MOT failure

[8690q]

The 20v 80 avant failed it's MOT the other day.

All good except for tickover, it's all over the place. It rises on it's own slowly then falls sharply. I've been all over it for vacuum leaks (suggested by MOT man) and found nothing.

2 fault codes come up 2114 and 2342. Distributor out of alignment and lambda probe.

Car doesn't tick over with abandon when wee diagnostic machine is plugged in ?

[rynaqui]

Does it ever fail to start up randomly? That is mostly related to the lambda sensor gone bad.

We had an Alfa that was doing this till we changed the lambda.

[Monkeymagic]

I,m not overly familiar with these cars yet bu could It be the ignition timing is out so it,s hunting and lambda having a wobbly trying to compensate.?

[Monkeymagic]

Go back to basics set static timing including dizzy then with strobe of required. As I say Im not familiar with these and am still learning. It may be ignition timing is electronically adjusted. If not time for th strobe light to come out.

[WidowmakerS2]

Is this a 7A?

[8690q]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, keep them coming

This is a 7a engine.

Ignition hunting, lambda wobbly sounds right on the money and I hope it's something as easy as tweaking the dizzy.

[Monkeymagic]

again i pretend to be an expert with these cars Im still learning with mine. but if you set fly wheel/ crank to tdc ensure that cam is aligned and then check that centre or rotor arm is aligned with indent on body of dizzy. if not it Will need setting up. is this something that started suddenly or long standing problem?

[8690q]

Thanks, I'll check the timing tomorrow.

Funny tickover has been going on for a bit now. I've had various problems with this car but this is a recent thing, the funny tickover.