Pertronix help, again

Flyfish

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2004
1,402
212
52
St. Louis
Ever since I installed the pertronics distributor and coil set up, my engine will randomly cut out between 2000 - 2500 RPMs. It only does it under moderate acceleration and also cruising at that RPM range.

New wires, multiple rotors, plugs etc. Timing is great. I've done every voltage inground test they could give me and all good. Swapped ecu. TPS. MAF good.

Fuel pressure and everything there is perfect.

I'm out of ideas!

Thanks!
 

jims95

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
203
1
Upland, California
What distributor Part Number did you purchase (Ignitor, Ignitor II, or Ignitor III)? What coil Part Number did you purchase? Did you match the coil to the distributor, as shown on the Pertronix catalog on Page 51? It does make a big difference.

I have an Ignitor II, and I installed the Ignition Power Relay, as shown on the Pertronix catalog on page 19. Ignitor II and Ignitor III distributors require a consistent 12 volts, and the Igniton Power Relay is recomended for instalation.

Also, check the condition of your fuel injection relays. Do you know if they have ever been replaced? Long before installing the Pertronix, I have experience the random cut-out, and new relays fixed the problem.
 

Flyfish

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2004
1,402
212
52
St. Louis
What distributor Part Number did you purchase (Ignitor, Ignitor II, or Ignitor III)? What coil Part Number did you purchase? Did you match the coil to the distributor, as shown on the Pertronix catalog on Page 51? It does make a big difference.

I have an Ignitor II, and I installed the Ignition Power Relay, as shown on the Pertronix catalog on page 19. Ignitor II and Ignitor III distributors require a consistent 12 volts, and the Igniton Power Relay is recomended for instalation.

Also, check the condition of your fuel injection relays. Do you know if they have ever been replaced? Long before installing the Pertronix, I have experience the random cut-out, and new relays fixed the problem.

I have the matching 1745510 & 40011 coil.

I Thought about the relays but I have solid and steady fuel pressure even when it cuts out. 32psi. The dial doesn't move at all.
 

jims95

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
203
1
Upland, California
Still out of ideas?

One of the two fuel injection relays, powers up the fuel pump. The other powers up the ECU. The RAVE manual schematics do show both of the fuel injection relays, and what circuits each one powers up. I think you are fooling yourself by saying that you do not have any drop in fuel pressure, when it cuts out, and that you have thought about the relays. The last production year for distributors was 1995 (22 years ago). These relays do not last forever. In 20 years of owning a RRC (228,000 miles), I have had two times that the engine would randomly cut out on the road at cruise. Each time I replaced both fuel injection relays, the problem went away.

Good luck.
 

Flyfish

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2004
1,402
212
52
St. Louis
Still out of ideas?

One of the two fuel injection relays, powers up the fuel pump. The other powers up the ECU. The RAVE manual schematics do show both of the fuel injection relays, and what circuits each one powers up. I think you are fooling yourself by saying that you do not have any drop in fuel pressure, when it cuts out, and that you have thought about the relays. The last production year for distributors was 1995 (22 years ago). These relays do not last forever. In 20 years of owning a RRC (228,000 miles), I have had two times that the engine would randomly cut out on the road at cruise. Each time I replaced both fuel injection relays, the problem went away.

Good luck.

I certainly cannot say 100% and it's definitely worth trying. I just decided to rule out fuel; relays/pump/regulator etc since the gauge doesn't trip at all when it cuts.

Also, I was not having this problem until I changed to the pertronix set up.
 
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Buddy

Well-known member
Nov 6, 2006
2,839
1
Central NC
Maybe it is the Pertronix. I've had similar on my '95 DI. It runs super strong and never falters under hard acceleration. But if I'm just driving at 35-45 it will occasionally have a little hick-up. I initially thought it was the TPS so I swapped that with a spare. Then I tried a whole list of other things. It still does it occasionally. One thing I did notice is that if I run the truck hard for a minute or two it goes away. Which has made me kind of rule out the ignition. But who know could still be it I guess. I've just given up chasing it and will just wait until something breaks for good.
 

Flyfish

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2004
1,402
212
52
St. Louis
Maybe it is the Pertronix. I've had similar on my '95 DI. It runs super strong and never falters under hard acceleration. But if I'm just driving at 35-45 it will occasionally have a little hick-up. I initially thought it was the TPS so I swapped that with a spare. Then I tried a whole list of other things. It still does it occasionally. One thing I did notice is that if I run the truck hard for a minute or two it goes away. Which has made me kind of rule out the ignition. But who know could still be it I guess. I've just given up chasing it and will just wait until something breaks for good.

Lol. I have tested, changed, swapped so many things (including the whole unit) I'm kinda thinking the same way. Ignore it until something blows up!

I have spare relays so that'll probably be my last attempt unless I find something I haven't done or didn't think of.
 

4Runner

Well-known member
May 24, 2007
660
110
Boise Idaho
I run the same set up, only I had to switch back to a regular Bosch coil. I had a weird stumble at 1800rpm's. Checked everything over. The coil metered ok for what that is worth but there is something wrong with it. I've got 50k on my Pertronix with a stock coil and no problems so far. It's worth trying.
 

Flyfish

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2004
1,402
212
52
St. Louis
I run the same set up, only I had to switch back to a regular Bosch coil. I had a weird stumble at 1800rpm's. Checked everything over. The coil metered ok for what that is worth but there is something wrong with it. I've got 50k on my Pertronix with a stock coil and no problems so far. It's worth trying.

Which Bosch coil (& resistance rating) are you using?
The perTronics coil is rated at 1.5 ohms resistance. Everybody tells me that dropping to a lower resistance coil, (like stock genuine) could cause some serious problems.

I appreciate the info!!
 

4Runner

Well-known member
May 24, 2007
660
110
Boise Idaho
Well, there went all the detail in the picture. That's not helpful. Sorry. I looked at my LWB and it has the same coil with the numbers worn off as well.
 

Flyfish

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2004
1,402
212
52
St. Louis
Well, there went all the detail in the picture. That's not helpful. Sorry. I looked at my LWB and it has the same coil with the numbers worn off as well.

I swapped in a 1 ohm resistance Bosch coil. On a very short test, I could not get it to cut out as I normally could.

Not sure how long it will last or if I'm doing damage to the distributor unit.

I guess I will find out eventually.
 

aliastel

Well-known member
Sep 27, 2009
942
0
Champaign, IL
My Range ran fine on the Pertronix and the stock Bosch coil, until the cheap Pertronix distributor cap died with under 5K miles on it. I think I would just go with Microsquirt or Megasquirt on my next dizzy Rover and be done with it. These Lucas spark and fuel systems are getting old now. . .
 

Flyfish

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2004
1,402
212
52
St. Louis
My Range ran fine on the Pertronix and the stock Bosch coil, until the cheap Pertronix distributor cap died with under 5K miles on it. I think I would just go with Microsquirt or Megasquirt on my next dizzy Rover and be done with it. These Lucas spark and fuel systems are getting old now. . .

Actually I decided to try swappiing to a Bosch 1 ohm coil.

Seems to be running fantastic and I cannot get it to cut out no matter what I do.

At this point, I'm gonna leave it alone unless something blows up or catches fire. In which case, I hope I have beer and popcorn nearby.

Thanks for all of the comments and suggestions.
Best,
Todd