Nearly, but not quite - no sparks

mafhoward · Post by **mafhoward** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 5:25 pm

Hmmm, well, I thought I'd finished the installation of my MJLJ on my A+ engined mini.

I've got a brand new Magnetti Marelli SEN8D VR sensor, I think my EDIS 4 module is OK (even checked with another spare one today), but I am not getting a spark at all.

I've assumed that my wiring is dodgy, so I've checked what I've done and it seems to be OK. I have igntion switched live on the EDIS4 pins that need it, the VR sensor wires are connected where they should be. MJLJ unit has ground, live, PIP and SAW connected where it should be. So I've had a think and have a couple of questions.

1. With the igntion switched on (and the engine not being cranked) the plug that the VR sensor plugs into has ~1'5v on both pins, is this normal? I thought it was a passive sensor, so wasn't expecting a voltage on the two pins?

2. I have +12V at pin 2 on the coil pack multiplug (as I should have), and when I check if the two outer wires (pins 2 and 3) are grounding, they are. How does the coilpack 'fire'? If it has +12v on one side and ground on the other, is this normal? I'm assuming that when running, the ground on the two coil trigger wires is intermittent?

Sorry to be a total noob on my first post, but I've been scratching my head for hours now and I don't know what the problem is.

PS: Hi, my name's Matt and I am trying to get my first MJLJ installation fired up ASAP!

fikus01 · Post by **fikus01** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 5:35 pm

hi, i dont know if im right at all with this but i didnt think ford used magnetti marelli vr sensors!! that sounds more peugeot/french! that could be the problem if its not a ford item!!

mafhoward · Post by **mafhoward** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 5:39 pm

Hmmm, hello Fikus (fellow TMF type). Nah, the SEN8D was apparently used on Fords too. The traditional Ford Fester one was something like a SEN8T IIRC, which is the longer nosed one with a right angled multiplug connection. The SEN8D is basically the same but with a shorter nose and a wire straight out of the back.

fikus01 · Post by **fikus01** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 5:49 pm

well spotted about the mini forum, yes im fikus jsut about everywhere! im afraid i cant comment for sure about the VR sensors! IIRC you can spin the engine over and measure the voltage coming out of the sensor unplugged! or someting like that!

fikus01 · Post by **fikus01** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 5:55 pm

well spotted about the mini forum, yes im fikus jsut about everywhere! im afraid i cant comment for sure about the VR sensors! IIRC you can spin the engine over and measure the voltage coming out of the sensor unplugged! or someting like that!

Q102 · Post by **Q102** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:11 pm

Try the VR connections the other way round!
My engine was the same - no spark.
I used the weber trigger wheel kit which appeared to plug straight into the EDIS loom but would work until connections swapped at EDIS module end.

mafhoward · Post by **mafhoward** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:47 pm

hmmm, OK. I'll try that, but what are the risks of that causing a problem? I will give it a whirl tomorrow night.

MartinM · Post by **MartinM** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:19 pm

There's no risks in swapping the VR sensor wires - it will work one way and not the other!

mafhoward · Post by **mafhoward** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:36 am

Thanks for the replies guys. Much appreciated

Can't wait to get this mini running, it's been a looong build

I'll post an update when I have tried switching the VR sensor wires over later on today!

mafhoward · Post by **mafhoward** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:52 am

Well, the VR sensor was actually marked with a '+' on one side. So I did indeed have to switch the two VR sensor - EDIS4 wires around.

But.................still no sparks, time to triple check my wiring (again) I think.

r1zetec · Post by **r1zetec** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 10:07 pm

did you resolve this i have same problem

mafhoward · Post by **mafhoward** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 7:45 am

Yes, I found the problem to be that my EDIS 4 multiplug had corroded sockets on the coil output pins (amongst others) so a new multiplug from the breakers yard rectified the problem. My wiring was (surprisingly) correct first time.