Need help-enigine is missing

[Pritchard]

The engine isn't missing, it's still there, it's misfiring I guess.
It's a 74 2056cc with fuel injection and a Pertronix Ignitor and a cheap FLAPS coil.

Symptoms: engine misses eratically at all RPM, timing mark jumps around about a quarter of an inch, engine is running a bit rough as you could imagine, the engine will run smoothly for a few seconds and then miss again for a few seconds.

Here's what I've done: new plugs and wires, reset the gap on the Pertronix, the dizzy shaft doesn't move laterally

What I think I need/want: new cap and rotor, new throttle switch (the old one is worn and causing idle problems), new higher voltage coil

I would appreciate any input on what could be causing these symptoms. Thanks.

David Pritchard

[J P Stein]

Your timing light is telling you *something*.

Over the years I have had nearly everything go wrong with the ignition system of my various autos. In no particular order:

Cracked coil
Cracked cap
Water in the cap
Broken electrode spark plug (NEW and on #1, of course)
"leaking" plug wires
Worn/coroded points
More.......
All of these will cause the timing light to go bonkers.

All in all, enuff to drive a guy bugsh**.

[Rouser]

Try the new cap & rotor first, and don't run anything hotter than a 40K volt coil (Bosch Blue Coil or Pertronix Flame-Thrower are fine) with the Ignitor, unless you run a CDI interface of some sort (MSD 6, etc).

Make sure your plug leads aren't shorting to ground anywhere, and maybe give your plugs a quick look-see; sometimes one of them will tell you which cylinder is giving you problems (fuel soaked, way too dark/sooty, etc).

[kellzey]

I read the message subject... and something else came to mind...

"Need help... engine missing."

Here are some suggestions...

#1 - Don't look under the front hood. You won't find it there. 914's have a trunk up front, AND in the back.

#2 - Try looking in the engine compartment, you will probably find it there.

#3 - If it is not there, look in your driveway. Perhaps your motor mounts rusted out and it fell out on your way into the garage.

#4 - If it's not there, call the Police. Maybe somebody stole it.

Sorry if you don't find this funny.. I'm sort chuckling.

Karl

[Bleyseng]

I say pop for new spark plugs & wires, cap, and rotor. Set timing to 27 degrees BTDC @ 3500 rpm with the hoses off and plugged. The timing mark shouldn't vary more than 1/4 inch.
Check for vacuum leaks too if its missing it could be running lean from being a 2056 motor.
Have you reset the MPS part load mix? I cant run a stock unit without adjusting it richer. (See Brad's website)
Geoff

[Pritchard]

Kellzey- you were absolutely correct. I was looking in the front trunk and couldn't find the engine. The last time I changed the coolant, it was in the front, I thought.

I have ordered new cap and rotor. I have adjusted the MPS to run richer. With the bad Throttle Switch, it has been difficult to get anywhere close to being dialed in. This is my second set of new wires, so I'm kinda doubting that they are the culprit. If there are any vacuum leaks they are hiding very well, I've looked and sprayed and haven't found any.

Thanks guys

Pritchard

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

If the timing mark is wobbling around, there is something wrong with the ignition, unless the RPMs are changing enough for you to hear. Points, points plate, or wear in the distributor shaft are all very strong suspects.

Pull the rotor off--does the distributor shaft wobble noticeably when you try to wiggle it?

--DD

[Pritchard]

The drive shaft of the dizzy doesn't move around when I try to wiggle it. I have installed a Pertronix Ignitor so no points to worry about. Tell me more about what could be wrong with the points plate. The RPM's are held steady when checking timing.

Thanks

Pritchard

[roadtrp204]

You can use the timing light to check each cylinder, kind of see if the pulse is steady or eratic compared to the others. The pertronix is going to pretty much take care of most issues with a worn distributor that would affect points, but sticking advance weights or the pivot point in the shaft is a different story. One big thing the most people tend to overlook in the ignition system is the tach, if it is shorting internally it can cause a misfire or even no spark at all. Try disconnecting the tach to eleminate it as a source of the problem. Test all the pieces; coil, cap, rotor, wires, and plugs. All these pieces are so mass produced these days that in my opinion they are suspect to failure right out of the box.

[pbanders]

Check the circlip on the dizzy shaft, underneath the felt washer on the top. I've heard of several of these being dislodged, causing odd running behavior.

[Zeke]

Originally posted by kellzey
I read the message subject... and something else came to mind...

"Need help... engine missing."

Here are some suggestions...

#1 - Don't look under the front hood. You won't find it there. 914's have a trunk up front, AND in the back.

#2 - Try looking in the engine compartment, you will probably find it there.

#3 - If it is not there, look in your driveway. Perhaps your motor mounts rusted out and it fell out on your way into the garage.

#4 - If it's not there, call the Police. Maybe somebody stole it.

Sorry if you don't find this funny.. I'm sort chuckling.

Karl

That is absolutely the funniest thing I have read on Pelican's boards since I started last Jan. Not the wittiest, I leave that to some of the guys on the 911 board, but LOL!! I laughed so hard I had to leave the room.

Its a lota fun to take the Boxster to the gas station with the top down and raise both the hoods while checking fluids. People walk by, but they don't want to ask. You can just see the wheels turning in their heads. The top really throws them. Great sport.