Ford coil packs

[deetes]

Anyone know how to test ford coil packs to see if they are any good?

Trying to run TVR390 with Megasquirt and wasted spark. Ticks over really roughly, will not take any throttle at all and the coil drivers are getting hot. Checked eveything I can think of including all the setting and wiring. NGK BR7ES plugs as recomended by MS supplier. Gonna try other coil packs to see if that makes any difference.

Any help on this subject would be much appreciated.

Edited by deetes on Friday 21st March 17:54

[GreenV8S]

Sounds as if you may have too much dwell, which isn't hard to do if you have the toothed wheel configuration wrong.

[Pigeon]

Are you using CDI coil packs in an inductive-discharge system?

[BB-Q]

From experience Ford coil packs work just fine on MSnS v3. I'd second GreenV8s's suggestion. You haven't flashed the ECU with the coil packs connected, have you?

[deetes]

GreenV8S said:

Sounds as if you may have too much dwell, which isn't hard to do if you have the toothed wheel configuration wrong.

Set up as per the MS1 Extra manual(I think). It's got a basic setting to get you going which gives you a dwell:


Are you using CDI coil packs in an inductive-discharge system?

Not sure about this one, but here's a diagram of the wiring.




From experience Ford coil packs work just fine on MSnS v3. I'd second GreenV8s's suggestion. You haven't flashed the ECU with the coil packs connected, have you?

MS1 Extra, V3 board. Don't think I have

[BB-Q]

Try losing the capacitors on the 12v supply and see if that helps.

[eliot]

BB-Q said:

Try losing the capacitors on the 12v supply and see if that helps.

It will run without them, but only disconnect them to eliminate them - as they should be fitted.

You should also have a setting around the igntion page for inverted or non inverted - make sure thats correct.(inverted=yes)
Have you checked that all four pairs are firing?

Edited by eliot on Saturday 22 March 16:46

[GreenV8S]

eliot said:

You should also have a setting around the igntion page for inverted or non inverted - make sure thats correct.(inverted=yes)

Now you mention it that would fit the symptoms perfectly.

[deetes]

IT'S AHLIVE!!!!!!

Yep got it running this afternoon.

Swapped the wires around on the VR sensor and it burst into life at the first turn of the key. This was suggested by my MS supplier, even though I had wired them as per the MS Extra Ignition hardware manual. Never mind, at least it's going and I'll have have a TVR to play with this summer, if it stops snowing!!!!!