Hi everyone,

Just wanted to share this with you. You guys have been so helpful whenever I have a question and hopefully, this may help someone in the future.

Near the end of last week I drove the MK2 to the petrol station in order to fill it up for the weekend. On the way home it suddenly stopped running. I was able to coast and park it in a relatively safe place where I would not be in the way of traffic.

Well, I had a full tank of fuel, I could hear the fuel pump running and I had spark from the coil to the distributor, but nothing from the distributor to the spark plugs.

I had to call RACQ (AAA in the USA) and have the car transported home.

Turns out, the rotor came apart.

Now I carry a spare rotor and distributor cap along with my supply of belts and hoses.


Cheers,

Stu

 

Hey Stu, I really love this example of low cost, high value, very practical advice - especially given the cost and inconvenience of a flat-top rescue.

Great to see this speedily resolved and thanks for a timely heads up on a killer failure. Can I add one more to your rotor & cap and also easily overlooked - the capacitor or condenser that boosts that "kerack" across the primary circuit of points. In the unlikely, but known event that this low cost part fails "open circuit", the engine may start but run very poorly with no power. If the capacitor fails "short circuit", you will crank till doomsday and the engine will never start.

So, pop both spare rotor & capacitor in with the cap, and I'd guess you have 90% of roadside ignition failures licked. What? You want to carry a spare coil as well? Pessimist!!!

Back on a serious note, many of these XK engines have now been fondled by a host of mechanics, owners, enthusiasts & thrashers . . . and I am reminded to caution that some are no longer wearing their original distributors. Earlier ones became rarer spares, while later (but different) ones became more prolific. We have seen cautionary tales of rotor mismatches resulting in "failure to proceed" and even severe damage. Be warned! Before ordering your "correct" rotor & cap etc, check the part number of the fitted distributor!

Cheers,

Ken