No Spark - Fault Finding

start with the easy bits - coil - condenser - leads - points etc, then it gets interesting

try putting a tempory wire from positive side of the battery to the positive side of the coil then try

quote:

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Originally posted by The Other Half

Any suggestions for new Coils? Bosch GT40r seems to be the usual.

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Always had good run with GT40R in the RS - fist one lasted for 18 years.......

I'm starting to wonder whether the alarm doesn't like reverse flow through the ignition cutoff circuits amdbthen starts throwing fits. Cause strange things happen when I short the main coil to mains battery power.

The last starter solenoid blew (I feel) when I did this. The new starter briefly started tapping in/out without cranking as well as all the power being redirected in weird ways through the electrical system when I did this abridged coil method.

I'm feeling I may need a diode or something to prevent reverse current back through the alarm via the ignition circuit during the start cycle and also using a relay operated by the starter to provide power during the start sequence. Will this work?

What about the above questions?

Please help

I've been wiring for over 5 months now. It's all a bit annoying now....

Before the original starter shat itself I got a few cranks in and there was no
Spark. I then tried to bridge the positive side of the coil straight to the battery like what was suggested but without removing the existing ignition wire (because this wasn't suggested.) The starter promptly shat itself. Coincidence or what I dont know.

The problem is, during a normal non-cranking constant operation the Escort first has power running through an ignition wire from the key then through a ballast resistor then to a junction which both goes to the positive side of the coil or the starter.

As far as I can figure, the ignition key barrel has no power running through the ignition wire coming from it when it's cranking and starting. Power can then either run from the ignition key or the starter solenoid to that junction before it goes to the coil.

I'm assuming power then runs from the solenoid on the starter instead when it's cranking and starting. When it's started and the key is returned to ignition/run the power then runs from the ignition barrel through the ballast resistor to the coil.

Thing is, between the ignition barrel and the ressistor I have the alarm circuit.

So as you can see, when power is running through the solenoid during a cranking start power will go to the coil as it should but also return via the junction and backtrack temporarily through the resistor and then through the alarm circuit which I think stuffs things up.

Does this sound correct?

Is this the way the start sequence works on an Escort?

I can't test if there's spark during start at the moment Because the new HiTorque unit doesn't have an ignition plug on it like the original so i can test it. So I'm thinking I need to setup a relay operated by the starter wire that will deliver power both to the coil and starter at the same time.

Thing is I still think I need a reverse flow prevention. Sound right? [xo]

there should only be one wirer to positive side of the coil which should be the one from the igition not sure what the outher wire is. if you have added an alarm to the circuit you would need to cut the the wire from the coil and hook to the alarm then hook output of alarm to coil. depending on what the alarm is the may have to happen through a relay setup to run correct. my advise would be to remove any alarm wiring you have put in place and test the system less the alarm as i think this is what is causeing your problem. i have done tons of car electrics and when people aren't sure of what they are doing when installing alarms they can make your life a pain in the arse as they malfuction due to being hook to high current etc and stop the owner as well as the crimes from taking the car.

so disconect the alarm and re join any wirez that have been cut and go from there. maybe find a mate with some auto elect knowlodge to help you out.