On the side of the road again, any help would be wonderful!!

[TravelingCanadian]

Hey guys, got my lastfewproblems sorted out, first it was the O/D lever, next it was our points, spark plugs, and wires, then it was a starter issue, and on outlay to pick up a new starter in Adelaide we got 3 km outside of Murray Bridge (just up the first big hill) we noticed we were getting hot, and by the time we pulled over there was steam rolling from underneath our hood... So we let her cool down and then filled the radiator back up, but we only made it another 2km into a rest stop before having the same issue.... Did we crack our block and we are now burning up the coolant... Btw we had very "wet" exhaust just like one of the cylinders was eating up coolant instead of petrol...


Again it's a series III with the original 2.25L from 1979


Thanks in advance for any help/ advice!

[Slunnie]

Ouch, sounds so head gasket. Check you oil colour for contamination also.

[isuzurover]

x2.

If you need to drive it, fill up the water but leave the radiator cap off.

[digger]

I dont think you'll get much help in Callington! or Monarto, best bet to turn into murray bridge next chance...
I assume you are on Callington Hill, in parking bay that is near the two radio transmissions towers..


cant suggest a mechanic there,(murray bridge) but ask for prices first - some are expensive!

Im a few hundred k away sorry, Hopefully someone is closer and can lend a hand, I assume youre between murray bridge and monarto turnoffs..

Good luck!

[C00P]

Ouch, sounds so head gasket. Check you oil colour for contamination also.

Sure does. White frothy stuff on the bottom of your oil filler cap is a pretty common sign of a blown head gasket. It's not a complicated engine, so not too difficult to fix if that's what it is.
Hope you are soon on the road again...
Are you staying in Murray Bridge while getting it fixed? If so, send me a PM with a contact number I might be able to offer a little assistance, I'm coming up that way later today (Sunday) from Adelaide.

Coop

[bee utey]

You will undoubtedly need a tow. Are you with a motoring association in Australia? A fully loaded S3 is probably much more than my trailer can handle.

Most likely just a headgasket if you stopped in time. I am about 50km further up the freeway, I have basic mechanical facilities. Spudboy at Balhannah may be able to help too.

PM me your phone number if you want a word.

[C00P]

Again it's a series III with the original 2.25L from 1979


Thanks in advance for any help/ advice!

I've just checked my spares box. I have a spare head gasket for a 2.25 petrol that I can get to you if you need it.

Coop

[digger]

I've just checked my spares box. I have a spare head gasket for a 2.25 petrol that I can get to you if you need it.

Coop

Legend!

So, is there going to me a "masterclass" meeting for a 'workshop' in the parking bay?? :) :)

Loving your work guys!

[C00P]

Legend!

So, is there going to me a "masterclass" meeting for a 'workshop' in the parking bay?? :) :)

Loving your work guys!

If so it'll have to be given by someone else. The nearest I've got to this is replacing the head gasket on a Mini 850....
Still, it's British, and just a pushrod engine, how difficult can it be? (Famous last words).

Coop

[TravelingCanadian]

I dont think you'll get much help in Callington! or Monarto, best bet to turn into murray bridge next chance...
I assume you are on Callington Hill, in parking bay that is near the two radio transmissions towers..


cant suggest a mechanic there,(murray bridge) but ask for prices first - some are expensive!

Im a few hundred k away sorry, Hopefully someone is closer and can lend a hand, I assume youre between murray bridge and monarto turnoffs..

Good luck!
Yes that sounds like where we are.

Good news is that there appears to be no contamination in the oil to a new gasket should sort us out, we are going to head down into Murray Bridge shortly and find a place to stay, and wait for some parts..... Hopefully that is enough to get us back on the road!

Will need to source a head gasket, starter motor and a torque wrench if at all possible

Thanks again guys!

[timbo]

haha. I love this forum.

[George130]

Could have helped if over this part of the country.

[Blknight.aus]

hold the phone..

check your carby and the mount...

do you have one of those wierdo plates thats got a pair of coolant lines running to them?

if so...

check that first...

if not....

Grab a garden hose, unplug the heater lines from the block, gravity feed a jerry to one of the heater hose outlets and then run another hose up into the top of the jerry but dont put it below the fluid level.... Leave the radiator cap on. (you want one of the jerries or a 20l oil drum with a drain tap on the bottom )


So long as you keep the water up, the engine load and speed down you can run untill the cooling system washes the fire out by plug fouling.

you will contaminate the oil doing this so you must as soon as you reach where your going dump the sump oil dump the coolant and run the engine for a couple of minutes (30 second runs) with a clean (cheap and nasty) engine oil to clear out the galleries before they get clogged with sludge.

I've made 500K with this trick.

[C00P]

All under control folks. Had to go down their way anyway, so collected them from Murray Bridge and towed their Landy to my secure shed a few kilometers away. They are staying with us tonight and I'll drop them at the Landy place in town tomorrow where they can get all the stuff they need. (As it happened, when I looked more closely at the gasket set I had, the only gasket it didn't have was.... you guessed it.... the head gasket!!
They'll have a look around town tomorrow and then I'll run them back to the shed tomorrow evening with all their parts and tools where they can do the job in comfort. I've spoken to the mice and redbacks and they've promised to leave the chaps alone while they work on their vehicle....
Should be back on the road in a couple days. Look out for a bright yellow LWB 4-door with a Canadian flag on the rear window.

Coop

[LandyAndy]

All under control folks. Had to go down their way anyway, so collected them from Murray Bridge and towed their Landy to my secure shed a few kilometers away. They are staying with us tonight and I'll drop them at the Landy place in town tomorrow where they can get all the stuff they need. (As it happened, when I looked more closely at the gasket set I had, the only gasket it didn't have was.... you guessed it.... the head gasket!!
They'll have a look around town tomorrow and then I'll run them back to the shed tomorrow evening with all their parts and tools where they can do the job in comfort. I've spoken to the mice and redbacks and they've promised to leave the chaps alone while they work on their vehicle....
Should be back on the road in a couple days. Look out for a bright yellow LWB 4-door with a Canadian flag on the rear window.

Coop

LOTS of good "Landy Karma" earnt there,well done on helping out.
Andrew

[goingbush]

Coop,

You are a champion mate !!

And three cheers for everyone from AULRO that chips in with offers of help, no matter where we are in this great country, as vast as it is, help is never far away !!

[digger]

Coop,
well done mate!, a legend you truely are!

Thanks! (held up SAs honour on this one!)

(I swear I looked everywhere but cannot find an elephant stamp!)

Digger

[bob10]

Well done COOP, for your efforts I anoint you-- Honary Queenslander!!! [ sorry, couldn't help myself after the REDS great win tonight] It's nice to know there are still good people around, bravo zulu, Bob

[spudboy]

Hey Travelling Canadian - I drove past your yellow Series III twice today!! I noticed it in the truck bay as I was on my way to Peake for some sand driving fun in my Disco. On the way back I wondered what was going on - as it was still there.

When you get mobile again (sounds like I am too late to assist with that now) you might like to call past and say hello if you are coming down to Adelaide. We have plenty of space on our farm and would be happy to put you up for a night if you want some free accommodation - you can pitch a tent in our front paddock or nearer to the house if you need power.

We are at Balhannah - about 25Kms out of Adelaide.

Send me a PM if you are interested.

Cheers
David

[C00P]

hold the phone..

check your carby and the mount...

do you have one of those wierdo plates thats got a pair of coolant lines running to them?

if so...

check that first...

if not....

Grab a garden hose, unplug the heater lines from the block, gravity feed a jerry to one of the heater hose outlets and then run another hose up into the top of the jerry but dont put it below the fluid level.... Leave the radiator cap on. (you want one of the jerries or a 20l oil drum with a drain tap on the bottom )


So long as you keep the water up, the engine load and speed down you can run untill the cooling system washes the fire out by plug fouling.

you will contaminate the oil doing this so you must as soon as you reach where your going dump the sump oil dump the coolant and run the engine for a couple of minutes (30 second runs) with a clean (cheap and nasty) engine oil to clear out the galleries before they get clogged with sludge.

I've made 500K with this trick.

That's one for the memory banks, thanks Blknight. Seems like the gasket hasn't blown into the oil galleries, just into the coolant, as they don't have any of the usual off-white frothy deposits you get with water in the oil. They have noticed a soft compression when turning it over with the crank handle, so seems like their diagnosis is probably correct.
They have been getting about 24 litres/100km which is way excessive. If the head gasket has been on the way out for some time, that might explain it, but with the same engine the worst we have had is 18 litres/100km and that was pushing into a strong headwind (like about 25-30 knots). They have the same carby as me (Zenith) but with some of the anti-pollution removed. They have done all the obvious things like tyre pressures, handbrake dragging, etc. Any suggestions as to adjustments they could make that might assist to reduce their fuel consumption a bit?
Cheers,

Coop
(Carbies are black magic to me...)

[C00P]

LOTS of good "Landy Karma" earnt there,well done on helping out.
Andrew

Hey, what goes around comes around....

Coop

[C00P]

Coop,

You are a champion mate !!

And three cheers for everyone from AULRO that chips in with offers of help, no matter where we are in this great country, as vast as it is, help is never far away !!

I get lots of help from you guys, it's time to give a bit back- especially to people who are a long way from home...

Coop

[C00P]

Hey Travelling Canadian - I drove past your yellow Series III twice today!! I noticed it in the truck bay as I was on my way to Peake for some sand driving fun in my Disco. On the way back I wondered what was going on - as it was still there.



Hope you enjoyed the fun. We were there yesterday and learned a great deal about what we could do in our Landy in sand.
We also upheld the honour of the Series III after being sent out the front on the convoy because we were the slowest, and running away from them such that they had to tell us to "Back off a bit..." <chortle>:p

Coop

[Blknight.aus]

That's one for the memory banks, thanks Blknight. Seems like the gasket hasn't blown into the oil galleries, just into the coolant, as they don't have any of the usual off-white frothy deposits you get with water in the oil. They have noticed a soft compression when turning it over with the crank handle, so seems like their diagnosis is probably correct.
They have been getting about 24 litres/100km which is way excessive. If the head gasket has been on the way out for some time, that might explain it, but with the same engine the worst we have had is 18 litres/100km and that was pushing into a strong headwind (like about 25-30 knots). They have the same carby as me (Zenith) but with some of the anti-pollution removed. They have done all the obvious things like tyre pressures, handbrake dragging, etc. Any suggestions as to adjustments they could make that might assist to reduce their fuel consumption a bit?
Cheers,

Coop
(Carbies are black magic to me...)



if its been retuned to compensate for the going headgasket and the loss of compression then they will be running rich and the carby will need a back to basics.

Tightening up the lash on the exhaust a touch and doing the tune up with the engine hot will be about the best you can do... IF alternatively they've had the carby running lean it might just be that thats whats taken the head gasket out.

[Xtreme]

if its been retuned to compensate for the going headgasket and the loss of compression then they will be running rich and the carby will need a back to basics.

Tightening up the lash on the exhaust a touch and doing the tune up with the engine hot will be about the best you can do... IF alternatively they've had the carby running lean it might just be that thats whats taken the head gasket out.

May also have burnt out an exhaust valve if running too lean ................ I guess all will be revealed when head is removed but I'd suggest closely examining the valves/valve seats and rectifying any problems there before refitting head. Not forgetting the valve stem seals either.

[digger]

So TC how things going?

Diagnosis yet?

[C00P]

So TC how things going?

Diagnosis yet?

(On TC's behalf)Just left them at the shed they got back with the spares this evening- they are up to their elbows in greasy stuff, the manifolds and sundry bits are off and I have the starter which also needs attention. Should have a diagnosis tomorrow after they remove the head...

Coop

[digger]

(On TC's behalf)Just left them at the shed they got back with the spares this evening- they are up to their elbows in greasy stuff, the manifolds and sundry bits are off and I have the starter which also needs attention. Should have a diagnosis tomorrow after they remove the head...

Coop

good stuff mate

[newhue]

COOP, your a star, good on ya

go any pics of the ordeal

[C00P]

Head back on today- the head gasket was really blown- in fact the entire section between two adjacent cylinders had gone!! (No wonder their fuel consumption was a bit on the high side!) Awaiting parts for the starter- should be ready tomorrow morning, they'll install that before replacing the manifolds, carby and other sundry bits. With a little luck they'll be back on the road again tomorrow, ready to head North.
Will see if I can get a picture of the remains of the old gasket for you.... it's not a pretty sight!

Coop

[Blknight.aus]

dont forget to point them this way...

[C00P]

They are back on the road today, but hanging in Adelaide to get the starter motor right- still not completely fixed. Local auto electrician is pulling his hair out because of intermittent fault which he has finally tracked down. He is being very fair given his quote is now way under the cost of fixing it. Can I mention his name?

Yes, Blknight, I'll tell them about Queensland.... :D

See the photo's below of the blown head gasket -sorry they're so small (mobile phone camera).

Regards

Coop
46975
46976

[digger]

They are back on the road today, but hanging in Adelaide to get the starter motor right- still not completely fixed. Local auto electrician is pulling his hair out because of intermittent fault which he has finally tracked down. He is being very fair given his quote is now way under the cost of fixing it. Can I mention his name?
Yes, Blknight, I'll tell them about Queensland.... :D

See the photo's below of the blown head gasket -sorry they're so small (mobile phone camera).

Regards

Coop
46975
46976



Cannot name and shame" - its poor form and may get all our arses sued...

BUT

I BELIEVE WE CAN "NAME FOR FAME" :D

I think a discreet "plug" wouldn't be a bad thing,
and we all want to know who it is!:twisted::p


Thanks again

[d@rk51d3]

:eek::eek::eek:


How did I miss this thread!?!?!?!?!




I'm so ashamed. :(

[digger]

:eek::eek::eek:


How did I miss this thread!?!?!?!?!




I'm so ashamed. :(

Yeah, we've all been talking about how terrible you really are...:twisted:
:wasntme::angel:

To make up for it the whole forum have decided you need to find and deliver a gunbuggy to my place.:eek:... I tried to talk them out of it... honest!:angel:

[C00P]

Hey, if anyone should be in sackcloth and ashes its me. Actually drove past them on the Saturday night- didn't see them except at the very last second out of the corner of my eye and didn't believe it was a Landy. Until I saw their post the following morning....
The good news is they are mobile again- starter all fixed, an excellent job by Belair Auto Electrical on Belair Rd. A very honest dealer who deserves our patronage. He also supplied me with a simple change-over Lucas alternator for my 28-amp 15 ACR. Removed that and bolted on one that gives out 70 amps- no messing about with brackets or spacers or anything. I only have to do a slight mod to the wiring as the connectors are slightly different.

They are heading west next so anyone over that way look out for a bright yellow Series III 4-door LWB with a Canadian flag on the back window, and give them a wave.

Cheers,

Coop

[C00P]

The travelling Canadians have had a bit of a look around South Oz from the air today and are flying to Pt Lincoln to sample the shark diving (or for the sharks to sample them...) then back to Adelaide before taking the train later this week for Perth (yes, they are putting the SIII on the train). Then it's probably going to be Margaret River and head up the West Coast towards the Kimberley Ranges. They've learned about redbacks, Cooper's beer, and Haigh's chocolate, and they might try a pie floater tomorrow.:)
Given the problems they've had with their Landy, they are a little reluctant at this stage to trust it in the more remote areas, but perhaps that'll wear off in time...

Coop

[JayBoRover]

Hey Coop, are they contactable? If they're in/around Perth I have space and a donor S2a and service abilities here if they want to drop in, depending when they're over this way. We're heading to their end of the world (Canada) in July to visit some friends/family in Saskatchewan (via Vancouver/Calgary/Edmonton) but hiring a car there ... not that I wouldn't trust DeeDee the S2a of course;).

[djam1]

COOP if they are coming up through the Pilbara I am in Karratha and can assist them if required

[superquag]

... IF the old banger gets them that far.....:wasntme:

[isuzurover]

So they aren't driving across the Nullarbor - that is a huge shame - lots to see along the way...

If they need somewhere to work on the landie in Perth, I should have some space in the shed.

[C00P]

I've let them know of your offers of assistance- guess they'll get in touch when they are next in range. Not sure if mobile coverage extends to Neptune Island...

Coop

[superquag]

Is this 'Series' of theirs a local purchase for the purpose of exploring Oz? - Or did they bring it with them?

I'm assuming they're impecunious tourists... No other logical explanation for subjecting themselves to such torture for so great a distance . :wasntme:

[LandyAndy]

Mention to them Im in Williams WA (Albany HWY,160ks from Perth) Welcome to camp here on the way thru if they are in these parts.
Andrew

[C00P]

Is this 'Series' of theirs a local purchase for the purpose of exploring Oz? - Or did they bring it with them?

I'm assuming they're impecunious tourists... No other logical explanation for subjecting themselves to such torture for so great a distance . :wasntme:
They bought it in Sydney to explore Oz. Have had quite a lot of trouble with it, but hopefully they've solved the main problems...


Coop

[superquag]

Ahh... Understand. They could have bought a jap one over there, - Not the same backup service, but then again, would'nt need it ......:wasntme:

Was in the same position myself, -could only afford a RRC, the Pajero equivalents were 50% more... Buggers hold their value too well !

At least they'll meet (lots more) interesting Aussies !!! :p:p:p

[dswatts]

They bought it in Sydney to explore Oz. Have had quite a lot of trouble with it, but hopefully they've solved the main problems...


Coop

Just seen that the car is for sale on gumtree. :(

[pop058]

Just seen that the car is for sale on gumtree. :(

1979 Land Rover Series III 4x4 | Cars | Gumtree Australia Perth City - West Perth (http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/west-perth/cars/1979-land-rover-series-iii-4x4/1002802401)

[C00P]

Could it possibly be ex-military? It has that flat steel bullbar and the little metal protectors around the rear tail lights. I don't know enough about military LR's to know if this is enough to confirm military heritage.

Coop

[newhue]

from the pics it sure has those features. It would be shame but I guess travelling is not about fixing cars

[TravelingCanadian]

Hey guys, sorry it has taken us so long to get back on here, but we have been trying to do more of the traveling thing and less of the modern Internet thing!

So just to fill you in on a few details, on our last day in Adelaide before heading onto the train we ran into a number of problems, first our battery wouldn't hold enough charge to charge up the coil, thus run.... Luckly across the street was a shop that had the right battery, now that we had tht fixed it was still barely running, back firing like no ones business, again we were forced to pull over, we noticed that our points were badly burnt down and that that could have been the problem... I jumped into a taxi, got a ride to pcb land rovers where they had a spare, taxied back, installed the new points.... It ran only slightly better..... But we had only 45 min left to load our truck onto the train... So naturally we headed for the train station, and by a stroke of luck we got there in time (not vary easily mind you) and they took our truck and loaded it up..

Once we got to Perth how ever, they couldn't get it started to unload from the train and we had to resort to pushing it off the train... We got it running but again it was not running right, we reset the tappets, re-gapped the points, but still are having trouble with it as soon as it tries to runs under load...

So we quickly went over the basic stuff like checking plugs and wires, inspected the fuel filter...

Still to no avail, if we were at home and I had my garage with all the tools and spare time to work on her say after work or something, I'd be treating it like a puzzle and would mind, how ever since we are trying to travel and be tourists with a loose schedule and tight budget this is just not working out for us all that well which led to the gum tree ad.

If anyone has any pointers on getting this things running well then we'd be happy to hear them!

Thanks for all the help and support guys!

[TravelingCanadian]

Duplicate post! Sorry!

[JDNSW]

It just about has to be something fairly simple from the symptoms. The burnt points suggest either the capacitor or the wrong coil - an eight volt one designed for use with a ballast resistor. Other possibilities include a loose connection in the low tension electrical circuit, of simply dirt in the carburetter (one I had not too long ago was the paper element in the fuel filter just before the carburetter started to disintegrate!).

Hope that helps.

John

[Davo]

You hosers are giving up way too easy, eh.

Seriously, the 2&1/4 petrol is one of the easiest engines to keep running. I'll bet a little bit more effort would sort it out. It's really just a matter of replacing all the ignition parts, (with the right bits, not the common dodgey ones), making sure the Zenith 36IV carby is refaced where they warp, and then dealing with vacuum leaks and whatnot.

If you want to see WA properly you'll need a car, anyway. It's hopeless trying to get around by bus or whatever it is that non-car owners do with themselves.

[Tank]

Hey guys, sorry it has taken us so long to get back on here, but we have been trying to do more of the traveling thing and less of the modern Internet thing!

So just to fill you in on a few details, on our last day in Adelaide before heading onto the train we ran into a number of problems, first our battery wouldn't hold enough charge to charge up the coil, thus run.... Luckly across the street was a shop that had the right battery, now that we had tht fixed it was still barely running, back firing like no ones business, again we were forced to pull over, we noticed that our points were badly burnt down and that that could have been the problem... I jumped into a taxi, got a ride to pcb land rovers where they had a spare, taxied back, installed the new points.... It ran only slightly better..... But we had only 45 min left to load our truck onto the train... So naturally we headed for the train station, and by a stroke of luck we got there in time (not vary easily mind you) and they took our truck and loaded it up..

Once we got to Perth how ever, they couldn't get it started to unload from the train and we had to resort to pushing it off the train... We got it running but again it was not running right, we reset the tappets, re-gapped the points, but still are having trouble with it as soon as it tries to runs under load...

So we quickly went over the basic stuff like checking plugs and wires, inspected the fuel filter...

Still to no avail, if we were at home and I had my garage with all the tools and spare time to work on her say after work or something, I'd be treating it like a puzzle and would mind, how ever since we are trying to travel and be tourists with a loose schedule and tight budget this is just not working out for us all that well which led to the gum tree ad.

If anyone has any pointers on getting this things running well then we'd be happy to hear them!

Thanks for all the help and support guys!
When you changed the points did you change the condensor as well, if not change the condensor. If still not going try another coil, Regards Frank.

[BST4X4XFA]

Hi there TravelingCanadian,

I haven't got much experience with the older landies but you are more than welcome to pull into my garage and use the basic tools I have. We're up in Joondalup, northen suburbs. I think if you can spend some time with it without being rushed you might find you'll be able to get the problems sorted.

PM me if you're interrested.

Cheers, Jurgens.

[superquag]

Very kind offer Jurgens.:clap2:

But...with the luck these Canucks are having, - bet they're staying down at Rockingham.....:p

Ignition is easiest to fix, - Get a nice fat spark happening at the right time..and the rest should follow.

Failing that, a Shaman and a chook's entrails.....:twisted:

[UncleHo]

G'day Travelling Canadians :)

A Series 3 with the polution gear removed?,the timing for a pollution controled vehicle is 6Deg AFTER TDC, a non-pollution vehicle is 6Deg BEFORE TDC,reset the timing and that should fix the poor preformance and also the thirst, remembering that the Zenith carby is OUT = rich IN = lean,did you clean the bottom of the head bolt threads,as often if there is crud in the bottom of the threads then the bolts will tighten on the crud and leave the head below tension in that area, (I have had to correct this on 2.25 motors a few times.

cheers

[superquag]

Keep us posted on your progress/woes... gives us a better chance to help when we find you on roadside, again. :p

Anyone else got a Dwell-Angle meter ? - easier to set points with that than a feeler gauge, IMHO.

Which end of town are you staying/stranded in ?
Cheers!

[TravelingCanadian]

Right now the LR is in East Perth, and at the moment am staying at a friends in Claremont.... If this rain would stop I will head out today and try out your suggestions

I'll keep you guys posted

Thanks for everything!

[TravelingCanadian]

It just about has to be something fairly simple from the symptoms. The burnt points suggest either the capacitor or the wrong coil - an eight volt one designed for use with a ballast resistor. Other possibilities include a loose connection in the low tension electrical circuit, of simply dirt in the carburetter (one I had not too long ago was the paper element in the fuel filter just before the carburetter started to disintegrate!).

Hope that helps.

John

Hold the phone, it is supposed to have an 8V coil?
I would have to double check but I believe I have a 12V (on there when purchased).

If it is the higher volt coil as I suspect would this burn out the condenser/points thus give me the symptoms that I have described!

Thanks!
Mike

[JDNSW]

Hold the phone, it is supposed to have an 8V coil?
I would have to double check but I believe I have a 12V (on there when purchased).

If it is the higher volt coil as I suspect would this burn out the condenser/points thus give me the symptoms that I have described!

Thanks!
Mike

No - it is supposed to be a 12 v coil, but if you fit an eight volt one - which may have been sold as a 12v one - it will cause the points to burn (and eventually destroy the coil). The 8v coil is not usually referred to as such, but as a 12v (ballast) coil. These are rare on English design engines, but common on North American design ones. And with simple Kettering ignition now being a thing of the past for many suppliers, it is not at all hard to get sold the wrong one.

John

[slug_burner]

The points switch the the current on and off in the coil that sets up your collapsing field to generate your HV for the spark plugs. If the coil requires a ballast resistor then you will be running a a higher current through the points. Check to see if you do need a ballast resistor (which is usually bypassed at start up), it might be easier to change to the correct coil than have to play around with ballasts and bypassing. Not a bad idea to change the points and the capacitor at the same time.

[UncleHo]

G'day Folks :)

A standard series 3 only requires a straight 12v coil,which is often a Bosch GT40 unballasted, but a GT40R is a ballasted coil,this is the one commonly supplied by most spare parts sales people as the majority of common vehicles on the road use them,but people with older vehicles and tractors require a standard unballasted coil,my 1985 Range Rover,first model with electronic ignition,requires an unballasted coil but a GT40 (90,000volts) is to much for the ign module as it was designed for the Lucas 12V coil (55,000 volts) I learned the expensive way :( at night the old aftermarket coil gave a nice light show :eek:

cheers

[C00P]

G'day Folks :)

A standard series 3 only requires a straight 12v coil,which is often a Bosch GT40 unballasted, but a GT40R is a ballasted coil,this is the one commonly supplied by most spare parts sales people as the majority of common vehicles on the road use them
cheers
My Series III has an electronic trigger (it replaces the points). Does this make a difference to which coil should be used?

Coop

[JDNSW]

My Series III has an electronic trigger (it replaces the points). Does this make a difference to which coil should be used?

Coop

If it just replaces the points, no. It is possible that it is an electronic module that needs a different coil, but pretty unlikely.

John

[superquag]

My own experience last century was that aftermarket ( points-triggered & points-replacement) electronic ignition systems invariably utilised the standard coil, whatever it was. The store-bought ones I installed used the + feed on the coil as their power-supply, and were content with whatever voltage/current they got. :D

AFAIR, my home-built ones were the same. The one CDI used still operated the 'standard' coil.

Yep, a damp, moonless night could be very educational... :p