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From: carlos den Boer
Fromemail: anniedenboer'nospam'home.nl
Category: Javelin
Remote Name: 192.168.1.100
Date: 25 Sep 2005
Time: 10:16:24
I suggest you join the Jowett Car Club who will be able to help with spares. Most spares are available. I can certainly help you find out what is wrong with the car. First check the voltage at the battery, of course it should be just over 12volts. Note whether it is positive or negative earth to chassis. Switch the ignition on and check the voltage across the low tension terminals of the coil. See if it is 12 volts. Disconnect all the spark plug leads and turn the engine over with starting handle. See if the voltage across the coil changes. It should do this at about top dead centre on each of the cylinders. There is a mark on the flywheel with 1 l 2 stamped on it, you can see through a hole on the top of the clutch housing. Note there is also a mark at 12 deg before TDC. There may also be a mark on the crank pulley. If the voltage changes, next check you have a spark on one (and all of) of the spark plug leads. You should hear a faint click or you may see the spark. Do not electrocute yourself!! If you do have a spark, recheck the spark comes exactly at TDC. If it does not, move ( or adjust the micrometer on ) the distributor. You should have a blue rather than orange spark. If it is orange it means the high tension is not good. Next you need to check the polarity of the coil. This is done with a carbon pencil in the spark lead. If positive earth, the carbon ions flow from lead to engine. If this is incorrect reverse the low tension wires on the coil. If this does get you a good blue spark, you should buy an ignition coil and a new capacitor for the distributor. It is a good idea to fit new points also, but just check that they are not pitted, (if they are, smooth with fine Emery cloth) . Set the gap on the points to 25thousandths inch. (metric?) (I always set gap using a dwell meter to 60 degrees but that needs the engine running!). If the engine still does not start, check the voltage at the distributor when the starter is operative. You may have a poor earth, bad battery or poor connections on ignition circuit. If you remove the distributor cap and turn the engine you should see and hear a spark across the points. This should be a clean spark. If it is not, that indicates bad points or failed capacitor. Good Luck