1446 replies to this topic

[Jammy]

Jeeessss, you still not finished this yet?! Talk about working slow!!

You think the laptop not talking to MJ, the battery going flat and no spark could all be related?

[The Matt]

Jeeessss, you still not finished this yet?! Talk about working slow!!

You think the laptop not talking to MJ, the battery going flat and no spark could all be related?

Nah, the battery's on its way out. It was when the FReaK was running as it let me down a couple of times. The laptop aint reconising the USB-RS232 conversion lead thingamy, so I need to reinstall the drivers and double check it.

The system should spark without the ECU even connected. EDIS 4 will enter a 'limp home' mode when the power to the ECU is lost. The system is designed to run on a basic 10 degree advance (at all rpms), so it's either the coil packs or the ignition module that's the problem. I doubt that both coil packs or the problem, I could understand one not working, but not both of them. The wiring is OK, checked all of the connections this morning, that's fine and I've got positive and earth where I need it. I've also got 1.5v at the VR sensor, so I'm pretty sure it must be the ignition module. Or my wiring!

To be honest though, I was thinking of buying spare ones to keep in the toolbox anyway (and to leave in the car on long runs).

I've got to go to town to do some posting of mini bits now, but I'm going to pop to the scrappies and whip an ignition module and coil off a Fiesta whilst I'm out

[The Matt]

F b AAAAAARGGHH!

Somebody give me a distributor!

Well, as per the above post, I suspected a dodgy ignition module. So, off I trot to the local scrapyard. Bought one (he told me to take the multiplug too, honest)
Came home, fitted it, turned her over (again, the battery's nearly dead) and...........

FReaK no sparky!

Now, I am thinking it must be my wiring, I can't see the coils being knackered (unless there is a problem with the multiplug) and I also know that the VR pickup is a new un, so can't imagine that being faulty. Problem is, it's hard to diagnose a fault with this stuff, as I'm a bit new to it. Well, actually I'm not new to it, I used to fix cars with problems like this for a living, it's just sooo far back in my memory that I need to give me head a good shake to remember how to do things!

So, anyway. The problem (for future reference and possibly to help other people at some point).

Sparks = nil

Tested that I have +12V in all the right places, which I do.
Tested that I have Earth in all the right places, which I do.

Now then, when the igntion is switched on, I am getting a reading of ~1.5v at both pin outs of the multiplug that goes into the VR pickup. I thought that this was a passive component and needed no power supply??? Somebody help me on that one please?

I am 99% certain that it's not a wiring problem I mean, it's actually really easy to wire up and the thing should run in limp home mode even if the Megajolt is wired in wrong anyway. Soooo, by my thinking, it has to be the coilpack, but that just seems odd to me.

How does the coil actually work? With the ignition on I have +12v on pin2 (the +ve supply) then I have ground on the two other wires. Does the ground pulse off when the thing needs to spark? Is that how it works? I'm totally guessing here???

[miniboo]

is the coil pack new?

also have you checked the wiring or are you just assuming it is ok?

[The Matt]

Nah, it's all second hand. But I can't see both sides of the coil pack having a fault (unless it's on the connection from the multiplug at the top I guess).

I think I might just wire up this bloomin spare EDIS 4 module so it's ready for someone else to use then flog it

Actually, it's probably handy to have some spares anyway. I might go round to my mum's house tomorrow night and try my coilpack on her Fester, see if that tells me anything.

[miniboo]

probs best to ask here: http://www.autosport...g/index.php?c=1

although i am sure you have already looked!!

[The Matt]

Yeah, not posted on there (never joined) but have had a look through it before.

[ed4ran]

Is there 4 bolts through the holes in the coil pack? Ive heard of it needing grounding through those bolts, otherwise it can cause problems.

Also have you tried it with MJ completely disconnected, and make sure your getting a signal from the crank sensor.

Ed

[The Matt]

Well, I assumed that the coil needed to be grounded, so I ran a loop terminal to a known good earth point. So it's deffo got earth. But the Autosportlabs site (the creators of MJ) say that the coilpack doesn't need to be earthed externally like that as it has it's own earth supplied by the wires.

Dunno how to check the VR sensor for a signal to be honest. It's a new one, which I am assuming is OK.

And yeah, tried with the MJ disconnected, so it should work in limp home mode, but still nada

[miniboo]

actually ir says that it doesnt need to be grounded and it grounds through the internal wiring

http://www.autosport...opic.php?t=1241

damn i really should read a previous post throroughly

[The Matt]

Gonna pop round to my mum's place tomorrow and try my coilpack on her Fester. It's the only way of knowing for sure that there isn't a problem with it. Might do the same with the EDIS4 module too to be honest.

[miniboo]

then nick her working stuff!!

[mini93]

go now steal away boyo

[The Matt]

I might just do that!

[ed4ran]

Well this is what some on 16vminiclub has said about it.

the grounding is an issue alot of peole havnt noticed because they mount there coils with proepr brackets that use all 4 holes and not with cableties like i did. as you look at the coil pack you will see the 4 mounting holes, the 2 on the left go through the ferrous core of the coil on the left. the 2 on the right go throught the core of the coil on the right. I found if even jsut one of these wasnt grounded i suffered really bad reset's and missfires under full throttle

The other thing that can case problems is the VR sensor wired the wrong way round, but i guess you've tried that.