A pal who 'fixes cars' has a problem with a Cavalier. Don't know the age
or model. It appears it has no spark.

It has a conventional - although weird looking distributor for one used to
old Lucas - with some form of electronic ignition. The connector to the
trigger in the distributor has three contacts. There is an ignition
amplifier mounted under the coil. The coil shows battery voltage on both
positive and negative at all times - even when cranking. He says. He's
tried replacing both distributor and amplifier with secondhand components,
and again says he's had them tested, and they're fine.

He's given me both distributors and asked me to test them. I've got all
the usual electronic test gear including a decent 'scope. Anyone know what
type the trigger is to save me some time better spent on getting the SD1
back together? ;-)

-- 
* What do they call a coffee break at the Lipton Tea Company? *

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)"  wrote in message 
news:4d9b7387c6dave@davenoise.co.uk...

>A pal who 'fixes cars' has a problem with a Cavalier. Don't know the age
> or model. It appears it has no spark.
>
> It has a conventional - although weird looking distributor for one used to
> old Lucas - with some form of electronic ignition. The connector to the
> trigger in the distributor has three contacts. There is an ignition
> amplifier mounted under the coil. The coil shows battery voltage on both
> positive and negative at all times - even when cranking. He says. He's
> tried replacing both distributor and amplifier with secondhand components,
> and again says he's had them tested, and they're fine.
>
> He's given me both distributors and asked me to test them. I've got all
> the usual electronic test gear including a decent 'scope. Anyone know what
> type the trigger is to save me some time better spent on getting the SD1
> back together? ;-)
>
> -- 
> * What do they call a coffee break at the Lipton Tea Company? *
>
>    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
>                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.


First off, get him to check whether the cam shaft is actually turning, this 
is the most common cause of 'no spark'

mrcheerful

In article <3qrMe.90188$G8.5314@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk>,
   mrcheerful                                                             
            .  wrote:

> First off, get him to check whether the cam shaft is actually turning,
> this is the most common cause of 'no spark'


Ouch. He's not going to like that one. ;-)

-- 
*I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth 

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

My old Mk 2 broke down one day and I figured it was the coil. I changed
that but it still wouldn't run. OK - call the RAC time. The chap
changed the module under the coil and said that often if the coil went
it would take the module out or vice versa.

I don't know, but it fixed it

Ian

>A pal who 'fixes cars' has a problem with a Cavalier. Don't know the age
> or model. It appears it has no spark.
>
> It has a conventional - although weird looking distributor for one used to
> old Lucas - with some form of electronic ignition. The connector to the
> trigger in the distributor has three contacts. There is an ignition
> amplifier mounted under the coil. The coil shows battery voltage on both
> positive and negative at all times - even when cranking. He says. He's
> tried replacing both distributor and amplifier with secondhand components,
> and again says he's had them tested, and they're fine.
>
> He's given me both distributors and asked me to test them. I've got all
> the usual electronic test gear including a decent 'scope. Anyone know what
> type the trigger is to save me some time better spent on getting the SD1
> back together? ;-)


Dunno, but on my first Carlton I'd already put all new plugs and leads on it 
(shortly after I got it) and several months down the line it was playing up. 
I replaced the king lead, dizzy cap (plus a bit of plastic inside due to me 
not doing something right, and causing the end of the camshaft not to be 
properly balanced, causing it to melt), and coil and it still wouldn't run. 
I even went back to the place to swap the coil for a new one, in case that 
was at fault.

In the end I took out the crank sensor (dead simple - one small 10mm bolt), 
which was black.  Sanded it to clean it so it was shiny again, put it back 
in - fired up first time.

Mine was a 2 litre, and I've heard of a few 2 litres having that problem, 
though I can't see why a 1.8/1.6 wouldn't be affected either - what size 
engine is it?

-- 
Peter

"You're not a real UKRCMer until you've had your big end bearings go."