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MG MGB Technical - Electronic ignition reliability

Just wondering, how many of you guys out there have suffered failure of an aftermarket electronic ignition set up. Are they as reliable as they're supposed to be?

Mike
Michael Watkins

Opinion seems divided - mostly down to the fact that when an electronic system DOES pack up it will just go, rather than points where you can probably grind them down on the pavement and limp home. Only reliability problem I've had with Magnetronic in 3 years is dodgy spade connector crimps. Dump the ones that come with it and put decent ones on! Always wise to carry spare points as well, just in case.

Tim.
Tim Jenner

I have a Magnetronic system in my '72 roadster. Very happy with it most of the time. Car starts well etc. However, I did suffer a module failure driving through Speke one afternoon. No warning, engine just cut and I coasted to the roadside. I had kept the points etc. as I had heard for reliability problems but for some unknown reason (can't possibly have been sheer stupidity) did not have the screw that holds the condensor to the base plate with me.
Upshot is that I can highly recommend the RAC bloke who spent a considerable time trying to get some of his metric screws to fit before giving up and mounting the condensor on the inner wing as a get me home measure. Moral is to keep the whole points system in a plastic bag in the glove box!
Steve
S Coulson

Or better yet, keep a complete, freshly rebuilt points distributor in the boot at all times!

My magnetronic hasn't let go yet (apart from the connectors as Tim noted) and that's after 4 years of regular motoring.

touch wood :o)
--
Olly
Oliver Stephenson

Michael-
I've been using the Allison (Crane) pointless system for many years. I've never had one of these systems fail. Just to play it safe, I located the module on my present car under the dashboard to keep it away from the heat of the engine compartment. You need to be aware that installing a pointless conversion kit does not entirely eliminate periodic distributor maintenance. You'll still need to replace the distributor cap and rotor, oil the cam bearing, the automatic timing control, and the pivots for the centrifugal advance counterweights, and grease the distributor shaft on the same schedule as before.
Steve S.

Hi all.

I have an old Sparkrite unit fitted, it dramatically reduces points wear and provides better sparks, AND the system reverts to standard at the flick of a switch if the electronics do fail... AND it is 'period' for the car.
The points do need to be changed occasionally, as the cam follower heel wears down.

Don
Don

After long consideration I ended up installing the Magnetronic system almost a year ago. So far there has been nothing but smooth travelling, literally.
The only thing I was dubious about was the clearance you are supposed to leave between the disc and the pickup. Mine is virtually touching and a recent inspection showed it has even scratched the label on the pickup. The instructions say it should not work unless it has the right gap set, but it seems very sturdy and reliable anyway. At least it shows how tolerant they are when installed by dummies like me.
Unless you're worried about originality, the peace of mind and no more guess work when tuning make it well worth going electronic. But definitely keep your old "insides" in the glovebox just in case the electronics ever blow. That kind of insurance costs nothing.
D O'Brien

Mike,

I have the Aldon igniter. Got it from here http://www.aldonauto.co.uk/

Only been in a little while but it has a years warranty. Just done a 1300 mile round trip with no problems. Easier starting and smoother running through rev range. Highly recommended by other MG'ers.

Frank
Frank Amey

Mike,

I currently use Mobelec Magnum electronic ignition. I bought it over 20 years ago to use in my previous MGB and removed it from that car prior to sale, 11 years ago. Even though the purchase of MGB number 2 followed that sale in a matter of weeks I only brought it back into use a few months ago.

After a few problems getting the timing correct it has been working fine.

However, I agree that you should carry the points etc in the boot. You can have them ready assembled on a spare base plate. I you do so the swap is much easier.

David
David Witham

I have had both a Crane/Allison XR-700 fail and also a pertronix ignitor. But on the other hand, I have had them go years before doing so. The Allison unit died after 9 yrs, and the Pertronix after only about 18 mos. Yet, I have been running my 68 GT on the replacement Crane unit for almost 5 yrs now, and the Pertronix unit I put in the MGA I had is still working flawlessly for the new owner after almost 4 yrs of service.

Electronics of all sorts are generally more reliable today than ever, but there is an old rule of thumb that says that if any of it is going to go, it will most likely do so in the first 90 days or at least the first year. After that, most things will last a VERY long time.

Steve's comment about moving the electronics inside the passenger compartment goes a long ways towards extending the life of any electronics unless it has been very specifically designed to withstand heat. And even if the Crane unit is, why not make its life just that much easier?
Bob Muenchausen

Re Mr. Munch: I've had 4 Pertronix. 1 failed at install, replacement has been 4 years good-to-go flawless. Of the remaining 3, two have been in service w/o blip 2-3 years. The last one just quit 2 months ago and I've been so dismayed I just went back to points/condensor.
vem myers

Is there more to Steve's comment with regard to reliability

Just to play it safe, I located the module on my present car under the dashboard to keep it away from the heat of the engine compartment.

Paul
Paul

I have had a Lucas CEI (aka Delco HEI) in my 75B for three years with no problems.
Steven Rechter

I installed a Pertonix system about 5 years ago and have had no problems since.
John Hubbard

It has been my experience that Pertronix systems have a high infant mortality rate. From what I've observed, if you get past the first 30 days or so, they will usually give years of faithful service. YMMV, of course.
Dan Masters

Another , but rather pricey system to consider, is the distributorless sytem manufactured by Electromotive.
It completely eliminates the distributor.
Safety Fast
Dwight
Dwight McCullough

I've been using and Sprinting with Newtronics fitted to my 67B and had absolutley no problems. Fit and Forget.
T J Nicolson

A few good ones out there then.

How many also refurbished dizzy?
and any in the 20-30years use bracket like David above.

Paul
Paul

I had an old Delta CD ignition I had used on many different vehicles from 1973 until 1996 when it finally bit the dust. It was one that you could still open up and test discrete components like resistors, diodes, and capacitors. When the diode and discharge capacitor both went belly up from heat and old age, I simply let it die. Probably should have kept it as an artifact of a by gone era. I could have probably sold it on Ebay.
Bob Muenchausen

I have two Crane Fireball XR700 systems. One is over four years old and the other over two. I installed the electronics box on the inner fender panel in front of the radiator support to keep them away from engine heat. No problems yet. Clifton
Clifton Gordon

Points with a MSD 6AL box. The MSD is mounted inside the passenger compartment up-side down on the firewall. I stopped using a Pertronix II when my car's guru pointed out that when the Pertronix cr*ps out, the car stops. When the points go, it's not sudden and they're cheap to replace.

rn
RN Lipow

Dwight- Tell more re: Pricey Electromotive please. Vem
vem myers

I have been running an Allison XR700 for a total of about 11 years now without any problems. Unit mounted on radiator support.
I carry a fully rebuilt spare dizzy with points in trunk...just in case.
Pete H
76B
Pete Haburt

Mike,
My '77 came with the Opus system and I replaced it with a Luminition ignition which lasted until two years ago when I broke it while working on another part. It is an excellent system and I have heard that it is still availalbe in the UK.

Currently I use the Crane Cams XR700 with no problems to date. However, the trigger mount is a little hard to work with and I had trouble when I installed it in a 25D, the bosses on the cap interferred with the phase adjustment. My neighbor uses Pertronix in his race cars and the triger mount is similar to the Luminition mount and easy to work with.

Doug
D. Cook

Gentlemen;
I am absolutely sold on the Allison and later Crane system. Have been running one on my B since 1985. I have installed more then I could count on customer cars. I have only seen one fail and that was due to the vac flexing the wires to much. I have used a few of the petro units and two have caused missfires. Crane is the way to go. I mount the control module out in front of the radiator dia because I learned many years ago that heat is the #1 enemy of electronics. Bob Thompson/International Auto.
Bob Thompson

I'll add my tuppence worth
Keep the points in the glove compartment, when the electronic ignition packs in you are going nowhere, except on the back of the big yellow truck
As you can probably guess, I was badly let down
At the time it happened I disagreed with Paul Hunt about the Sparkrite but have since changed my mind and tried one, I like the idea that you can switch it off
R. Algie

PerTronix in my TD. Worked great for 7,000 miles, Then misfire, under load, intermittantly. I thought that it was fixed when i replaced my coil.Left for the last GOF, started mising right away , over 55 mph.I drove another 400 miles with a defective PerTronix unit, under a light throttle, under 55 mph. I intalled the points, got back home. Shipped the PerTronix unit back to the factory, they sent me a new unit, no questions asked. Great customer service.Great customer service from my PerTronix/S.U./Lucas Retailer, Joe Curto Inc. Len
Len Fanelli

When I bought my car it had Lumenition Optronic fitted. It failed after two years. No way you can sort out the underlying problem; it is after all a black box.
Talking to the PO he told me it was already the second optronic unit he had fitted in the 10 years of his ownership.

I reverted to points, but this was not a good idea. So I added a Sparkrite system. It uses the points as a trigger. Smoother idle, way better pick-up, good cold start, and you can back of the choke way quicker. So all the benefits of normal electronic ignition. But after a year now the system was developing quirks again. Maybe shaft wear, but also the voltage across the line was not stable anymore. Maybe due to resistor wire.

Anyway, there is now a full SD1 dizzy in my system and my V8 flies again. This is by far the best thing I have ever had. No resistor wire anymore, and all normal Rover parts. Not an aftermarket system anymore. This must be the best. But only time will tell.

Frank
Frank de Groot

I have a Luminition Optronic that I fitted in 1989 and it is still in service today. It has never given any problems. Fit and Forget !

Cheers

Richard
Richard Thompson

This thread was discussed between 14/10/2003 and 25/10/2003

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