Sunday 23 February 2020

Ignition Barrel.


Dodgy Ignition Barrel.

So, on Tuesday 18th Feb 2020, I get in the landy at about 0430 and head off for work. I get about 5 minutes drive away from home and the engine cuts out and the Landy rolls to a halt on a Roundabout near Sainsbury's at Sixfields in Northampton. First I check the fuse's because the Landy appeared to have no ignition and no starter. I thought, easy fix, we'll soon be on our way, but no. The fuses were fine and this got me puzzled. Now I'm thinking that a wire must have come to lose somewhere? So up with the passenger seat and check the battery terminals. All is good there, so now I'm really puzzled. 

Just now the police arrive and asked with a grin on his face, "Can you tell me why you have decided to park in the middle of a roundabout?" I just look at him and grin back and said, "The Car Park was full." They did offer help in asking if they could hold my torch while I fettled around. I really thought I was going to get going in minutes, but this idea seemed to be a NO, NO. 

Okay, now the police aren't convinced and neither am I in getting going anytime soon. So now I ring my Driving Agency and tell them what has happened and that I won't be at work for the foreseeable. I'm now ringing the wife and telling her to get her car warmed up, as the morning be bloody freezing with ice all over the screen, etc. While she was warming up the car and scraping the screen, I was walking home. The police said they would sit and wait till I get back. So within 20 minutes, I was back with a rope and the wife towed me home. 

I dumped the Landy outside the house and got in my Rover 75 and drove on to work. I've had a busy week at work and not had a chance to look at the Landy till Saturday morning, 22/02/20. 


I set to straight to the ignition barrel and I found this... 



The barrel has fallen apart, so no wonder the electrics weren't working. 

A friend, Russ Beck, offered a replacement from a 200Tdi Defender. Slightly different in the barrels, but they fit the column. 



The terminal wiring was a bigger size, so I had to try and find a bigger terminal fitting.
Just luckily, laying in a draw, was a section of heavy brown wire with a terminal fitting included.
I just cut and shut the wire with a block terminal and taped it up with electrical tape for insulation.

I fitted everything back together and,

Hey Presto, the jobs a Good'un.
We're back on the road again.



I have ordered another Ignition Switch and it's one that'll fit the original Ignition.
That should be with me shortly.