8 replies to this topic

[minigeorge]

Hello, I have been restoring my brothers mini and got to the stage of starting it. But while doing final checks before adding fuel the coil is buzzing/sparking still after turning the engine over and not actually starting.

I have fitted a mini spares electronic distributor and coil. I have removed the ballast so run a white wire from number one on the fuse box to the + side of the coil. The distributor has a red and black wire, which I have put red to + and black to - on the coil.

If I turn on the key as to start it turns over fine and there's a big spark at the plug, but when I let the key back off the coil carries on buzzing/arcing inside where the lead pushes in to it. If I take the red wire from the distributor off the coil it doesn't do it. Has anyone else had this problem or have I wired it wrong.

The distributor and coil are these ones
https://www.minispar.../12G4180MS.aspx


https://www.minispar...sic/GCL143.aspx

[minigeorge]

Here's a short video, you can here the coil buzz/sparking after trying to start it. This continues unless the key is switched off, if I take the lead off it's just sparking inside the hole. I have tried another ignition barrel and it's still the same. Could it be a faulty electronic module in the distributor.

Edited by minigeorge, 28 October 2021 - 06:21 PM.

[Spider]

I don't think you've wired the distributor incorrectly, but it sounds like the +ve feed to the Coil and Distributor is live all the time for some reason. Possibly a wiring error somewhere else or the Ignition Switch itself is not opening it's contacts when in the OFF position.

[Earwax]

Just a thought bubble - ( no idea really but will throw it out there)

 

Is the coil lead arcing at the coil connector - replace coil lead to test

 

does the coil need to be ground through the bracket ( new build , new paint?)  check motor earth wire as well

[cal844]

I'm fairly sure the casing is metal on mini coils, so I'd say yes that it earth's through the engine earth

[minigeorge]

Thanks for the replies. I have checked the earth's and they are ok and tried another ignition barrel and it's the same. I added a few different electrical gauges and electric power steering but I have disconnected everything today so it's back to standard and still no change.

I took the distributor and coil off and wired it up off the car to a battery and it seems to work normally, sparking only as the distributor is turned. But once fitted back to the engine it will start sparking as soon as the ignition is switched on to the last position and either started or by just turning on the lights, hazards , brake light etc. I'm not sure what else I can check, it's a complete new wiring loom, new coil/ distributor, new alternator etc

Here's a link to a video showing what happens, I left the coil lead off just so it's easier to see the coil coming on.

https://youtu.be/iJe7DZXKbVE

[mini-mad-mark]

Its not clear from the video but I assume it keeps buzzing until you switch the ignition off?

 

It only seems to start buzzing when you switch something else on? What I mean is it wasn't buzzing when you moved the key to ign position, not until you switched the hazards on which suggests it may not be directly related to the ignition circuit (coil or dizzy)

 

Again hard to tell from the video but  - the buzzing sounds too loud inside the car to be coming from the coil/dizzy and too consistent to be an arc sound which in my (limited) experience is more of a hiss - its sounds like something inside the car like its behind/under the dash?

 

I can't see anything wrong with the coil/dizzy wiring though, however if you remove the red wire I assume you don't get a spark t the dizzy as that is the live for the electronic module/dizzy (I assume that also stops the buzzing?)

 

When you say it is "sparking" all the time when the ignition is on - that is correct isn't it? although not inside the coil main lead area - - have you got an old coil you can try as I would try that if I was getting sparking there as that doesn't sound good?

 

You mentioned some additional gauges  - but you say you have temp. removed them, so my next comment may not help - I fitted a cheap Chinese rev counter to my car - when I switch the ignition on it buzzes for a second and the needle goes full scale and back to zero - like a test I guess - just a stab in the dark.

 

Sorry not much help really, these things are always hard to handle remotely

[minigeorge]

I have just done some more checks, if I turn on the lights first then switch on the ignition the coil doesn't start up. It's seems to be that a tiny change in voltage when turning on the switches causes the coil/ distributor to start working.

[minigeorge]

Its not clear from the video but I assume it keeps buzzing until you switch the ignition off?
 
It only seems to start buzzing when you switch something else on? What I mean is it wasn't buzzing when you moved the key to ign position, not until you switched the hazards on which suggests it may not be directly related to the ignition circuit (coil or dizzy)
 
Again hard to tell from the video but  - the buzzing sounds too loud inside the car to be coming from the coil/dizzy and too consistent to be an arc sound which in my (limited) experience is more of a hiss - its sounds like something inside the car like its behind/under the dash?
 
I can't see anything wrong with the coil/dizzy wiring though, however if you remove the red wire I assume you don't get a spark t the dizzy as that is the live for the electronic module/dizzy (I assume that also stops the buzzing?)
 
When you say it is "sparking" all the time when the ignition is on - that is correct isn't it? although not inside the coil main lead area - - have you got an old coil you can try as I would try that if I was getting sparking there as that doesn't sound good?
 
You mentioned some additional gauges  - but you say you have temp. removed them, so my next comment may not help - I fitted a cheap Chinese rev counter to my car - when I switch the ignition on it buzzes for a second and the needle goes full scale and back to zero - like a test I guess - just a stab in the dark.
 
Sorry not much help really, these things are always hard to handle remotely

There is a slight ringing noise inside the car when I first put on the light switch but this is a dimmer switch module for the gauges but it's normal for the dimmer switch being used.

I have done some more checks now and the distributor/coil only starts sparking when the ignition is on in the final position before starting and then something gets turned on. It won't stop then until I turn the key off again. It doesn't do it though if I turn something on first then the ignition so it seems that the small voltage change when turning something else on is enough to start off the coil/distributor.

I have just tried another coil and it was the same but then tried the old distributor with points and it was ok.