Club 80-90 Forums

My 2.1 dj auto has been at the menders for about a month.
Engine dropped a bit to drill out the alternator mounting holes, by my ex VW chap,
I drove it around for a few days without problem.
Gearbox replaced with a refurb that I sold a kidney and a lung for.
I picked it up yesterday and immediately thought Its not right...
I havent driven the van much recently, Ive been confined to a Renult Clio
First thought was its running on three cylinders and the tappets are rattling, also "pooh" no petrol.

Ive been in work today, but a quick once over tells me its more serious.
I dont really want to take it back to the gearbox place, they dont know these vans like we do.
and they would probably deny everything anyway.

Symptoms:
reluctant to start, no power(even less than a bay window van) stalls easily.
I can remove the HT leads from cylinders 2 and 4 without affecting the idle.
I have spark at 2 and 4
I have good compression at all 4 cylinders.

The HT leads look like they are on the right cylinders, but I seem to remember leads 1 and 2 crossing over.......
Timing looks a bit far advanced, but I cant see this having changed.
T

tonytech wrote:I can remove the HT leads from cylinders 2 and 4 without affecting the idle.
I have spark at 2 and 4

There's one easy thing to try... But why would they have changed the gearbox by pulling the engine? Surely they'd just pull the box off the engine from below?

My thoughts exactly.

Quick update.
New ignition leads ( Thanks Brickwerks, fantastic swift delivery)
And the van is running sweet again.

T

How peculiar....I have very similar. whiney gear box out, spare gear box in...not a happy vanny


Is there a link between gearbox removal and new HTleads????

This needs to be wiki'd

oh - and remember, if you change your gearbox please order a set of HT leads! Why, we have no "frelling" clue....