no spark/no fuel...suggestions please!

[desant78]

For the record I am a newbie and posted it in that section...I just do not know where is a better place for this so I am moving it here.

Ok guys so i've been In a never ending battle with my vr4 to get on the road. During testing, trying to fix the idle issues, I played with numerous things (BISS and timing) and got the car to idle pretty well.

Once I get money to finish up the car (insurance, rims tires etc) it becomes a horrible expierence getting it started.

1. I need to use starter fluid everytime when I start it and when I do...it misfires. I need to keep adding fuel just to stay running, then after reving hard a few times it will seemingly run fine. But whenever I turn off the car, I cannot turn it back on. Keep in mind car is running very rich. When I try to start, plugs are soaked in fuel.

2. Soon the car was starting in the same fashion, but was not responsive. Attempted to time the engine, and realized there was no spark on cylinder 3 or 4, only the waste spark it seemed. Timing light was very intense for cylinders 1 and 2 but next to nothing when on 3 or 4. when plugs were pulled, off of coil pack where spark plug wires connect it begins to ark.

3. Now the car has absolutely no spark on any cylinder, timing light shows nothing and during cranking can't get any plug to ark to motor. Also, the plugs are no longer saturated when the car does not start. They are dry and dusty the spark plugs, when I would suspect them to have fuel since it is not sparking let alone starting.


So far I have replaced the ingiter module, CAS, spark plug wires are at correct resistances, and tried a DSM awd turbo ecu. Nothing has changed. Any ideas? I am searching threads and will be ordering a Coil Pack. Just don't know where to go if this does not work.

simply put...please help! i've had this car since december and with little funding am so close to being on the road...

 

[SouthCaliVR4]

Check the wiring for breaks & open grounds. Harnesses are old & a broken wire is not unheard of.

 

[desant78]

^^that is what I am most afraid of. I will begin that soon, any lengthy threads on how to do so?

I am having issues hooking my datalogger now too....looking for a way to verify that everything is hooked up i.e. CAS and such. If I have the ignition on, should I be able to read voltages going to CAS?

 

[SouthCaliVR4]

Yes there are pin-out charts available for various components, check vfaq or the shop manual. If you have zero luck finding them post back & I'll post up the specific components your seeking info on. You can also unplug the ecu & ohm the wiring from component to ecu as well as to ground, to eliminate faults to ground. There are a lot of wires to check but an hour or two would be all that's needed to check them. once (or if) you find a fault just look for the most likely places for a wire to break. Portions of the harness that are subject to flex or rubbing are the most likely sources.

 

[desant78]

^^exactly the advice im looking for...I'm very new to these cars. Thanks!

 

I would be pretty sure that it is the coil pack, cause you said your not getting any strobe now hooked up to the wires. That takes you right to the coil pack. Before you start unwiring the world replace that first.

 

[desant78]

yep i've got one on order...hoping it will be back before the weekend...so then I'll test it and if it fails...I will move apart to "unwiring the world" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif

 

[desant78]

Quoting Red_Bird:
I would be pretty sure that it is the coil pack, cause you said your not getting any strobe now hooked up to the wires. That takes you right to the coil pack. Before you start unwiring the world replace that first.



tested coilpack, CAS, and igniter module, and 1g DSM ecu (turbo 5spd)....no fix...time to unwire the world /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bawling.gif

 

[desant78]

Quoting SouthCaliVR4:
Yes there are pin-out charts available for various components, check vfaq or the shop manual. If you have zero luck finding them post back & I'll post up the specific components your seeking info on. You can also unplug the ecu & ohm the wiring from component to ecu as well as to ground, to eliminate faults to ground. There are a lot of wires to check but an hour or two would be all that's needed to check them. once (or if) you find a fault just look for the most likely places for a wire to break. Portions of the harness that are subject to flex or rubbing are the most likely sources.



I am going to start the pin outs and diagrams tonight, starting with the ecu and various ignition components(CAS, coil pack, etc.). I want to stress I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE and if anyone has any advice, it would be greatly appreciated. I have a background in electronics and troubleshooting, and understand the concept of what I am doing. Just any suggestions for a first timer would be great...after this I can finally see the road for the first time w/ 1662....

 

[desant78]

Good news! in the end it was the coil pack/bad spark plug.....


thank you to everyone on this thread that helped! now to finish up the some funky temp issues and after 4 months I might be able to see the road with 1662...