SIII 109" 2.25 Petrol Ex Mil Eating Points

[bmthgooner]

Help
My SIII keeps eating points.
Changed: Coil, plugs, points (13 so far!) Dizzy Cap, rotor arm & HT leads
Tried 2 different dizzys, same fault so back to the original.
Although it's Ex MOD it was converted to 12v and apparently it turns out to be a Lightweight engine.
The annoying thing was I spent ages doing timing and gapping tappets the motor was running sweet as the proverbial for 4 months before this.

People you gotta help "the boss" sez I gotta get rid of it, and after 20 years waiting to get a rover, I'm not wanting to let it go

[mark.yellow.series.3]

fit a luminition 8)

[hobbit]

Lightweight engine?

Its the same engine in the series 2a/3 civvie as in the military, on 12v identical, 24v were fitted in the military ones ligtweight or standards series ffr's, early were 3 bearing later 5 bearing.

Try checking the voltages through the points, perhaps it may be too high, was the whole of the electrics changed to 12v?

Or does it still have a massive alternator on the upper drivers side of the engine.

[Les Brock]

Change the condensor, that will "normally" cure the problem  :D

[bmthgooner]

Definately 12v, 24 generator holes are there, but it isn't.
Was trying to find out if it was 3 or 5 bearing when doing timing. Using engine number, that's how I found it was lightweight engine.
Ex FFR btw

[bmthgooner]

yeah sorry forgot to mention, changed the condenser too, several times!
Someone suggested that the coil mounted on the bulkhead instead of the engine, might make a difference, can't see why, but I tried that too!

[yetty]

Fitting the wrong coil will definitely cause prematurely point failure.

Generalising, TWO types of coil are sold for 12 volt ignition systems:
a) 6 volts coils (for ballasted 12 volt systems) and
b) 12 volt coils (unballasted systems).  

Type a) is generally the most common on vehicles and therefore sold over the counter more frequently.
However Series petrol Land Rovers which generally have the less common type b) system!

Putting a type a) coil in type b) systems will cause the effect described.

Suggest double checking the coil part number, or even buying from another source.

As already said, condensor failure will have similar effect.  So will POOR connection of the condenser.  Worth checking.

Let us know what makes the fix!!

[Bob Ajob]

Hi Yetty,

I have an interest in expanding my knowledge on electrical stuff. Can you explain what the two type of 12v ignition systems are, what they do, fitted on etc, or point me somewhere I can find out please?

I have a mate with a 24v FFR lightweight, it's now a 12v lightweight courtesy of a PO. It turns over with very little juice, when the battery is about flat, 2.25p, which system could it be out of interest? He doesn't have starting problems by the way, got other electrical issues...

Many thanks,
Rob