No spark from coil... 1.9 DJ

[AuldJock]

Hi guys!

So here's the story... I had started the van, it was ticking over nicely for five mins no problem at all. Then I jumped in, put in reverse and backed down the driveway. I rolled down over the path and just as I got the rear wheels on the road the engine stopped and wouldn't restart!!

It was turning over fine with the starter but no ignition. So, my immediate thought was the coil... got a new one, no change!

So surely it's gotta be the Hall sender unit. Well I've got a spare dizzy with Hall sender unit ready in garage, so I changed the dizzy and tried again... still no spark! Have checked wires again and again... all seem fine!

The only issue I can see is engine oil pressure switches wires are a bit ropey... but I can't imagine these would stop ignition.

Could something have been dislodged somewhere with the down-angle bump leaving the driveway? Maybe.

Any ideas? I'm pooped!

[tonytech]

Ignition switch?
Voltage to the coil?
Ignition amp? (I've had one fail in similar fassion)

Do you have a tacho? does it twitch when you turn the key?

T

[AuldJock]

Ignition switch is good Tony,

Starter turns the engine just fine, dizzy spins with the engine, just no spark coming from centre lead when held close to engine block.

Ignition amp... now that's possible, just about the only thing I haven't changed! And I thought these things were bomb-proof!

Do you know Tony... would there be symptoms before failure, or do they just go belly-up when they feel like it?

[Footprint]

Ignition unit is pretty reliable - but they do die on occasion. Check the wiring is good before buying/fitting any more bits.

[AuldJock]

Cheers Footprint and Tony, appreciate the advice.

[tonytech]

The ignition amp on my mums polo (basically the same set up) died without warning.
I drove it, parked it, switched off the ignition, came back 10 mins later, no spark.

T.

[AuldJock]

I GOT SPARKS... Waheyyy!! But no firing... Boohooooo!!

Double-checked all the dizzy set up, I'm happy everything is present and correct, engine mechanical connection is right, rotor arm points at a cylinder pick-up point, but no fire.

So I removed one of the plug leads and held it to the engine block for a turn or two... there's a spark alright... but it's weak, so I've ordered up a new Ignition amplifier which I'll fit on arrival.

Will let y'all know how I get on.

[AuldJock]

Now I'm really flummoxed!

New dizzy, new coil, new ign amp... but still no fire.

Wazzamatter guys???

[AdrianC]

Now I'm really flummoxed!

New dizzy, new coil, new ign amp... but still no fire.

Wazzamatter guys???

We'll assume the spark's happening in the right places at the right time.

Is there anything there for it to fire?

You say 1.9DJ - but DJ is 2.1. The fuel systems are very different - is yours injected or carb'd?

[AuldJock]

Hi Adrian.

It was originally a 2.1... but we discovered upon attempting to renew the cylinders and rings that someone had whipped the original and replaced it with a 1.9 (you can only tell by the stroke length)!!!

It's got the DJ injection system still and has run fine until now.

The dizzy is carefully fitted with the drive-shaft end-lugs aligned with the drive-slots in the engine, everything feels correctly engaged and both the old dizzy and the new have exactly the same rotor-arm, drive lug alignment when viewed side-by side, so I can't see there being the old 180 deg mis-alignment mishap!

I'll do a bit of fiddling tomorrow morning and see if anything's been missed, will drop back in then!

[AdrianC]

It was originally a 2.1... but we discovered upon attempting to renew the cylinders and rings that someone had whipped the original and replaced it with a 1.9 (you can only tell by the stroke length)!!!

<groan>

It's got the DJ injection system still and has run fine until now.

I'm wondering if there's been some kind of wiring problem, and - as well as causing ignition issues - it's also caused the injection to not know it should be squirting. Have you checked you've got fuel coming through?

[AuldJock]

"Groan"

Tell me about it!!!


I'm currently (pardon the pun) going through the electrics. I had a pair of mechs up at it yesterday and we tried everything. We went through all the basics and they couldn't suss it out either, so I'm out there with a tester and some bits of wire to see if i can detect a break somewhere... fingers crossed!!

if I'm still thwarted by the end of today it's going to the auto sparkies for diagnostics. Wish me well!

[billy739]

are you local to gloucester?

[AuldJock]

Hi guys, well I'm no nearer getting this van running.

The ignition system is fine, I've gone over everything and there's a healthy spark... but the timing is out somehow so it's just backfiring a couple of times then won't spark at all (due to flooding).

With No1 cylinder at TDC, the dizzy arm lines up with the cable for No1 cylinder, but still it won't run!

I'm flummoxed.

PS, the idle stabilisation unit has been removed previously... do I NEED this to get started???

[kevtherev]

squirt some neat fuel into the throttle body