Electronic ignition

Dedicated to owners of Citroen GS and GSA models.

Moderator: RichardW

Gsbx1220
Posts: 25
Joined: 17 Oct 2016, 22:26
Location: Cumbernauld
My Cars: 1978 GS Pallas
1988 BX 16RE
2023 Alfa Giulia Veloce
x 3

Re: Electronic ignition

Post by Gsbx1220 »

Glad your trip went well. And your GS ran well. Next time you are passing through give me a shout!

Still not fitted electronic ignition yet, but still on the list
Richard
User avatar
Stonehopper
Posts: 340
Joined: 24 Feb 2012, 16:10
Location: Shropshire
My Cars: 1975 GS Pallas
1967 2cv AZAM
Previously;
1982 Acadiane
1990 BX TZD turbo
1982 2cv Charleston
1971 AK 250
1978 AK 400
1982 Ami 8 break
1971 Ami 8 break
1979 CX Familiale
1960 2cv AZL (Belgian built)
x 115

Re: Electronic ignition

Post by Stonehopper »

Developments!

During the very cold weather, snow, ice, and rain of December, Jan, and Feb, the car started fine - and then didn't. It fired on two, picking up on four after some coaxing with choke and throttle. When one morning it failed completely, checking connections found the top of the Lumention coil cracked. The crack was considerable, more like an eruption from within (see image). After smearing silicon sealant in the 'chasm' and spraying with WD40 she fired up. The car ran for a couple of weeks then failed completely. I contacted Autocar, the manufacturers and suppliers in South London, and despite the coil being out of warantee they supplied a new one. Still no life in the car. Dead.

Despite Autocar claiming that their coils are not prone to failure, I cannot help but deduce that the failed coil had somehow 'cooked' the electronic control box. In our house move I have misplaced my original CB points coil, and so have purchased a new coil from Accuspark (the Red one), refitted the distributor with points and capacitor, and she fired up instantly after over a month idle and untouched (weather foul).

I will be sending the failed coil and electronic gubbins back to Autocar (they didn't initially want the failed coil for inspection) and ask if they might be able to test all, and point to the cause of the total failure. I'll keep you posted.
Pic 1.PNG
Pic 2.PNG
Last edited by GiveMeABreak on 23 Apr 2018, 10:34, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Fixed Image Links and Sized Images
Derek
User avatar
white exec
Moderating Team
Posts: 7445
Joined: 21 Dec 2015, 12:46
Location: Sayalonga, Malaga, Spain
My Cars: 1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive hatch RHD
1992 BX19D Millesime hatch LHD
previously 1989 BX19RD, 1998 ZX 1.9D auto, 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto
and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S
x 1752

Re: Electronic ignition

Post by white exec »

Will be interesting to see what they offer. Not something you'd expect to fail like that.
IIRC, most of the electronic ignition kits feed the coil primary not with DC like traditional CBs, but with a high-frequency, low current but high voltage pulse. This produces a good fat spark, by operating the coil more efficiently, without straining it.

I used Electronize EI kits for some years, both with the originally-intended CBs, but later with an inductive sensor in place of the breaker points. It transformed how a Rover V8 started and ran.
Chris
User avatar
Stonehopper
Posts: 340
Joined: 24 Feb 2012, 16:10
Location: Shropshire
My Cars: 1975 GS Pallas
1967 2cv AZAM
Previously;
1982 Acadiane
1990 BX TZD turbo
1982 2cv Charleston
1971 AK 250
1978 AK 400
1982 Ami 8 break
1971 Ami 8 break
1979 CX Familiale
1960 2cv AZL (Belgian built)
x 115

Re: Electronic ignition

Post by Stonehopper »

Thanks for fixing the images. I tried combinations of links through Flickr, but only ended up with text links. Some advice on same would be welcomed.
Derek
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36990
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5644

Re: Electronic ignition

Post by GiveMeABreak »

No worries, actually, you can now just upload pictures directly to the Forum instead of linking to them.

Info and guidance here:

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=56795
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
Stonehopper
Posts: 340
Joined: 24 Feb 2012, 16:10
Location: Shropshire
My Cars: 1975 GS Pallas
1967 2cv AZAM
Previously;
1982 Acadiane
1990 BX TZD turbo
1982 2cv Charleston
1971 AK 250
1978 AK 400
1982 Ami 8 break
1971 Ami 8 break
1979 CX Familiale
1960 2cv AZL (Belgian built)
x 115

Re: Electronic ignition

Post by Stonehopper »

Thanks Marc. Since Photobucket went skewiff I went Flickr, but still find navigating its procedures complex. Drag and drop from own files is so much easier.
Derek
User avatar
Stonehopper
Posts: 340
Joined: 24 Feb 2012, 16:10
Location: Shropshire
My Cars: 1975 GS Pallas
1967 2cv AZAM
Previously;
1982 Acadiane
1990 BX TZD turbo
1982 2cv Charleston
1971 AK 250
1978 AK 400
1982 Ami 8 break
1971 Ami 8 break
1979 CX Familiale
1960 2cv AZL (Belgian built)
x 115

Re: Electronic ignition

Post by Stonehopper »

Contacted Autocar yesterday after they had my kit for a couple of weeks, and got a reply straight away. They have found the module in good order, and are sending me a new silver MS4 coil to replace the green one. It's being despatched today.

if after fitting I still have no spark, and as the car runs fine on the points set-up which shows that leads and plugs are OK, then that just leaves the infra red lamp unit, or its wires and connections to question. I do recall having a misfire on a Newtronic system on my old Guzzi 500 once. That was down to oily residue build up on the infra red lens. I'll keep you posted.

GS exhaust systems are fun too - see another thread.
Derek
Post Reply