HELP!!! mystery fault

[Shaun_Lee]

My Elan has run faultlessly for 3 years--until! driving the other night it just lost power and would not rev, there is no light on the dash and the fault code is just giving 12 which means that there is no way I can identify the fault, it seems to be either electrical or fuel related, it sounds like a diesel at tickover but then seems to clear when the revs rise, it starts OK. While checking out the CAS sensor I noted that there is about 1/8 inch sideways play on the disc, is this normal? I would have thought as it is a critical timing it would have no play? Another wierd thing is that when it is ticking over I can remove plug leads 2+3 and it still runs the same, if I remove 1 or 4 it starts to stall, surely it cannot be running on 2 cylinders? it runs on the road but accelerates like my mates Skoda but occassionally seems to jerk forward as if the fault momentarily clears.

Any ideas??

[ESM]

I'd say its a coil with 95% certainty. The turbo Elans use two coils one for cylinders 1 & 4 and the other cylinders 2 & 3. The coils can be obtained individually or you can get a coil pack. Check out the parts crossreference section and maybe post in parts wanted.

The reason I have 5% uncertainty is that the injector circuits are split the same way as the coils but they seldom go wrong (unless the wiring get some serious grief) and should set a code if they do.

[Shaun_Lee]

I'd say its a coil with 95% certainty. The turbo Elans use two coils one for cylinders 1 & 4 and the other cylinders 2 & 3. The coils can be obtained individually or you can get a coil pack. Check out the parts crossreference section and maybe post in parts wanted.

The reason I have 5% uncertainty is that the injector circuits are split the same way as the coils but they seldom go wrong (unless the wiring get some serious grief) and should set a code if they do.

Thanks for the info, I will check the coil, would it still run on the road with 2 cylinders? I intend to look at your link as I am interested in the everest chip, does it help even though I already have increased the boost to 1 bar (on gauge) and have a FCD and dump valve?
Shaun

[Shaun_Lee]

Checked out the coil, weak eratic spark on cylinders 2 +3, I am amazed that the car will run on two cylinders!! but it does, I took the HT leads off completely and it runs, in fact it is faster than my wifes car just on 2 pots. Time to order up a new coil and might as well change the HT leads and plugs as well, I will post again when I am up and running, thanks for the help, I appreciate it.
Shaun