Hi all I have a 1980 308 GTB dry sump single distributor without contacts. My car started making a tattling noise barely noticeable coming from the front bank of the engine. With a stethoscope I found that it’s mostly generated at the area of the distributor. Nothing has changed in the performance of the car nor to my temperatures and pressure. I kept using the car. The noise at a point got a lot louder and my generator warning light is on. However I tested the generator and works fine ( the car runs with one of the battery leads off). The noise is very loud at the idling speed and suddenly stops at around 2000rpm. At that exact moment that the noise stops my rev counter needle jumps and then engine sounds fine and everything runs normal. I have also noticed some black smoke on acceleration which probably means weak spark. However I repeat that on high rpm and load the car performs well ( it can go top speed without problem) over 4000rpm all is as before. Since yesterday the noise is much louder and the engine barely keeps the idling speed. However me revcounter shows 1200rpm and the needle is trembling. Generator light is always on. The noise is alarming and loud rattling and squeaking but always stops over 2k rpm. Please give me advice. Thank you all George P.s. I have changed the distributor cap and rotor. I took out of the engine the distributor and it doesn’t have any play when I span it nor makes noises. I don’t know however how it would behave with the amplified load of the amplifiers.
My AC doesn’t work, but the belt is still connected. I had a rattle when cold, and found it was coming from the AC Compressor. Took off the belt and the rattle stopped. Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk
Thanks carter I’ll try that. However the AC is not related to the electrical/ignition feedback I received. However it can be two different things so I’ll have a look
Have you checked the plugs on the front bank? Also: probably not related, but it's not the best thing to disconnect your battery when the car is running. On many cars that can do weird things with power and possibly screw something up. If the goal is to check the alternator, do it the correct way with a meter and look for voltage drops, Etc.
Yes you’re right about the battery. I’ll check my plugs. And I’ll probably change them all. Thank you!
Check for loose timing belt cover(s). Generator light will come on at very low rpm. Sounds like you may have some kind of idle adjustment problem, fouled injector, compression leak or perhaps vacuum leak, malfunctioning fast idle circuit .. If generator light stays on you have low voltage output and that might affect ignition or fuel pump. At higher rpm your voltage may rise enough to make the running problem go away but not enough to turn off the light.
