Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all, was driving back from france last week and it stumbled a few times at low revs, then it just died and won't restart. AA man was convinced it was the distributor and rotor as the spark was weak. Easy start wouldn't even help it.

Have changed those parts but it still won't work. Fuel is getting in, fuel pump changed too.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Check voltage at coil and lead to dissy

is DG the fuel injected 1.9?
My 1.9 wasn't running all last year and I replaced fuel pipes and filters, checked injectors, relays, swapped out coil leads etc for ones from a running van. I had a spark but it wouldn't even fire on easy start. Still nothing. It was driving me potty. An engineer mate came round to have a look when I really needed to move it this year and asked if I had checked the hall sensor on the dizzy. I'd heard of it but didn't know I had one as I've never ever had a hall sensor issue before. He did a test on the hall sensor plug and told me to fit a new one.
I did, and it started on the button.
So if yours has a hall sensor and i think it does, it is worth checking.
viewtopic.php?t=152836

That was just from a quick search and I've not read it but I think all the info you need will be on here somewhere.

The DG is the 1.9 with Perburg 2e3 Carb

1.9 injection (Digijet) was the DH or GW depending upon the country of sale.

I am sure our conterparts in Switzerland had a range of other codes.

For completeness the 1.9 with Solex carb is the DF.

Thanks all for the replies!

Yes I have ordered a coil as it was backfiring very badly and will fit that today. Have heard about the hall sensor issue so will try that too.

It was a very sudden failure with just a few hiccups before it went. I will also check earth's.

Thanks

Robsey wrote: ↑24 Jun 2025, 10:10 The DG is the 1.9 with Perburg 2e3 Carb

1.9 injection (Digijet) was the DH or GW depending upon the country of sale.

I am sure our conterparts in Switzerland had a range of other codes.

For completeness the 1.9 with Solex carb is the DF.

did they all have hall senders?
 

In case it is the hall sender:
I bought this one
and unsoldered the new style plug and soldered my old plug on to it instead rather than alter my lovely 40 year old uncut loom.
 

I also agree with the Hall Sensor issue - mine did the same about 5 years back and went from running fine to not starting and then popping.  The only time i've ever gotten recovery out as i was away from home and the chap put a tester on the plugs and confirmed the spark was intermittent - it then subsequently started.

I actually changed the whole dizzy to a known good one and it's been fine since, although i have brought a brand new SSP one as a back up.  These original ones are getting on for 40 years old now so will have had some serious use.

Thanks for heads up everyone.

It's very weird as its getting spark to distributor then only weak spark coming out. Not even even start would help.

So it must be timing which would mean hall sender

OK so changed coil, dizzy, rotor and hall sender.

Still getting a strong spark to dizzy and a slightly weaker spark out. It's very keen to turn over but still nothing.

Maybe Ignition control unit? This one looks very old.

Thanks

how are you checking the spark ?
which plugs are you using ?
have you checked the leads resistances are in spec ?

Yeah the spark is weak (according to AA guy) but all spark plugs and leads are relatively new (maybe 1500 miles old). Since AA guy said spark was weak. I've changed most of the ignition system and it's still dead.

Are there any earth's to check. I can't find much information online about where to check earth's.

why did you change the leads?

Put the old ones back on.