By dave on Monday, May 14, 2001 - 02:01 am: Edit

I posted this to lr-discovery@yahoogroups.com in case it looks familiar to you....

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I have a few questions about the ignition system on a '94 V8i.

I pulled the distributor off to see how it was holding up
after 130,000 miles and was puzzled about the operation of
the vacuum unit. If I apply vacuum to the vacuum advance
unit it will activate, but seems to 'bleed' the vacuum off
in a hurry. As in right away. At first I thought it was a bad
vacuum unit but wanted to check and make sure that for some odd
reason it was not supposed to work that way on the rover. Should
the vacuum unit hold vacuum? I have never seen one that worked that
way, but then I have never seen a vacuum unit with such a strong
return spring either....

Also, where in the hell is the ignition amplifier module on the 94's?
The manual shows one right on (or near) the distributor but I
believe that is only for 95's. I cant find anything that shows the
schematics of the '94 setup. In fact, the wiring at the coil is also
different than what the manual shows. Mine has two small Lucas ballasts(?)
that connect to each side of the coil and no 'suppressor' like it show
in the manual. Was this just a freak setup that they used in '94?

By pjkbrit on Monday, May 14, 2001 - 10:12 am: Edit

Mine's like yours...but I added and RPI ig. amp to the system...it gave an immediate improvement in pickup and economy..also, the only way to test out that vac. advance unit is with a timing light. Usually at this milage it probably is not working that well. Mine was improved using a new silicone pipe a rerouting the vac. supply to a tee piece off the back of the plenum chamber which gives a stronger and quicker "pull" than off the top of the throttle housing.