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Camaro Research Group Discussion => Maintenance => Topic started by: sixt9x33rs on April 20, 2011, 01:52:28 AM

Title: Symptoms of a failing breaker less ignition system
Post by: sixt9x33rs on April 20, 2011, 01:52:28 AM
Anyone had any problems with the above? I have a miss in my Vette that seems like a fouled plug but it is not.
Title: Re: Symptoms of a failing breaker less ignition system
Post by: Stingr69 on April 20, 2011, 02:18:50 PM
Bad wire, bad cap, too cold heat range?

Pull all the plugs and take a look. they will tell you what you need to look for.

-Mark.
Title: Re: Symptoms of a failing breaker less ignition system
Post by: JohnZ on April 20, 2011, 06:25:27 PM
Breakerless systems (Pertronix, Breakerless SE, etc.) generally work or they don't; I'd follow Mark's advice and look elsewhere.
Title: Re: Symptoms of a failing breaker less ignition system
Post by: sixt9x33rs on April 21, 2011, 03:21:08 AM
Pulled the plugs they looked good, wires are new, I looked at cap and wires at night and did not see any arching. The cap is very old so will replace that and see where that takes me.
Title: Re: Symptoms of a failing breaker less ignition system
Post by: bertfam on April 21, 2011, 01:51:49 PM
When I first got my Corvair it had a Pertronix unit in it and it would intermittantly cut out and stumble while driving. I took it out and found that whoever installed it, didn't use the rubber grommet where the wires go through the housing and the insulation on the red wire had rubbed off, causing the wire to sometimes ground itself against the distributor. I taped it back up, installed a grommet and haven't had the problem since.

Ed
Title: Re: Symptoms of a failing breaker less ignition system
Post by: rich69rs on April 21, 2011, 04:44:29 PM
Agree with what has been previously offered - these systems either work or they don't - suggestions previously offered will probably lead you to the problem.

Good luck

Richard
Title: Re: Symptoms of a failing breaker less ignition system
Post by: Pacecarjeff on April 22, 2011, 08:52:58 AM
ground and touch a tester light to the neg side of the coil and crank the engine. if the light blinks - the petronix is good.
Title: Re: Symptoms of a failing breaker less ignition system
Post by: sixt9x33rs on April 22, 2011, 08:41:10 PM
Here is an update on my problem

The car Slightly sputters above 1300 rpms...this is what I have done so far

Changed plugs the old plugs did look good...they were a tan color with slight carbon
Switched coil with known good coil
Switched distributor cap with a good one
I have new plug wires
Pcv valve seems ok

Any ideas?

Thanks
Title: Re: Symptoms of a failing breaker less ignition system
Post by: PURESS on April 22, 2011, 09:17:57 PM
check timing?    new plug wires in right spot on cap(does happen)..and fuel filter(when was that last change?)
Title: Re: Symptoms of a failing breaker less ignition system
Post by: bertfam on April 22, 2011, 09:26:42 PM
Put in the original points and go from there. If you still have problems, then it's not the Pertronix.

Ed
Title: Re: Symptoms of a failing breaker less ignition system
Post by: Stingr69 on April 22, 2011, 09:35:06 PM
Can you verify that the timing is steady at 1300 RPMs or does it "move around" a lot when viewed with a timing light? If it moves around a bit, the hole in the breaker plate for the vacuum cannister rod may be worn. It needs to be a very snug fit.

-Mark.
Title: Re: Symptoms of a failing breaker less ignition system
Post by: sixt9x33rs on April 26, 2011, 11:44:50 AM
I have checked all of the above and all is in good order but still have this annoying skip. I took the carb apart cleaned it and still have the miss. I was wondering if the Ethanol has eaten up my fuel pump? Anybody had this happen yet? I have just read about this happening. Wonder what the symptoms are?
Title: Re: Symptoms of a failing breaker less ignition system
Post by: Stingr69 on April 26, 2011, 02:38:42 PM
Is this at all RPMs above 1300? Under load? at cruise? or part load?

-Mark.
Title: Re: Symptoms of a failing breaker less ignition system
Post by: sixt9x33rs on April 27, 2011, 03:19:01 AM
Is this at all RPMs above 1300? Under load? at cruise? or part load?

-Mark.
Above 1300, under load and cruise. Last night it sounded like it went away then came back a bit intermit tingly that is what led me to the fuel pump question.
Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Symptoms of a failing breaker less ignition system
Post by: 68Zproject on April 29, 2011, 10:03:33 PM
I was taught in shop class in high school that an intermittent miss was fuel and an electrical problem was a constant miss.  Of course something like Ed found would throw that theory out.  I had the same problem on my Camaro in H.S.  I thought the plugs looked good, but I eventually changed them and it was a bad plug.  I know you've checked this but I was as sure at the time that the wires and plugs were good.  Even new ones can be bad, it just takes ruling out the impossible.
Title: Re: Symptoms of a failing breaker less ignition system
Post by: sixt9x33rs on April 30, 2011, 10:32:58 PM
I put a new vacuum canister in and that fixed the problem.

Thanks for all the help