I've got no spark ... What checks?

Hi all,
1991
1.8 auto Cabrio , carb.

so I have no spark since fitting a new timing belt, (plus crank , intermediate shaft & sump oil seals , water pump, thermostat, coolant flange , radiator and hoses)

I have already fitted new spark plugs, HT leads & distributor cap

Whats a sensible procedure to find out where my sparks have gone?

Don't you just hate it when your sparks disappear    

Battery, including all earth straps and leads to starter motor etc.

Fuse box, check all fuses to ensure you haven't popped one.

Check the rotor arm, change back the leads and dizzy etc so at least you know all that lot work (cos they did before)

Check the thingy that has a lead to the dizzy who's name has completely gone from my head.

If that works then just follow the route checking each bit as you go.

Ian

Hall sender?
Set the base time statically.
Cam at the 0 mark
Finger on the tranny at the 0 mark
Rotor in the middle of the has stamped on the side frame of the distributor.

Then look at the signal coming from the green/white wire in the middle of the hall sender connector on the side of the distributor,  Take care removing the boot off the connector I suggest that you remove the connector off the distributor, then push back the boot.  reconnect it to the diz, key on in the run, and rotate the diz…..(yes loosen the pinch bolt on the diz.

This signal will go from 0 to 11 volts when you turn the dizzy.  If it doesn't then back up and check the ICM per the bentley/haynes.  I personally have had that hall sender break and drop on to the frame of the distributor, which shorted out and took out the ICM.

If yours was digifant, I would tell you that as you move the diz as it goes from 0-11 the fuel pumps will run.

Cheers guys,

I've ordered a multimeter…..

Bored now, the Car was running with the new leads/plugs etc. Sparks have gone AWOL since recent work  - timing belt etc

So I now know how to test the coil, and thanks Briano, I'll check the hall sensor as well.

Is there anything else.?.

 Briano, what's ICM?..the car is a 1.8 carb model 1991

 

It is also called the hall generator or sender to who you talk to.

From the Dizzy you have a plug with 4 connections and three wires RED BLACK and Green/white .

These go to a ICM module that is usually fitted in the Rain Tray or scuttle as y'all call it, haven't seen too many carbed cars over here mostly injected via CIS or 90's Digi.

It's the little thing hanging under my digi controller.




Make sure your timing is thusly as you have changed the TB.

Do not use the pulley marks on the intermediate shaft they can be wrong.

Cam at 0TDC   0|T under the arrow on the front or the dimple on the back side of the cam even with the valve cover tin, not the rebar.

Finger on the tranny bell housing is at the 0 zero stamp, and not the Hash.

Open the diz, take the rotor off,  remove the plastic shield at about the 11:30-1:00 position there is a hash mark on the side frame of the diz.  Replace the rotor and verify that your rotor is in the middle of this hash….

If you went by the pulleys this is most likely the issue is that your rotor is off of where it should be.

pictorial.
http://cabby-info.com/Files/AdjustingTheTiming.pdf

Testing the hall sender.
(overnight)1985 Cabriolet Won't fire and starter runs even with ignition off and key out. | VW Vortex - Volkswagen Forum

Suspect timing first verify that ii is spot on.

GO with what Briano says. He's the master compared to me.

Especially if all you did was belts etc. Makes no sense for all sparks to disappear to me.

I'd be looking for loose wires that got knocked and are now hanging in space, during the works.

I'm presuming you didn't move the timing during the belt swap but sounds like you might have done in which case Briano's steps are the best to follow.

As for the coil (well figured out btw) the easiest way (and to be honest the only way I know) is to replace and see if that works.

Ian

Thanks guys.

I can’t understand it either. I don’t think I have disturbed the timing, and anyway , even if I have the spark would still be there right?  The only thing I haven’t done is replace the alternator belt as I just wanted to check running before replacing pulleys/covers etc
I’ve ordered a new coil and a multimeter …. watch this space!!


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Did you disconnect the battery while doing the work? There is a brown wire to the ignition module that could easily of been left off. Check the condition of the ring terminal connection to the wire.

another issue that I could see is that the ground wire from the valve cover to the coil bracket could be missing, and if that is the major ground for the coil….

Grounds are a finicky thing….. that is why I always suggest that you clean them, and replace the main battery to frame and frame to engine/tranny grounds out of hand if you are having flaky electrical issues….

Right then,
I fitted a new coil and she runs!
New Bosch coil, leads, dizzy cap and rotor arm, NGK plugs - big fat sparks are present!

Phew! I did have to alter the position of the distributor so I think the timing was out, and that will need setting. I’ll have to think of which old school mate might have one I can borrow….

Here’s another question for you, when turning the ignition key to start, often there is a delay before the starter spins the engine over…. what’s that all about? Dodgy earth to starter ???



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So your coil 💩 it's self at the exact same time you changed your timing belt. Wow!  Imagine being a mechanic and explaining that to the customer.

Steve1973 said

So your coil 💩 it's self at the exact same time you changed your timing belt. Wow!  Imagine being a mechanic and explaining that to the customer.

Ca-Ca occurs Occasionally.

Purely out of interest why not try putting the old coil back and see what happens, that will prove it one way or the other.

Great idea!

I don’t really care tho, the car runs, old coil is in the bin, and I am on to the next jobs….

Today, rear brake flexi hoses… what a mother of a job!! Until I made a tool to do it… haha.

Next up, spare wheel well and rear valance welding … happy dayz…


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