280i ignition coil

[marlon dingle]

Hi Chaps, I thought today I would change the ignition coil.

And some how got the wires mixed up. I have 2 brown wires and a blue and I know there were 2 wires on the negative side of the coil because of the 3 pieces of metal the spade connectors fit onto 2 have small holes and the thread on the negative side is smaller than the positive side.

I have tried every combination and no hint of the engine firing. Now I'm beginning to wonder if having the wires the wrong way round has damaged the ignition amplifier module.

To make matters worse when I went to refit the old coil I over tightened the positive terminal, broke the ceramic and the terminal fell off.

I cant get my head around it surly it should be the two brown wires on the positive side, the 12v and 7-8v.

Can anybody help please.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Mate


Sorry I cant help, Im in between computers at the moment so cannot access any of my pics...I did a search on-line but couldn't find much of use, hopefully someone can post up a pic of theirs....

You might of blown a fuse so I would check those...


Hope you sort it.


Cheers


Ziga

[marlon dingle]

Hi Ziga, thanks anyway. I've been thinking about it and just before I started frigging about with the coil, I changed the fuel filter and the new one is much smaller than the old one. I did start the car after fitting it and it ran fine, but I only ran it for about a minute. now I'm wondering if the car was only running on the fuel already in the system and the problem isn't with the coil.

the new fuel filter is a Bosch Fuel Filter 0450905021.

Ian

[mrzigazaga]

The fuel filter looks right...Silly question but have you connected it the right way round with the arrow pointing toward the metering head?

Updated to add:

If it is correctly fitted and you have a green plug on the metering head then just unplug it and try that...You can put the key to position 1..(Not cranking) and you should hear the fuel pump buzzing..See if this helps it to start better.

Edited by mrzigazaga on Saturday 22 April 23:34

[marlon dingle]

That did cross my mind, but I think the unions are different sizes so it can only fit one way. I will check tomorrow as well as looking for the green plug. I've never noticed it before.

Thanks Zig.

Ian

[marlon dingle]

Had another go yesterday, but this time disconnected the ignition module and distributer wiring. After doing this I only had one wire showing any voltage ( 12v ). Connected that wire to the positive side of the coil the other 2 to the negative, reconnected the ignition module and distributer and she fired up.

Interestingly the 12v from the ignition wasn't the blue wire, as I've read so much about on Ford Capri forums etc. it was one of the 2 brown wires. Just out of interest did ford use a special blue wire that has a resistance along its length and TVR a ballast resister some ware in the loom?

Ian.

[mrzigazaga]

marlon dingle said:

Had another go yesterday, but this time disconnected the ignition module and distributer wiring. After doing this I only had one wire showing any voltage ( 12v ). Connected that wire to the positive side of the coil the other 2 to the negative, reconnected the ignition module and distributer and she fired up.

Interestingly the 12v from the ignition wasn't the blue wire, as I've read so much about on Ford Capri forums etc. it was one of the 2 brown wires. Just out of interest did ford use a special blue wire that has a resistance along its length and TVR a ballast resister some ware in the loom?

Ian.

Good news mate...My 1983 280i had a blue ballast resistor wire..It should have a bullet type end on that and the connection to the loom.

[marlon dingle]

that's interesting, mine is a 1982, I wonder if mine has a blue wire that has been extended with a brown wire or has a ballast resistor hidden inside the loom or dash.
when the cars running I have 7v on the positive side of coil.

Ian.