Problem...no spark...need diagnosing help
 

Got it narrowed to no spark from the coil...but I need help tracking downfurther than that. There's no "ignition" fuse that I can see so I don't get this. I'm out of town, in the weather, and on someone elses time so I'm outside...

any ideas appreciated

id there a fuse for the coil/ignition?

When I turn the key on I can hear at least one relay closing in the fuse/box thingy under the hood.

bu,p
begging
please
any help at all

****ing car...

just to state:

SInce I got her she's hated getting water in the engine bay. If I sprayed the bay out, no matter how lightly, she wouldn't run. Required B12 to get her to start and she'd run rough until the bay dried out. I've had some problems in wet weather before (from splashing) bu nothing like this.

Just before the problem started, I fired her up to warm the motor before driving a little ways. She started just as normal, and ran as normal for about 4 seconds, then died. No stuttering, bogging, funny noise...just died. Not she has no spark from the coil.

Only fuse blwon in the udnerhood box is the foglight fuse (#5) and I tried putting something in it to see if it would start and neither my starting problem for my inoperative fog lights were fixed.

Are there any other fuses or breakers than what's in that bux on top of the firewall on the driver's side in the bay?

???!

I get fired in about 5 hours...fwiw.

You got water in the engine compartment - don't do that.

Check the coil - make sure there is no water in the central post

Check cap and rotor - no water allowed there either.

Check the speed and reference sensor connectors - make sure they are not wet.

Change your DME relay.

AFJuvat

Which relay is the DME relay?

And another thing...tach wiggles when I turn the key. What would that indicate?

Pulsing in the ignition circuit.

Check your coil connections

Your DME relay is the same as the fuel pump relay

AFJuvat

ok...but WHICH relay is that?:p I don't have a map of the relays and my FSRM is not with me. I'm kinda stranded.

Look closely at the tops of the relays. One has the letters DME on the top.

Should have been a listing of the relays inside the cover.

yeah that sticker on the inner cover of my box is mostly gone. Not sure why...I'm sure it was all there when I bought the car...

Sorry, the crystal ball is out for polishing this week.

what year is your car?

If it is a series 1, it is top row, second from left.

Series 2: 1st row, 2nd or 3rd from the back - will say DME relais on it. If it is less than a few years old, it will have a 993.xxx.xxx.xx part number

AFJuvat

Thanks guys. Is there a write-up somewhere that describes how to test the relay and can it be replaced with a generic variety found at a run-of-the-mill parts store?

She's an '86, btw. Sorry I didn't mention that.

pop the cover off the relay - there are actually 2 relays in there.

Both of them need to close fir the car to start - 1 powers the DME, the other powers the fuel pump.

Needless to say, there is no generic one that will fit

AFJuvat

Would you know where I should look to find the specifications for this relay? I need my car and can be pretty ingenuitive (sp?) at times...I could maybe setup a temp gadget until a new one arrives.

My god, the relays are $30 or so - go buy one.

AFJuvat

Thank you. Where would you have me go buy one? There's a napa about an hour's drive from me...would they have it?

Okay...from what I can see I DO actually have spark...don't know where it came from because the other day I did not. REplacing most of the ignition components anyway (Have a blaster coil already and a 6a coming, why not use them?).

The DME relay has me confused, though. The DME circuit is closed. The fuel pump circuit has me guessing. Without cranking the car or running, should it be closed? I can push the contact up with alittle screwdriver with the key in the on position and I can hear the fuel system running. I'm currently re-wiring a couple generic relays to test this circuit out, and will be testing a couple other things.

Any ideas will be appreciated.

okay, pin 30 is the power supply for the DME relay and pins 87 and 87b are the DME and fuel pump respectively. I jumped 87 and 87b to 30 and could hear the fuel system working. Prior the relay for the 87/30 connection was operating.

Car still doesn't start.

I do, however have spark from the system as is. Beings the DME grounds the coil out to produce spark the DME is at least somewhat functional. What else do I need to look at? Only fuse gone is the #5 fuse and I've jumped it and replaced it and everything short of pissing on the terminals and still nothing.

What else can I be looking for? I'm lost now...:(

Just to restate the event:

I start the car, she runs GREAT and normal for about 4~5 seconds and then dies. No stumble, stutter, funny noise, bogging, nothing...just dead, lights out, do not pass go. Would not start again.

How would I go about testing the DME aside replacing it with a known working unit?