Thought I'd start a new thread as the old one is way too heavy reading.
Have been talking to Tabetha, LHD220Turbo and quite a few other characters on here trying to sort my red top 4x4 out.. Misfires.

I rebuilt/replaced my loom (quite pleased with myself too, saved a packet)as the bulkhead plugs could be manipulated to cause erratic idle.
All happy as f**k, jumped in after fitting the new loom, warmed the car up around town and then made for a bit of dual carriageway, come on boost, miiissssssssssssss
So, renewed fuel pump wiring, and while I was in the mood for it, renewed the fan wiring. Again, jumped in all happy as' again, but it's still there. New Fuel Pump, still there, new regapped(again) plugs, still there, renewed the battery to alternator lead, thought maybe voltage drop off under load, still there.

To cut a long story short, after assuring my advisers (see above) that I had checked all the usual suspects, and that I was confident they were all new or minty, I found today while fitting a new throttle sensor that my dizzy cap was cracked. Fairly new, from reputable dealer. Cracked right through to the metal track of one of the pick-ups inside the cap, number 4. Put a new one on, and with all the other upgrades/improvements made, she fucking sings now! Don't get me wrong, she's no missile yet. Only on 0.9 bar, standard t3, standard chip, panel K&N and scorpion 3". Just being able to give it some with any horrible intervention by the ford gremlins is such a relief... Oh yeah, should have called this thread
FAIL!!! A fucking cracked cap. Idiot.

 

Least you sorted now mate. Just put in down to bad luck and an experience

 

I think we have all done this.

I changed loads on the electric's on mine after the battery kept running flat, changed the battery, cleaned all the earth, replaced the leads... on and on.. what was it?

Two week earlier I had changed the clutch and hadn't attached a lead to the alternator properly so it wasn't charging the battery

Not as much work as you put in thou

But we have all done it.

 

Glad to hear its sorted matey

I had a miss on mine and eventually found the centre contact had fell out of my dizzy cap. Drove fine round town but as soon as you give it a good bit of boost it was missing. I only found mine so quick cos Lawnsys brand new cap had done the same a week before.

 

I was one of the "Other Characters", glad to see you have it sorted. Had this problem before with a car that had been steam cleaned.

Martin

 

Sorry Martin, No offence intended.

 

Quite often its the simple things that are easiest to miss!

 

Worst thing is, I'd actually handled it quite a few times, albeit not removed from the car. You know how tightly nested they are on the 4x4.
I'd looked inside it, cleaned it out, checked the electrodes, checked the phase, checked the rotor, unplugged and replugged the leads....
And the crack was just slightly obscured from the top by the end of the inlet, and the loom etc.
Was so sure it was in good nick I didn't even think about it.
Even when it was arcing out causing the miss and I recognised the sound, STILL didn't think cap. Coil? Leads? Plugs? Yep, all checked as possibles. Just feel a fool, especially after all the advice I've had off here!!
We Live and Learn.

 

I wasn't being funny at all, once again pleased its running.

Martin

 

Thanks mate.

 

At least it is fixed, and all the extra work you did, will only improve reliability in the future

 

As said at leats the work wasn't in vain, as rewire pump/fan is needed anyway, and at least you know your car inside out now.
Worst thing I did was trying to get this engine to with no luck, was a old cortina mk3, heap wouldn't start after changing all ignition stuff, cleaning out carb and a few other jobs, couldn't find what was wrong getting pissed off by now, when me mates 11 year old sister said what does this bit do, as she picked up the rotor arm I had dropped and forgotten about, my mate eric helping just put the cap on("hiding the problem") so can blame him, he couldn't get a new one in time, so was going to refit the old one but got sidetracked!!
Glad yours is going ok though, no speeding!!
tabetha

 

Fucking hell, I don't think I know my missus chassiss as well as I know my car now!

Lol Wounded. children are so great for that. Remember one time building up a renault f16 on a stand. Refurbed all the bearings etc, had got the head back on, timed it up but not rial spun it and was looking for the m10 or 12 bolt that held a lifting eye on. Had my nephew with me, about 11 then too. He says ' what you looking for', this bolt I say. A look of worry on his face, 'erm I put it on there'.
'There' being on top of number 1 piston. I turned her slowly with a ratchett. Dinkk. Got a maglight and sure enough, sat there in the chamber, my bolt It wasn't lost though

 

Bet you well happy.bloody cars hey.im still trying to fix my starting problem.