Engine problems, distributor related i think...

tommo · Post by **tommo** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:57 pm

Hey,
I'm having a little issue with my engine since yesterday when I removed all the spark leads to do the old "rubber glove over the distributor" trick in prep for my trip up north.

For starters it's a stock EA81.
So I removed all the leads, numbering as i went so that i knew where to put them back on. put the glove on, and reconnected everything. (i even searched the net a bit and found some diagrams of boxer engines and how they fire and what order they fire in and stuff and double checked the leads with the direction the dizzy spins.
Took it for a drive and all seemed good, great in fact.

Today coming home from work I was sitting at some lights and after 15-20 seconds the engine started sort of "snuffing" and felt and sounded like it was about to stall at one stage. Feels like it's unbalanced or something...

Can anyone shed some light on this?
Also can someone who knows their stuff verify what order the cylinders should fire and which direction the distributor spins?
(I got from the manual that it spins anti-clockwise)
On a side note could it just be that the idle needs adjusting or something?

Thanks for any feedback.
Tommo.

Fatz · Post by **Fatz** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:21 pm

firing order is 1,3,2,4.
make sure your dist cap is screwed down firmly. could have wobbled loose and turned a bit. (or are the ea81 clipped on?)
Also just make sure your leads are plugged in firmly and lead is connected to the coil ok.

ithrashmyMY · Post by **ithrashmyMY** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:36 pm

Hi,

The cylinder order of the cylinders goes from frount to rear, right to left as in the frount two cylinders are 1 and 2 from right to left etc. As for the problem with the direction of rotation of the dizzy, im not to sure but if you just tick over your engine with your starter and the dizzy cap off you should find out. The firing order of the cylinders is 1/3/2/4.
Personaly I would check the condition of the leads, maybe even renew if old and greasy. Check dizzy points, rotor button (boiling water dose wonders with oxidised electronic connectors etc.), the coil could be stuffed, but i doubt it. Have you checked your valve clearences, could be a breathing problem.
Anyway, good luck and if I'm totaly off track just post back n ill see what I can do, but it sounds like a cylinder is detonating.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:04 pm

For trivia, L series dizzies spin anticlockwise when turning crank clockwise looking at from the front

Suby Wan Kenobi · Post by **Suby Wan Kenobi** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:59 pm

You still need to have a fresh air supply to the distributor otherwize you end up with an electrical discharge (not going into the exact reason why as it takes too long) happening making the engine run rough and stop

tommo · Post by **tommo** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:09 pm

Suby Wan Kenobi wrote:You still need to have a fresh air supply to the distributor otherwize you end up with an electrical discharge (not going into the exact reason why as it takes too long) happening making the engine run rough and stop

That's very interesting to know. I fixed the problem by putting in new leads, but if what you're saying's true then maybe it was fixed by getting rid of the rubber glove...
Not doubting you at all Suby Wan Kenobi but is it that it needs fresh air or is it that it's too well insulated with all of those plugs surrounded by the rubber glove?
Guess I'll try putting the glove back on on the weekend and see if it still does it with the new leads.
Thanks fellas.
Tommo.

Suby Wan Kenobi · Post by **Suby Wan Kenobi** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:36 pm

There is a small hole at the base of the dizzy as well to drain out water