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Thread: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

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    PINTO EFi WEAK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    Some time ago it was decided of me to convert my Capri to a pinto EFi setup, in doing so i fully reconditioned an engine form a manual Granada i bought from a scrapyard along with ECU & wiring etc.
    (Details about this modification were in covered in classic ford magazine back in April 1999)
    Being both a qualified mechanic & welder with various other qualifications in Auto-Electrics, a modification such as this would be a straight forward upgrade or so i thought...
    The problem i have is there is a healthy 13.8V to the coil which soon drops to around 11V (not enough to power the coil which is brand new) whilst cranking the engine. The ballast resistor wire was indeed removed during the installation
    Everything is new on the vehicle which i have had running in the past, i just want it to fire up on the key as it should minus it's idiosyncrasies.

    It's as if all the power is going to the starter, all the Earth connections were re-soldered with new ring terminals and the whole loom tested from pin to pin on each plug/connector.
    Just one other point, with the ignition switched on and the distributor removed and turned by hand you do get a healthy spark and the fuel pump does kick in as it should.

    Also, should the black and yellow cold start wire be connected to the starter terminal?
    Last edited by C.A.P.R.I; 26-04-2018 at 20:37.

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    'weak spark then no spark'

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    something wrong with your numbers, no way can you have 13.8 volts at the coil, but i would expect the cranking voltage to drop down to around 11v because of the heavy current load from the starter

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    The reason for 13.8 volts at the coil was due to having the battery connected via jump leads to my VWPassat to assist whilst cranking.

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    Have you installed the complete Ford EFi system?
    With the short bodied distributor with no advance?

    A voltage of 11 Volts should be good enough to get sparks if you have all the wiring correct and a full battery.
    Starting with jump leads to a car with running engine could fry the ECU if you are not carefull.

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    Would connecting the cold start plug (black & yellow tracer wire) onto the starter solenoid make a difference as i may try this tomorrow. This wire joins up with the coil + then goes through a 16 amp fuse and then to ignition switch position 2

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    I may buy another coil, if it still refuses to fire up the injection system will be ripped out and reverted back to carb.
    My 24V Cosworth capri installation proved no where near as problematic as this having fully reconditioned the engine then rebuilt an MT75 gearbox with the correct ratios.

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    To do a quick test, connect a wire from battery+ to coil+ directly, then try to start.

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    I have been contemplating on testing it this way and will report back with the outcome...in theory it should work.

    Thanks.

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    Having ran a pos (+) directly from the battery to the coil + the bastard still refuses to administer a spark.

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    With a brand new coil and ignition module there is still no spark (both + and - leads are the on the correct way round)

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    PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    Sounds daft but does dizzy actually turn while cranking ?
    And where are u checking for spark.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    The distributor does turn whilst cranking the engine, it's possible to remove the distributor and rotate it by hand (with the ignition on) and it does indeed distribute sparks to all plugs. I have an individual tester connected inline to all four spark plugs (flashes whenever a spark is generated)
    Last edited by C.A.P.R.I; 02-05-2018 at 20:10.

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    It's as if the starter is absorbing a large percentage of the batteries energy thus less is going to the EFi system.

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    Quote Originally Posted by C.A.P.R.I View Post
    It's as if the starter is absorbing a large percentage of the batteries energy thus less is going to the EFi system.
    starter motors do drag the voltage a long way down on any car, its because of the current they draw, as long as the battery voltage doesnt drop below 9v on cranking you shouldnt have issues because of that

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    Quote Originally Posted by C.A.P.R.I View Post
    It's as if the starter is absorbing a large percentage of the batteries energy thus less is going to the EFi system.
    To make sure that this is your problem use a second battery for the starter motor alone.

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    Have you checked that the + to the ignition module is live while cranking..(from memory one live from ignition is not live while cranking)..

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    Before i do that my intention is take a + feed directly from the battery to the ECU thus not using position 2 on the ignition switch. If no joy then run a + from the battery to coil, there is nothing wrong with the ECU as it's sending a signal to the fuel pump relay to administer fuel. Then i will use a second battery and try that way.

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    I will check again although, the system does spark but only briefly then refuses all together. Most would assume it would be an earthing fault which i very much doubt, taking a feed from the battery (via an on/off switch) may be an option.

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    There was a fault/bad connection at pin 7 on the ECU plug, if moved this created a spark at the coil, the loom has since been removed and will be tested for further faults.
    Also, does the ignition module have a permanent live feed on a 2.0 EFi?

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    Quote Originally Posted by C.A.P.R.I View Post
    There was a fault/bad connection at pin 7 on the ECU plug, if moved this created a spark at the coil, the loom has since been removed and will be tested for further faults.
    Also, does the ignition module have a permanent live feed on a 2.0 EFi?
    No it doesn't.
    What is pin 7, engine temp?

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    Pin 7 is brown/green which goes to the engine temp sensor which is correct. As soon as i get time i intend to check all the wiring connections for both continuity and that they all go to the correct places within the loom.

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    Re: PINTO EFi WEEK SPARK THEN NO SPARK

    I did this nearly 20 years ago, from memory if you stripped back the Granada wiring loom you should end up with about 4 wires (mine came from a Sierra) +12V,ground,fuel pump relay, coil wire should be part of the loom, cant remember if the 12v is permanent or switched, would need to look for wiring diagram, it should just work, are you sure your not losing the 12v supply while cranking?

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