11 replies to this topic

[DanJones96]

My mini is not sparking. Ive fitted a new coil and distributor and wired it up to the drawing they gave me from powerspark. My coil does not seem to be getting an earth. Is the idea that the coil pulls its earth through the dizzy which is connected to the block then earthed via an earth stap to the chassis? I have installed a second earth strap and still cannot get an earth. Should i just make a wire from the negative side of the coil and directly earth it to the chassis or is this a bad idea?

[David128]

Hi The coil gets it's earth through distributor. Is it still points? check they are opening and closing or no earth will reach coil. Test lamp in series with coil and dizzy will show operation or use a multimeter.

[minidaves]

via the dizzy, so if dizzy has poor engine connection, or engine has poor earth it will not work correctly. if you wire the coil direct to earth it will not fire

[DanJones96]

Its no longer running points its a powerspark dizzy & coil. I understand what you're saying now about how the earth is produced. I will put a lamp on the dizzy and see if it lights the bulb. Thanks guys

[David128]

you might want to check magnet is operating the ignition module.

[dklawson]

It sounds like you have a good handle on how the points/ignition-module work.

 

WIth the ignition module there will not be any spark until the magnet ring on the dizzy shaft moves past the face of the ignition module triggering the internal Hall Effect sensor to stop conducting (equivalent to the points opening).  Therefore, make sure the magnet ring and rotor are fitted to the distributor shaft and only expect the spark to occur while the engine is turned on the starter.  It will not spark when things are sitting still... only when the module is turning on and off. 

 

Also note that if you have a ballast ignition system (white/pink wire and white/yellow wires on coil (+)) that you need to supply the module with a full 12V from the fuse box, not by connecting its red wire to coil (+).

Edited by dklawson, 03 January 2016 - 01:38 PM.

[DanJones96]

I do not have ballast coil, which i find strange but hey ho some reason mines not ballast. I havent checked the magnet but i will do, ill use a lamp and give it a good 12V+ source then connect the other end to the earth that the dizzy is meant to give out and hopefully upon cranking the bulb should flash when the coil should be sparking, right?

[sledgehammer]

not sure this is a possible fault , but -

 

sometimes the hall effect ring can move out of range of the pickup , if it is separate from the rotor arm

 

I had one that need pushing down a bit - then it was fine

[tiger99]

Sledgehammer makes a good point. I don't know about this particular system, but the gap being wrong, radially or axially, is the cause of many problems with modern ignition systems, and full engine management systems, including those that use a toothed wheel on the crankshaft If you have any instructions about setting up the gap using feeler gauges etc, best follow them exactly.

 

I don't know about the value of testing ignition module operation using a lamp. Often there is only a brief pulse, which may not be all that visible. No harm in trying, but if you don't see anything happening it might not mean that it is broken.

 

If you take the spark plugs out, so there is no compression, and spin the engine over briskly with the starter, it may give you a better indication of whether things are happening or not.

[DanJones96]

Okay thanks guys the dizzy didnt come with any clearance tolerances but ill have a look thanks

[KernowCooper]

Testing Hall Effect Triggers all in the FAQs Electrical Section.

[zefron]

I wish you a good luck ....