Hi all, (I finally have internet access again)

I apologise for the length of the post or for any confusion.

As the title suggests, I am having running issues with my EB. Around 8 months ago something in my ignition system (most likely module) ceased to function. I have a friend in parts who organised for every ignition part to be replaced at a (might as well) kind of price. So... coil, dizzy, leads, plugs etc.

Now the EB distributors aren't a lot of fun to put in, but finally (in the dark) we managed to get it to seat. However my first drive wasn't at all impressive. The car was very slow and unresponsive. I figured it was the timing, so I did a backyard adjustment. I drove for a month, still no good. I then found the dizzy was a tooth out and so I had a workshop place it properly and time it. (well I hope they did it properly)

Still no good

My car has never been as it was, the symptoms are strange. If I turn the car on for the first time in a day it runs under 3/4s the power it used to have. If I restart it runs worse, then restart again... worse again. It's like driving a four cylinder diesel, I am scared to drag barina's.

Again strangely enough, one day my battery was having poor terminal contact (I just thought it was a flat) I managed to roll start it and drive home. All my lights, gauges, accessories were flickering crazily due to the minimal battery power, this I expected. What I didn't expect was my car to run just like it used to, I suddenly had all this power again, it felt wonderful..... the next day, it ran poorly again... I replaced the battery and it still runs poorly...

I don't know what to do... Will resetting the computer help me?

Please help...... I don't want to be dragged off by barinas any more

Have you checked the plugs?
Running the car with the timing out may have fuald the plugs up. wip one out and chech that its not all coverd in black sut.

I replaced the plugs again not too long ago, unfortunately it didn't help.

I might be a good idea to check all your vacum hoses and lines. especialt the one to the Map sensor on the fire wall.

At all did you take the battery lead off. I would remove a battery lead for a night and then next morning start it and just let it idle for a few moments and then see if it fixes the drama. by the sounds of it you have replace all things except fuel objects.

possibly an earth issue? or alternator issue?

I would check your earth's, I've seen cars have this issue before on a poor earth.

Might want to check your fuel lines?
By what you've said it sounds like a problem I had a while ago in my old XF, replaced leads plugs etc, turned out I needed a new filter because there was a whole heap of crap (sooty greasy stuff) just sitting in the bottom of it.
Might not help at all but worth a shot.

get someone in the know to go back to basics and check, timing , compression ,spark , fuel pressure etc.

you'll find it

Thankyou for all of the replies , I will check all of these hopefully this weekend if I have time (I have to move house, I know I won't be towing any trailers with this car in its current condition )

Is taking the lead off and running the car the best way to reset the computer?

Also is there any tips to locating a bad earth or is it all trial and error?

Many Many thanks

major earth prob or ECU intermitant failure

Just wondering the simplest way to test for these faults without chasing my tail:)

there is no easy way, your going to be chasing your tail, or paying someone else to

it might Be woth replacing ur tps And cleaning all ur loom connections with contact cleaner. Also just double Check all the leads are on the right plug and also have good contact on the dizzy cap. Can also check if any leads are arcing on something - maybe one has a funny bend or angle in it

Had a similar problem and found too much voltage on the engine block and chassis according to the manual. Book states with car running,headlights on and air con on a maximum of 0.05 volts should be seen from battery negative to engine block and a maximum 0.05 volts from negative battery terminal to chassis. I had alot more and upgraded the battery and chassis to bellhousing earth straps and cleaned everything up. Voltage dropped dramatically and havent had a problem since. Acccording to the book it can upset sensors.

Thankyou 03turbo, that has given me a simple method to start testing for a bad earth:)

and cheers misk_one, I will also look into the tps and give everything a clean

Thanks again to all whom have replied. I will keep posting, hopefully my next ones are much more positive and I finally drag off that barina