New coil fitted; dead within 5 minutes.
Discussion
As previously mentioned in the 'What does this do?' thread, Nick's S2 seemed to die, which was put down to coil failure, as there was no spark visible on the coil when the king lead was removed and the engine cranked over. Now, I will outline the events since then:
1. Nick rolled the car out of the garage to replace a tyre that had a nail in it. On the off chance, he checked if the car would start, which it did.
2. The car idled at 900rpm, then rose to 1500rpm, as before. It began to occasionally misfire.
3. He moved it back into the garage, and fitted a new Lucas Gold 12volt Sport Coil that he had bought.
4. He has obviously removed the king lead when replacing the coil, and forgot to replace it when he went to start the car. He saw a large blue/white spark build at the end of the new coil, and earth down the negative side of the feed to the coil. He replaced the king lead.
5. The car started fine. He allowed it to get to temperature until the fan kicked in, and once the engine had cooled itself back down, he switched it off.
6. He then went to check the car started when hot, which it didn't. He removed the king lead, cranked the engine, and there was no spark being created at the coil.
Now, this coil has been on the car literally 10 minutes. In that time it's become extremely hot (barely touchable), and then died. He's found these two wires, which have spade connectors on the end, sat inside his old brake reservoir (he's yet to remove this). See picture below:
1. Nick rolled the car out of the garage to replace a tyre that had a nail in it. On the off chance, he checked if the car would start, which it did.
2. The car idled at 900rpm, then rose to 1500rpm, as before. It began to occasionally misfire.
3. He moved it back into the garage, and fitted a new Lucas Gold 12volt Sport Coil that he had bought.
4. He has obviously removed the king lead when replacing the coil, and forgot to replace it when he went to start the car. He saw a large blue/white spark build at the end of the new coil, and earth down the negative side of the feed to the coil. He replaced the king lead.
5. The car started fine. He allowed it to get to temperature until the fan kicked in, and once the engine had cooled itself back down, he switched it off.
6. He then went to check the car started when hot, which it didn't. He removed the king lead, cranked the engine, and there was no spark being created at the coil.
Now, this coil has been on the car literally 10 minutes. In that time it's become extremely hot (barely touchable), and then died. He's found these two wires, which have spade connectors on the end, sat inside his old brake reservoir (he's yet to remove this). See picture below:
Edited by King Fisher on Thursday 26th April 18:04
Their location might suggest they went to a low level switch on the reservoir but those wires should be black and black/white (they are on mine)?
They look like brown/green and green/yellow?
On my car (1990 early S3) I have moved the coil from its location on top of the engine and had to extend the wires, seem to recall I didn't have exactly the correct colours but used as near as possible. Wires to my coil are yellow/green and brown/grey ?????
What colours has Nick got? Wiring diagram in SH book says green and white/yellow.
While I appreciate Nick is young and probably not "rolling in money" with this and his other engine issues, really think it could be time to get his car to a garage experienced in these engines, as you were asking about recently?
ETA.. as suggested by Joe, why not try the "knackered coil" (and the original) on your Chim
They look like brown/green and green/yellow?
On my car (1990 early S3) I have moved the coil from its location on top of the engine and had to extend the wires, seem to recall I didn't have exactly the correct colours but used as near as possible. Wires to my coil are yellow/green and brown/grey ?????
What colours has Nick got? Wiring diagram in SH book says green and white/yellow.
While I appreciate Nick is young and probably not "rolling in money" with this and his other engine issues, really think it could be time to get his car to a garage experienced in these engines, as you were asking about recently?
ETA.. as suggested by Joe, why not try the "knackered coil" (and the original) on your Chim
Edited by phillpot on Thursday 26th April 21:20
Indeed, I believe it may be time to get it to a garage that has experience of these engines, but where? That's the question! Most places don't know about these engines anymore.
As for the colour to the coil, it's yellow/white and browny green, see the pic above.
As an aside, it fired up when allowed to cool down!
His auto-electrician friend is coming to have a look, but he believes it may be the distributor module, which I take it is the large black plug on the side of the distributor itself? He's asked him to replace the distributor before they start ripping out other wires, will this fit:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Distributor-BRAND-N...
Or, does anyone have a spare they are willing to sell?
As for the colour to the coil, it's yellow/white and browny green, see the pic above.
As an aside, it fired up when allowed to cool down!
His auto-electrician friend is coming to have a look, but he believes it may be the distributor module, which I take it is the large black plug on the side of the distributor itself? He's asked him to replace the distributor before they start ripping out other wires, will this fit:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Distributor-BRAND-N...
Or, does anyone have a spare they are willing to sell?
Edited by King Fisher on Thursday 26th April 23:17
Looking at those two wires, the left hand one appears to have a round female connector rather than a spade? If so it does look as if they are from a low brake fluid indicator. Touch them together and see if the low brake fluid light comes on!
Had a mysterious problem very like yours. Car would start from cold and idle, but sometimes cut out when I got hot, or wouldnt restart from hot. I also found I had no spark, apparently a dead coil. Then it would start again when cold. It stopped a mile from home when I filled it with fuel, called the AA who diagnosed a dead coil, I said it wasnt! Car then started and AA followed me home, it died again. Changed coil, absolutely the same symptoms. I checked the coil on another car, worked fine. Tearing my hair out! Found the fault by accident, if yours is the same as mine there is a 'spark amplifier' module. On mine it was on the inner wing on the passengers side. An alloy box with 5 or 6 wires from memory. Turned out this was failing when hot. I could start the car and run it with the bonnet open and all was well. Close the bonnet, heat built up and the spark gradually failed. Stop the car when the module was hot and there was no
evidence of a spark at all, leave the bonnet open for a few minutes and it mysteriously came back to life! It was a Ford part, and not particularly expensive.
Had a mysterious problem very like yours. Car would start from cold and idle, but sometimes cut out when I got hot, or wouldnt restart from hot. I also found I had no spark, apparently a dead coil. Then it would start again when cold. It stopped a mile from home when I filled it with fuel, called the AA who diagnosed a dead coil, I said it wasnt! Car then started and AA followed me home, it died again. Changed coil, absolutely the same symptoms. I checked the coil on another car, worked fine. Tearing my hair out! Found the fault by accident, if yours is the same as mine there is a 'spark amplifier' module. On mine it was on the inner wing on the passengers side. An alloy box with 5 or 6 wires from memory. Turned out this was failing when hot. I could start the car and run it with the bonnet open and all was well. Close the bonnet, heat built up and the spark gradually failed. Stop the car when the module was hot and there was no
evidence of a spark at all, leave the bonnet open for a few minutes and it mysteriously came back to life! It was a Ford part, and not particularly expensive.
greymrj said:
if yours is the same as mine there is a 'spark amplifier' module.
S1, 2.8 engine? different.on the 2.9 its on the side of the distributor. Been a thread or two recently about changing it, bit awkward, easier with dizzy out, but that could lead to more problems..........!
King Fisher said:
His auto-electrician friend is coming to have a look, but he believes it may be the distributor module, which I take it is the large black plug on the side of the distributor itself? He's asked him to replace the distributor before they start ripping out other wires, will this fit:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Distributor-BRAND-N...
Or, does anyone have a spare they are willing to sell?
You don't need the entire distributor, it's just a mechanical linkage and I'd be very surprised if that had gone wrong in any way. The bit you need is indeed the black thing bolted to the side. I replaced mine recently, you should be able to get it from a motor factors intermotor part 15310. Good idea to replace the distributor cap and rotor arm at the same time. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Distributor-BRAND-N...
Or, does anyone have a spare they are willing to sell?
Thanks everyone for the replies, extremely helpful! I'll get Nick to ring our motorfactors now and get the part ordered, see if this solves the problem, it sounds probable that it is though.
Thanks!
P.S, cap, arm, and leads were changed in June last year, the plugs have been in about 2 weeks, after Nick serviced the car.
Thanks!
P.S, cap, arm, and leads were changed in June last year, the plugs have been in about 2 weeks, after Nick serviced the car.
Edited by King Fisher on Friday 27th April 09:03
Edited by King Fisher on Friday 27th April 09:11
King Fisher said:
Just rung them and ordered one, £45 sound about right?
Looks pricey, try this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Granada-Sierra-Transit-2...
Rob.
orange_dodo said:
That's how much mine was
Yep that is about right from a factors. There is a procedure on line to check the module. Search for v6 cologne ignition module online and it comes from the ranger forums iirc. If you need it I can email it next weekend but don't have access to my files until then
Griffinr said:
Is that definitely correct? If it is, he may as well order that one. And Phillpot you cheeky man!
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