.team.net>
> Date: 6/10/04 5:57:02 PM
> Subject: Re: Petronix Troubleshooting
>
> Carlos, I can't personally say what the symptoms of a unit failing are
but I
> have heard from rough running to total failure. The only real way that I
> could see of finding out would be to go back to your old points. When you
do
> that static time the car again and then check to see if that was the
> problem. Actually put the points back in and see if that fixed the problem
> and then re-time it. The reason I say that is, when I put my Petronix in I
> static timed it first and then put the unit in. I then checked it with an
> advance timing light and it was right on....15BTDC @ 600rpm. I check it
from
> time to time and it's always been ok. I have heard many horror stories
> (whether true or false) about them failing so what I did was set up my
> points on a spare backing plate and I keep that in my carry along tool
bag,
> just in case. Of interest, I found in the dry heat of the summer 15 BTDC
> rattles a bit so I change it to 12BTDC and that seems to be a good
> compromise (15 winter, 12 summer). I guess that could be debated but for
my
> car and where I live, sea level wet coast I mean west coast of Canada
those
> setting work well. You could also check your wiring connectons and the
small
> lead under the cap. Perhaps throw on an old rotor if you have one, they
have
> been known to crack. How about your old coil do you still have that, put
the
> old one back.You didn't say if the unit worked fine after you put it in
> (pertronix) and did it just start doing this? Bla bla bla that should keep
> you busy for a while ;) ....Neil
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Carlos Cruz" <healey3000bn7@yahoo.com>
> To: "Healey List" <healeys@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2004 11:24 AM
> Subject: Petronix Troubleshooting
>
>
> > Hi fellow listers,
> >
> > I've been having problems with stabilizing the Healey at start, idle and
> during acceleration.  It runs rough in all situations.  I thought at first
> it was the rear carb, giving the coughing, sputtering coming from that one
> carb.  The front one seems to run just fine.  I've taken the carbs apart
> twice now and everything seems to be in working order.  The problem
> persists.
> >
> > Now I'm thinking it may be the Petronix ignition in the Dist. cap.  This
> is the first Petronix system I've had and don't know how to trouble shoot
> it.  I pulled the cap and the unit looked OK.  Can someone explain the
> symptoms one would experience with this ignition system when it starts to
go
> faulty?  BTW, I did replace the coil recently.
> >
> > Also, any suggestions on how to go about troubleshooting a petronix
system
> would be helpful.
> >
> > Cheers,





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