If it ain't broke.......... - Land Rovers Only

AndrewG · 01-09-2008, 06:12 AM

Well, I have to admit, I didn't follow that old adage. I have a 1995 RRC which was working great (apart fromt he usual RRC quirkiness

) but of course I decided to putz with it.

Over the weekend I replaced the plugs, distributor cap, plug wires, took out the K&N air filter and cleaned and re-oiled. In the process of doing this I broke the thin plastic tube to the vacuum advance in the distributor but replaced it with plastic tubing. After all this I started the engine and checked it was firing right (I hate changing plug wires on a V8) and all was good. All in all a good days work I thought as I cleaned my grimy hands. Doh !

When we got back on the road I had seriously reduced power, a juddering above 35/40 mph and a blue cabin with all the curses.

Went back home and replaced the new cap with the old one, hoping this would fix it, but no change then on the drive to work the next day. Next steps is to replace the new plug wires with the old ones and see what happens. However, I thought I might call ont he collective experience and knowledge here to see if you can spot anything idiotic I may have missed !

Elemental · 01-09-2008, 06:42 AM

Whose plugs did you use?

AndrewG · 01-09-2008, 06:56 AM

Champion Platinum. However, more reading around and looking at the websites I realised that my local carshop gave me Disco I spark leads while all the Rover sites have different spark leads for RRC !

Elemental · 01-09-2008, 07:02 AM

I think you would be smarter to confirm your centrificle advance and vacuum advance is working.

The plug wires from a disco will work just fine.

rqsall · 01-09-2008, 08:25 AM

Make sure you replaced the distributor cap with a genuine item and not an imitation/pattern part. I've heard many stories about this issue and didn't take the risk of getting a non-genuine one, but it's a recurring issue on quite a few forums.

AndrewG · 01-09-2008, 01:33 PM

I put the original cap back and the problem is still there.

How would I test the vacuum advance ?

pie4foou · 01-09-2008, 04:20 PM

has to say lucas on the rotar too... found that out the hard way.

AndrewG · 01-09-2008, 07:52 PM

Learned that the hard way on a TR7 a few years back

Lucas, the Prince of Darkness !

I was clever this time, well apart from it doesn't work after the changes, but at least I left the rotor alone !

Kevin88RRC · 01-10-2008, 05:13 AM

Couple of other thoughts to check...
-air gap in the distributor
-plug gaps
-blockage in the air intake

AndrewG · 01-11-2008, 06:08 AM

Taking a few hours today to go over the suggestions you guys offered. I'll let you know how I get on !

01-09-2008, 06:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
AndrewG Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 13 Gallery: 0	If it ain't broke.......... Well, I have to admit, I didn't follow that old adage. I have a 1995 RRC which was working great (apart fromt he usual RRC quirkiness ) but of course I decided to putz with it. Over the weekend I replaced the plugs, distributor cap, plug wires, took out the K&N air filter and cleaned and re-oiled. In the process of doing this I broke the thin plastic tube to the vacuum advance in the distributor but replaced it with plastic tubing. After all this I started the engine and checked it was firing right (I hate changing plug wires on a V8) and all was good. All in all a good days work I thought as I cleaned my grimy hands. Doh ! When we got back on the road I had seriously reduced power, a juddering above 35/40 mph and a blue cabin with all the curses. Went back home and replaced the new cap with the old one, hoping this would fix it, but no change then on the drive to work the next day. Next steps is to replace the new plug wires with the old ones and see what happens. However, I thought I might call ont he collective experience and knowledge here to see if you can spot anything idiotic I may have missed !

01-09-2008, 06:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
Elemental Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 3,293 Gallery: 0	Whose plugs did you use? __________________ I only worry about myself, screw the others.

01-09-2008, 07:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
Elemental Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 3,293 Gallery: 0	I think you would be smarter to confirm your centrificle advance and vacuum advance is working. The plug wires from a disco will work just fine. __________________ I only worry about myself, screw the others.

01-09-2008, 08:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
rqsall Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 32 Gallery: 0	Make sure you replaced the distributor cap with a genuine item and not an imitation/pattern part. I've heard many stories about this issue and didn't take the risk of getting a non-genuine one, but it's a recurring issue on quite a few forums. __________________ 1991 RRC 3.9 EFI manual gearbox (LT77)

01-10-2008, 05:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
Kevin88RRC Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Portland, Maine Posts: 722 Gallery: 0	Couple of other thoughts to check... -air gap in the distributor -plug gaps -blockage in the air intake __________________ Kevin 88 RRC "Audrey"

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01-09-2008, 06:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
AndrewG Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 13 Gallery: 0	Champion Platinum. However, more reading around and looking at the websites I realised that my local carshop gave me Disco I spark leads while all the Rover sites have different spark leads for RRC !

01-09-2008, 01:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
AndrewG Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 13 Gallery: 0	I put the original cap back and the problem is still there. How would I test the vacuum advance ?

01-09-2008, 04:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
pie4foou fuddmucker Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: CT/RI area Posts: 102 Gallery: 2	has to say lucas on the rotar too... found that out the hard way.

01-09-2008, 07:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
AndrewG Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 13 Gallery: 0	Learned that the hard way on a TR7 a few years back Lucas, the Prince of Darkness ! I was clever this time, well apart from it doesn't work after the changes, but at least I left the rotor alone !

01-11-2008, 06:08 AM	#10 (permalink)
AndrewG Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 13 Gallery: 0	Taking a few hours today to go over the suggestions you guys offered. I'll let you know how I get on !

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