No Spark

[parsok]

Update

Well, it still does not start and it is not producing a spark at the plugs. Here is what I have tried since the last suggestions:

• Replaced the spark plug wire set
• Installed a new rotor – that makes 3 rotors now
• Replaced the ICM
• Changed the dist cap
• Put in a buddy’s ignition coil that is known to work
I tested the spark by connecting one end of a jumper cable to a good ground and the other end holding the plug on the metal just above the threads.

There is a 12.4V to 13.1V reading on both the pos and neg side of the ignition coil. The coil output wire produces a spark to the ground when tested.

Majicwrench suggested a test for a ground problem – pull the dist cap and hold the dist. Cap coil output wire lead just above the exposed rotor and turn the engine. Apparently if it sparks to the rotor there is a ground problem. I tried this and I got a mixed result. Once it arced quite spectacularly to the rotor and the other times it did not. SO it seems there is a potential problem. Not sure how to fix it though.

Also, before it quit for good I noticed that it was starting to miss. This was especially noticeable when I tried to set the timing. When I hooked up the timing gun clip to the #1 wire it would strobe intermittently and sometimes not strobe for seconds at a time. When I put it on #4 it was a better strobe but still experienced missed strobes.

I’m believing this is a ground problem, but where? I had previously put installed a ground cable (negative battery cable) from the engine post that held the now defunct emission controls air pump to a new bolt I added to the side of the engine compartment. I know this ground is good because I use it with the multi-meter to test the readings. I’m going to check the engine ground wire tonight – I’m told it’s under the car near the transmission shifter to make sure it did not come loose.

Any other ideas? What about the ground to the coil from the fuse rack?

[divace73]

are you getting a pulse from the dizzy white cable (it switches via the control module to the -ve side of the coils which then gives you spark) is the gap between the magnetic lobes and pick up aligned properly??

[parsok]

I've used 2 distributor's in trying to find the problem. I believe the lobes and pickup are aligned properly.

The car was running and had not left the garage when the problem started (or not started in this case ) so I don't think there could have been anything to disturb the alignment, especially since I used two dizzy's.

I'll test the pulse tonight.

[TapeWorm]

Good Day Gentlemen,
I recently had the very same problem, right after some tune up work. Ended up replacing the whole ignition with one of the distributorless ones from Allison Automotive. After that, it would run for a second and die. I emailed Mark at the store, and he was super helpful. He said my coil was probably grounded out, and had me do two things to check. The first was to pull the main connector off the back of the ECU, and crank the engine. If I now had spark, it meant a bad ECU. If I still didn't have spark, then there was a short between the coil, and the tach. Well, the ECU test was good, so I went on to find the short. Shire enough, it was my tach wire. In an effort to clean things up during the tune-up, I crimped a new connector on that wire. I didn't realize at the time that it was a shielded wire. It had the tach wire insulated in the middle of the wire, and a plain wire wrapped around the out side of the tack wire, and all of this was covered by the final layer of insulation. Because the outer part that wrapped around the wire went to ground, it stopped the coil from sparking. When I put the new loop connected on the end, I had unknowingly stripped both wires, and crimped them together. It didn't help that they are both the same color. Long story short, I fixed it, and she now runs great. The new ignition is pretty easy to install, and a breast to set the timing. I hope this helps the next guy, because I spent 3 months pulling my hair out over this, and I am now bald!

Happy motoring,

Tim

82 Fiat Spider 2000 FI