Just a nice photo

Early morning after overnight showers, sun just coming over the fence raindrops glistening in the light.

Just seemed like a nice picture!

And perfect opportunity to give her a wash immediately after, that's mostly all I have done since getting Amy, wash her down from time to time after being left out in a rain shower.

I guess I should note that after a few more drives, no recurring breakdown issues. Littlewick Green Show next Bank Holiday weekend, first one in a while, registered and looking forward to a new venue.

Fixed this time??

With the evidence of the crudded up fuel pump and now the performance after clearing the issue, I am more satisfied that it is fixed.

Cleaned out the carb bowl this morning (although there was hardly any residue there) then went for a drive. Ever increasing circles as confidence grew and ended up doing nearly 20 miles, with some good open sections and some windy, bumpy sections.

No problem so that seems to be that at last.

No harm in having fitted a new coil and having a spare condenser!

With hindsight, I think I was convinced of electrics being the issue due to having only just changed the dynamo for an alternator. Seemed just too much of a coincidence and I was a bit blinkered that it must be related

I must remember to check the pump at least every year!! I wont re-fit an inline fuel filter, because it is quite clear that the system used all those years ago does a great job.

Fuel? Reason static simulated drives seemed OK??

Haven't driven Amy for three weeks. After a long lay off I normally prime the carb bowl manually first. It took more effort than I remember on similar occasions, but she started fine so I had no real concerns. After that I only drove to the petrol station to fill up, but already broke down just as entering the forecourt half a mile away.

Despite previously being fairly sure of electricals being my problem, this forced me go back to the fuel possibility. Whilst at the station she still wouldn't restart and the pump jet area of the carb bowl - which usually looks wet with fuel was bone dry again. So I took the fuel line to pieces, it should have poured petrol when taken apart. nothing. A bit of fiddling got fuel coming through enough to get me home.

So at the moment I still have issues. Coil or condenser is not the issue, it is fuel.

Need to clear it properly, couple of shows coming up soon and need to fix it a restore confidence.

Update. The fuel pump is full of crud. I haven't checked it in around 2 years!! Oooops. Cant explain the seemingly weak sparks that I THOUGHT I was seeing before. But this HAS to be my problem! It would also explain why static engine revving on the driveway didn't show the problem up, as the crud was not being sloshed about to reblock any clear channel that may have form.

New coil fitted - simulated drive seems OK

Despite being a bit frustrated the other day, I have to take into account a couple of things. It was the hottest day of the year and actually the hottest day I can remember for quite sometime. Once I had given up trying to start from broken down and had been towed home, that was additonal time and a nice cooling airflow. So still hopeful of an electrical issue, and still pinning hopes on the coil.

New one arrived today and of course an easy job to fit. Amy started fine (as usual - never had a problem from cold, so that proves nothing).  Also previously I had left her ticking over on the driveway for 10 minutes with no trouble either, so I wanted to try to simulate a drive as best I could with some high revs, constant medium revs, tickover, the up again etc etc...

With no moving air except for the fan, the water temperature reached a nice high level (still acceptable) and I ran her this way for a fair time. Certainly enough to simulate a work and back trip. A bit more really.

No issue. So on the face of it, seems OK. But of course I am nervous about it. It could still be something else that doesnt "trip" except under actual driving conditions. (bumping about more, being thrown from side to side, a different issue caused by the different stresses and strains of road driving??) A new condenser should arrive in the next couple of days. I wont automatically fit that, I want to get out and about for a proper drive as stated. But I want to tee up someone to tow me if needed this time, just in case!

We'll see.

Not so easy and stumped

OK, I was confused why just tightening my spark plugs fixed the problem. We are having a really nice spell of weather at the moment, so driving to work was on the cards again today. Started her up, warmed up a touch and set off for work.

Broke down just down the road, same problem as the other day. Managed to limp back home with a couple of stops and a couple of fiddles and because I was early, figured I'd spend some time checking again. At one of the stops (i.e. whilst the engine was not firing at all), I did have a plug out again and the spark was VERY weak, almost non existent. So that is still indicating electrics.

I went through as many connections as I could, ones that I hadn't touched the other day. Tightening ones that could have been a bit loose. Also the coil was a bit loose on the alternator, so wondered if that rattling around a bit too much could be contributing or maybe even has damaged it in some way. Anyway, got her going again whilst at home. She sat on the driveway for 10 minutes or so just running - all fine.

Against better judgement, I set off for work again, as if nothing had happened!  Got most of the way there and same problem hit me at the top of the hill near the office, I coasted all the way down and into my work car park, coming to a halt at the nearest space.

As of typing this entry I am having to think what the issue could be. Condenser? Failing coil? These are my best guesses at the moment. In the meantime, I am potentially stuck at work, with the working day ahead of me. So at the moment I have to wonder how I am going to get home when the time comes!!

Update 1: As of now, increasingly thinking a component deterioration failure. No fiddling AT ALL, I just went down and tried to start her up - no problem. A few of the internet articles I have read seem to indicate that Condenser / Coil could have this symptom of running fine when cold but failing when hot. I am hopeful of getting home, maybe in stages. I'll not fiddle and just wait and see, as that will reinforce the theory. Frustrating, but not terminal!

Also notice what I was parked next to. Nissan GTR. Very nice. This is the car that my son would have me replace Amy for!

Update 2: As hoped she started immediately and I started the journey home. Broke down twice by the time I had got to the top of the hill near my office!

No amount of waiting or fiddling fixed the issue this time, so called for a tow. Thanks M&D!!

Got towed home safely, no drama. An extra pair of eyes seemed to suggest lack of fuel. I primed the carb bowl manually and she started immediately. Grrrrr.. None of the potential problems is a big deal. Coil, Condenser, Fuel Pump, Fuel line blockage, Cruddy jests? But figuring out for sure which one is the problem is bloody annoying!!!!

Funniest "breakdown" yet?..

Just highlighting my incompetence to the world with this post - is that wise? !

Drove Amy to work, nice day for it, and planned pub visit for lunchtime equally making it a no brainer to give her an outing.

On the way from the office to the pub however, she lost all power and gradually ground to a halt right opposite the pub I was aiming at!!

The power loss was pretty much complete, so bonnet up and started some fiddling. Fuel or electrics - wasn't sure but I thought it had to be one or the other. Anything mechanical would not have just stopped her dead like that. Some random fiddling got her going again. For around 500 yards. More fiddling. Another 500 yards, then nothing, no further random fiddling got her going on the third attempt.

Needed to investigate a bit deeper, otherwise I wasn't going anywhere. Figured I'd check for a spark to start with, one plug out, hold it to the engine block check for sparking. The first sign of my problem was the fact that the plug was finger tight. It looked fine when it was out, but I shouldn't have been able to undo it so easily. Checked the other three. Same problem, all loose!!!

Spark was apparent on the removed plug, so put it back firmly where it belongs and tightened up the others too.

All fine.. Doh.. Can't have tightened them up properly when cleaning them off last time a week or so ago. Not sure I totally understand why TOTAL loss and not patchy loss, but either way, happy (if feeling a bit stupid!!)

ACCC Brooklands evening

Another pleasant evening spent at Brooklands. Battery is fully charged now, ammeter is behaving as you'd expect with a 40 mile round trip under it's belt.

Good job too as headlights, main beam and windscreen wipers needed on the way home!