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[zirk]

Ok, Friends Car, in good nick, very low miles, wants it MOTed and and get shot of it. was starting on the button on his drive within the last week or so, but just turns over now, hes telling me no spark.

Said I'd lend a hand, thinking Coil, but before we get too involved, can someone remind me, I seem to remember that the Coils where 6V, but were fed with 12V when cranking over, if this is the case how did it work?

Was there a Voltage Regulator or something on the 12 v feed that was bypassed ie relay or something when cranking, if so where is it?

Or, did the Coil itself have different windings that where switched when cranking, if you get my drift.

Thanks for any info, Chris.



   

[I_want_an_Omega]

Ok, this technique had a power resistor in series with the coil - which was then shorted out, using a relay, when cranking thus putting 12v onto the 6v coil. If the resistor failed then it would fire when cranking but then fail when you switched back to run.

This was used in the mid/late 70's with Simca/Chrysler - but I dont recall Vx using it with the Cavalier - although I could be wrong.

How old a Cavalier is is as there were 3 versions dont forget.

The resistors were sometimes called "ballast resistors" and ususally white ceramic blocks and about half the size of a pack of ciggys.

HTH

[zirk]

Thanks Rob, not sure of the year but is a late Mk3, maybe Im confussing the 6/12v with something else but seem to remember something alone them lines 20 odd years ago.

I'll have play with it, just thought more info before I play the better,

Edit, ok, just a thought then if the Relay contacts are a bit worn, then no start when cranking in that case.

[martin42]

Check the carb is ok,had a cavalier 1.6 that refused to start and it was due to something in the carb coming loose

[Andy H]

On my Vauxhall Viva the 'ballast resistor' was actually a length of wire (of the correct resistance) concealed in the length of the wiring loom.

The engineers in Luton were rather proud of this innovation and went to some lengths to describe it in the training manuals.

If the same era as the Mk2 Astras I drove I imagine it will have an electronic module inside a distributor (so no ballast resistor).

[andyc]

If its a 1.6 8 valve then take the dissy cap off and turn it over, you might find the rotor arm doesn't move.

If so then take the dissy of the engine and fit a new drive pin that locates in the cam, commom problem in its day

Andy