340 1.4 rough ans slow idling

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Two340'sman

Thanks, I know it's a bit weak, but I wanted to be sure of am MOT pass. Last time I looked at the plugs (probably last year) they looked a good colour.

My friend's 1.4 340 when through the same garages MOT today, it passed, no advisories too. CO was 1.1% and the hydrocarbons a fair bit higher than mine, but still well within the limit.

Its a brilliant trouble free engine , Only one thing will let you down the RENIX ignition unit it can stop at any time anywhere sooner or later these days so worth keeping a spare in the car to swap over .

[Two340'sman]

Originally Posted by Clan

Its a brilliant trouble free engine , Only one thing will let you down the RENIX ignition unit it can stop at any time anywhere sooner or later these days so worth keeping a spare in the car to swap over .

I have a spare one that was taken off my old 340 1.7, but it was actually from a 360. Back last year I temporarily fitted it to my 1.4, seemed to be OK.

I may start carrying in the car as you suggest.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Two340'sman

I have a spare one that was taken off my old 340 1.7, but it was actually from a 360. Back last year I temporarily fitted it to my 1.4, seemed to be OK.

I may start carrying in the car as you suggest.

good one ! They are specific to each engine type that is why there are so many different part numbers , They contain the ignition timing data . So don't use the wrong one for any length of time , just for getting home !

[SteveP]

In my experience, the Renix unit is very reliable (only ever had one fail out of 5 300's with it fitted and that car had sat for the best part of a decade). It is often the scapegoat for other issues.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by SteveP

In my experience, the Renix unit is very reliable (only ever had one fail out of 5 300's with it fitted and that car had sat for the best part of a decade). It is often the scapegoat for other issues.

That's still a 20% failure rate which is far too high!

They are horrendously bad though, come across and heard of so many duff Renix units and not all are interchangeable, some will get you home as Clan suggests but others won't even start the car!

[Two340'sman]

My friend had the crankshaft sensor fail on his 340 1.4. The car had done only about 25,000 Miles then. Mine have never failed in about 16 years of owning 340's.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by SteveP

In my experience, the Renix unit is very reliable (only ever had one fail out of 5 300's with it fitted and that car had sat for the best part of a decade). It is often the scapegoat for other issues.

I have been working on 300s since they came out in 1976 until they finished and beyond on a professional basis , the renix do fail on the later ones not often but I have probably changed 10 in that time . Internal fault they just stop suddenly and that's it . you stop and cant go anywhere and they are hard to find now so best look around for a spare before it goes .

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Two340'sman

My friend had the crankshaft sensor fail on his 340 1.4. The car had done only about 25,000 Miles then. Mine have never failed in about 16 years of owning 340's.

mine has never failed on a 1988 ( 100,000 miles ) and a 1980 ( 250,000 miles ) which I fitted one to when the renix unit came out in about 1984 .

[Two340'sman]

Originally Posted by Clan

mine has never failed on a 1988 ( 100,000 miles ) and a 1980 ( 250,000 miles ) which I fitted one to when the renix unit came out in about 1984 .

I remember ordering the sensor on eBay for my friend, when it arrived the cable was much longer than the original, but it worked OK. Probably about 10 years ago, car still fine.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Two340'sman

I remember ordering the sensor on eBay for my friend, when it arrived the cable was much longer than the original, but it worked OK. Probably about 10 years ago, car still fine.

the long cable is 360