Santana SJ413 1989 Ignition problem

[erky32]

Whilst I'm waiting for new HT cabling and spade conns to arrive. It conked out on me again today and a friend said it might be the ignition coil that letting me down. - so I thought maybe I should look at buying one and try replacing, but hey - whilst most coils seem to come in around €25 - the ones I've seen for the 413 are in the €150 region. Can anybody shed any light on this - is there a more economical solution? Also, are the coil types very specific for the vehicle? - I thought a coil would be almost universal - but it seems to be a science in itself!

[rockinsuzuki58]

hi me again dont bother with the coili have never had one go they usually just stop working try the lead to the coil first motor facters have them already made up just take your lead with you i dont think they are a special coil should be about £20 good luck tony

[ROBBIE]

I’ve had a coil pack up on a SJ. Used to run sweet and then just stop when it got warm

[erky32]

Hi Tony, - yes , I think the leads are best guess. Thanks also Robbie, that "warming up" problem is one to bear in mind. But since my ignition gives the fault whether its hot or cold, it just stops working completely, then after a bit of random fiddling around with spades & leads it bursts into life as though nothing happened! ....would a coil wear out in that way? Look forward to all the bits arriving in mail to try some lead replacements! (I live in SW France so finding parts can be a bit challenging hence my use of internet shopping!) ....thx for your ideas!!

[rockinsuzuki58]

i am 99% sure just relplace the coil lead and try it and let me know please i just love suzuki sjs its great here with hood/doors removed and screen folde down frommay to november its 44 degrees here at the moment and a heatwave for the weekend talk soon tony

[ROBBIE]

When I say warm I mean anything after 5 mins of running, could be up-to30 mins

[rockinsuzuki58]

hi have you fixed your problem tony in cyprus still 40 degrees

[erky32]

Hi Tony,
Nah - been a bit busy recently with odds n ends. But I have rec'd my HT lead & connectors, and a bag of crimpable spades - so hopefully tomorrow I'm looking forward to a couple of hours of HT cabling & respading the 12v feeds. I'll certainly let you know how it progresses. Bought an HT tester & 12v tester at same time so just restocking with my old school stuff - I havent had a petrol car for over 20 years!! At least its cooled down a tad now, still in high 20s tho, - but the mozzys are out in force, - do you get mozzys in the middle of the Med??

[rockinsuzuki58]

hi mate please when you do the job just change the coil lead first and let me know if it was that and yes loads of mosqiutos have a nice day tony [its still 40 degrees here and very humid

[erky32]

Hi Tony,

We've had low 40s many days this summer, gawd thats hot eh!!,- hope yer house & lifestyle are compatible with that! - but thankfully for us that's gone now, - just the mozzys to cope with!
Spent a bit of time today, replaced the coil/dist HT lead - no start, with my new spark tester checked all 4 leads AOK, so pulled a plug just to verify beyond tester & yes there was a spark!!
Now, because of the way in which it has failed many times, I just assumed it was electric, - no warnings, just an abrupt stop, then wierdly restart after some tinkering.
But, - I thought, need to check fuel. Took off airintake and absolutely no whif of fuel - hu-oh? - pulled the fuel line off carb, cranked it 2 or 3 secs, 3 or 4 times - not a drop. Plenty of fuel in tank.
Ran out of time but next job will be to check the pump-carb line, filter etc - if that is aok - I'll pull the pump for a checkout. ....any thoughts?

Still can't relate symptoms to fuel starvation, but who knows??