Ignition problem

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Yvan - 05 Jan 2008 15:20 GMT

I am about to fit Ford EDIS (Electronic Distributorless Ignition
System) into my '87 E30 316 (M10 engine). While I was testing EDIS
something happened to the original ignition system.

I just disconnected HT leads from the distributor, and connected them
to the EDIS ignition coil. I started the engine , and let it run for
20 min or so.

Original ignition control unit (TCI) was connected, as was ignition
coil and pulse generator (in the distributor). I only disconnected HT
leads.

When I finished testing EDIS, I connected HT leads back - and the
engine would not start. I checked (ten times) that I connected HT leads
in right order (1-3-4-2 anticlockwise). I removed one HT lead and
connected it to a spare spark plug - and I had the spark.

I than connected EDIS back - the engine started immediately. Again back
to the original ignition system - now no spark at all.

So I checked if I had +12V and ground at ignition control unit - OK,
lead from it to ignition coil is OK, pulse generator resistance was OK,
only pulse generator gives 0.75V (should be 1-2 V). Perhaps I should
mention that it was -4 Celsius (-25F) when I measured this. Ignition
coil is ~0.8 ohm primary, and ~8kohm secondary.

I tried with spare ignition control unit - and it does not work.

Any thoughts about what might have cause pulse generator to fail (if it
failed)? Or did I miss something?

Signature

___ ____
/__/ / \ ** Registrovani korisnik Linuksa #291606 **
/ / \/ /\ \ ** Registered Linux user #291606 **
/__/\____/--\__\ ** http://counter.li.org/ **

Reply to this Message

Michael Yeager - 07 Jan 2008 03:04 GMT

>I am about to fit Ford EDIS (Electronic Distributorless Ignition
>System) into my '87 E30 316 (M10 engine). While I was testing EDIS
>something happened to the original ignition system.

Sounds like a worthwhile upgrade. Is there a guide somewhere that
shows what has to be done to make this work?

>I just disconnected HT leads from the distributor, and connected them
>to the EDIS ignition coil. I started the engine , and let it run for
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>coil and pulse generator (in the distributor). I only disconnected HT
>leads.

Might should have disconnected the original system completely.

>When I finished testing EDIS, I connected HT leads back - and the
>engine would not start. I checked (ten times) that I connected HT leads
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>Any thoughts about what might have cause pulse generator to fail (if it
>failed)? Or did I miss something?

The failure is most likely in the coil as it was left to fire
without anywhere for the spark to go. The continous arcing inside the
coil will eventually burn the insulation and create a short. If the
EDIS works, why go back???

Reply to this Message

Yvan - 07 Jan 2008 06:45 GMT

Nedavno Michael Yeager napisa:

> >I am about to fit Ford EDIS (Electronic Distributorless Ignition
> >System) into my '87 E30 316 (M10 engine). While I was testing EDIS
> >something happened to the original ignition system.
>
> Sounds like a worthwhile upgrade. Is there a guide somewhere that
> shows what has to be done to make this work?

Not for BMW specifically. You use EDIS ignition module and MegaJolt
controller unit for timing. It's all here:

www.autosportlabs.net

> >I just disconnected HT leads from the distributor, and connected them
> >to the EDIS ignition coil. I started the engine , and let it run for
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Might should have disconnected the original system completely.

Well it seems that I learned this the hard way :-)

> The failure is most likely in the coil as it was left to fire
> without anywhere for the spark to go. The continous arcing inside the
> coil will eventually burn the insulation and create a short. If the
> EDIS works, why go back???

It's cold now, and I will do further tests when the weather improves.

I do not want to go back, I just wanted to keep original ignition
system as a backup.

Signature

___ ____
/__/ / \ ** Registrovani korisnik Linuksa #291606 **
/ / \/ /\ \ ** Registered Linux user #291606 **
/__/\____/--\__\ ** http://counter.li.org/ **

Reply to this Message

Michael Yeager - 07 Jan 2008 21:10 GMT

I did a little research on the EDIS system yesterday and discovered
it will adapt to our engines with very little effort. Much better than
the distributor setup, especially the ones used in the older engines.
The EDIS will operate in a limp home mode so I'm not sure the need to
retain the original system is so great. Does the oil pump drive off of
the distributor shaft in that motor? If not, you could remove the
distributor completely and get a plug to fill the hole. Talk about
cleaning up the engine bay...

Reply to this Message

Yvan - 08 Jan 2008 08:02 GMT

Nedavno Michael Yeager napisa:

> I did a little research on the EDIS system yesterday and discovered
> it will adapt to our engines with very little effort. Much better than
> the distributor setup, especially the ones used in the older engines.

And that's why I decided to fit EDIS.

> The EDIS will operate in a limp home mode so I'm not sure the need to
> retain the original system is so great.

I wanted to keep the original ignition system as I do not want to limp
home for 500 km :-) But few MegaJolt users told me that it's quite
reliable, so perhaps I am going to remove all old stuff. The only
problem I have is that MegaJolt kit did not arrive (and will not be
here for two weeks), so I can not drive my car.

> Does the oil pump drive off of the distributor shaft in that motor?
> If not, you could remove the distributor completely and get a plug to
> fill the hole. Talk about cleaning up the engine bay...

I was thinking the same. From Bentley manual:

"On models with 4-cylinder engines, the oil pump is driven by a chain
actuated by a gear on the front of the crankshaft."

So it should be OK to remove distributor. And I will fabricate a
bracket for EDIS ignition coil that will place where distributor was. I
have old distributor that I do not use, perhaps I can modify it to
act as a bracket for ignition coil.

Signature

___ ____
/__/ / \ ** Registrovani korisnik Linuksa #291606 **
/ / \/ /\ \ ** Registered Linux user #291606 **
/__/\____/--\__\ ** http://counter.li.org/ **

Reply to this Message

Yvan - 16 Jan 2008 18:56 GMT

Nedavno Yvan napisa:

> I tried with spare ignition control unit - and it does not work.
>
> Any thoughts about what might have cause pulse generator to fail (if
> it failed)?

Pulse generator did not fail. It was the coil. All OK with the new one.

Signature

___ ____
/__/ / \ ** Registrovani korisnik Linuksa #291606 **
/ / \/ /\ \ ** Registered Linux user #291606 **
/__/\____/--\__\ ** http://counter.li.org/ **

Reply to this Message

Michael Yeager - 17 Jan 2008 22:36 GMT

As I suspected. The coil must never be allowed to fire without a path
for the spark to travel. When it does, it burns a path for the spark
to find a ground. Glad to hear the problem is resolved. Looks like a
neat project your involved with...

>Nedavno Yvan napisa:
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
>Pulse generator did not fail. It was the coil. All OK with the new one.

Reply to this Message

Yvan - 18 Jan 2008 06:12 GMT

Nedavno Michael Yeager napisa:

> As I suspected. The coil must never be allowed to fire without a path
> for the spark to travel. When it does, it burns a path for the spark
> to find a ground. Glad to hear the problem is resolved. Looks like a
> neat project your involved with...

Still waiting for MegaJolt ignition control module...

Signature

___ ____
/__/ / \ ** Registrovani korisnik Linuksa #291606 **
/ / \/ /\ \ ** Registered Linux user #291606 **
/__/\____/--\__\ ** http://counter.li.org/ **

Reply to this Message