512TR Back Fire

Hi folks, I've had my 512TR for nearly a year now and just wanted to say thanks to everyone's helpful, friendly posts on here to date which I've used many times for reference.

After nearly 2,500 miles in the car this year it started to go wrong so thought it was time I shared my experiences too.

After picking it up last summer I took the car on a trip the alps and it drove like a dream. The instrument panel lights didn't work but I wasn't driving at night so that wasn't a big issue. Slightly more worrying was a sticky throttle but it was manageable and just required the throttle linkage to be cleaned on return to the UK. Driving up, over and down the col de l’Iseran (see pic) was an experience I will never forget.

The one thing missing for me was noise. I know someone with a 512 with an open exhaust, he told me that made the driving experience even more of an event so it was a no brainer for me to have one fitted.

There's a mile long tunnel between the garage where I had the work done and the garage where I store the car and driving it I gave the car the full beans with the windows down, through second into third and back a few times and wow, what a beautiful sound it makes.

I had a few niggles sorted over the winter, those dash lights, a few stone chips, removing those after market wing badges. Then, I bought a trickle charge and put it to bed.

Come the spring and I take it out for the occasional weekend blast, down to the Goodwood Members meeting and a few runs around country roads. Then one weekend after about 50 miles of driving it starts to back fire on the down shift. I'd been driving it pretty hard and my first thought was that it must just be getting up to temperature, maybe running a bit rich and I carry on blasting around.

Then another bang from the exhaust. Then it's happening on the up shift. Then it's happening on acceleration. It gets to the point where it sounds like someone it sitting on the boot of the car with a shot gun taking pot shots at sheep as I'm driving along. Any gear, any revs. Blue smoke. I am seriously nervous now, about 3 miles from home. A U turn in a pub car park attracts a lot of attention, not because of the car, that always gets a few looks but because of the relentless banging from the exhaust.

As I limp home I can't help think the thing is going to explode but I'd rather limp it back to safety than leave it stuck on a country road. I finally make it back and shut it down. Relieved. Worried.

The garage pick the car up and take it away and I await nervously for news, praying I haven't caused irreparable damage. A few days later they call to tell me they've tested the car and they tell me it's running perfectly. I tell them they've not driven it hard / long enough. A few days later, after 50 miles they can repeat the problem.

The solution? Change the ignition coil.

This weekend I will drive the car extensively for the first time since the work was done.

Wish me luck. I will report back.
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Thanks! I'll let you know how it goes. I put a new cool coil pack on it so hope that sorts it.

 

Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated.