After my Rover 214SEi (1995 N-reg) had been stood for a week, engine 
wouldn't start.
It turned over, but wouldn't fire.

Called breakdown co. who did various tests - ie removed a HT lead, used 
spare spark plug, I turned engine over and he said there was a "poor spark"

After further checks, he diagnosed the rotor arm as being faulty and advised 
it be swapped along with the dizzy cap.

Had car recovered to garage Saturday morning. Got call from garage Sunday 
afternoon - they said car fired up OK and could not find any problem! They 
said it sounded a bit rough for a few seconds (would have expected that with 
it being stood) but is running spot on.

I am thinking of swapping rotor arm, dizzy cap and HT leads anyway just to 
be sure. Any other suggestions what the problem might have been here? Should 
I also get a new coil?

Cheers
Paul, West Yorks

"Paul"  wrote in message 
news:432da01b$1$1294$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...

> After my Rover 214SEi (1995 N-reg) had been stood for a week, engine 
> wouldn't start.
> It turned over, but wouldn't fire.
>
> Called breakdown co. who did various tests - ie removed a HT lead, used 
> spare spark plug, I turned engine over and he said there was a "poor 
> spark"
>
> After further checks, he diagnosed the rotor arm as being faulty and 
> advised it be swapped along with the dizzy cap.
>
> Had car recovered to garage Saturday morning. Got call from garage Sunday 
> afternoon - they said car fired up OK and could not find any problem! They 
> said it sounded a bit rough for a few seconds (would have expected that 
> with it being stood) but is running spot on.
>
> I am thinking of swapping rotor arm, dizzy cap and HT leads anyway just to 
> be sure. Any other suggestions what the problem might have been here? 
> Should I also get a new coil?
>

Rotor arm failure is *very* common on the K series, they break down and 
track down the spindle to earth.
There is a modded (off the top of my head orange in colour) rotor arm to 
replace the factory black one.

I always replace the cap with the arm both from the same manurfacturer.

Tim..

"Tim (remove obvious)"  wrote in 
message news:dgk9gr$1k9$1@nwrdmz01.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-> Rotor arm failure is 
*very* common on the K series, they break down and

> track down the spindle to earth.
> There is a modded (off the top of my head orange in colour) rotor arm to 
> replace the factory black one.
>
> I always replace the cap with the arm both from the same manurfacturer.
>
> Tim..


Cheers for that. I find it strange that the rotor arm fails becuase there's 
no moving parts, but I suppose they get "burnt out".

Where can I get one of these 'modded' orange ones? What should I be asking 
for?

Not being a mechanic, I presume it's just a case of removing the old one, 
and sliding the new one on top of the cam?

Cheers
Paul

"Paul"  wrote in message
news:432dc05e$0$22915$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader01.plus.net...

> "Tim (remove obvious)"  wrote in
> message news:dgk9gr$1k9$1@nwrdmz01.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-> Rotor arm failure is
> *very* common on the K series, they break down and
> > track down the spindle to earth.
> > There is a modded (off the top of my head orange in colour) rotor arm to
> > replace the factory black one.
> >
> > I always replace the cap with the arm both from the same manurfacturer.
> >
> > Tim..
>
> Cheers for that. I find it strange that the rotor arm fails becuase
there's
> no moving parts, but I suppose they get "burnt out".
>
> Where can I get one of these 'modded' orange ones? What should I be asking
> for?


I nearly put 'from your local dealer....'! A good parts shop selling brand
name parts should be ok...


> Not being a mechanic, I presume it's just a case of removing the old one,
> and sliding the new one on top of the cam?


yes but usually they seize onto the shaft and you'll need to smash it off.

tim..

"Paul"  wrote in message
news:432dc05e$0$22915$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader01.plus.net...

> "Tim (remove obvious)"  wrote in
> message news:dgk9gr$1k9$1@nwrdmz01.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-> Rotor arm failure is
> *very* common on the K series, they break down and
> > track down the spindle to earth.
> > There is a modded (off the top of my head orange in colour) rotor arm to
> > replace the factory black one.
> >
> > I always replace the cap with the arm both from the same manurfacturer.
> >
> > Tim..
>
> Cheers for that. I find it strange that the rotor arm fails becuase
there's
> no moving parts, but I suppose they get "burnt out".
>
> Where can I get one of these 'modded' orange ones? What should I be asking
> for?
>
> Not being a mechanic, I presume it's just a case of removing the old one,
> and sliding the new one on top of the cam?
>
> Cheers
> Paul
>

you need to remove the retaining bolt that holds the rotor onto the cam, ive
seen customers try and pry them off with a screw driver & break thme off as
the bolt was facing the other way and they didnt notice it, its an allen
bolt head btw.

"Tim (remove obvious)"  wrote in 
message news:dgklg4$5ai$1@nwrdmz01.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...


>> Not being a mechanic, I presume it's just a case of removing the old one,
>> and sliding the new one on top of the cam?
>
> yes but usually they seize onto the shaft and you'll need to smash it off.
>
> tim..


I saw the breakdown man just take it off so hopefully no need to "smash it 
off"!

Any ideas re the poor spark?

Cheers
Paul

"reg"  wrote in message 
news:dgknaq$mg$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk...

>> Not being a mechanic, I presume it's just a case of removing the old one,
>> and sliding the new one on top of the cam?
>>
>> Cheers
>> Paul
>>
> you need to remove the retaining bolt that holds the rotor onto the cam, 
> ive
> seen customers try and pry them off with a screw driver & break them off 
> as
> the bolt was facing the other way and they didnt notice it, its an allen
> bolt head btw.


OK cheers, will look out for that.

All the best
Paul