88 ignition help

[TDI_ftw]

Ive got a wiring issue, may have it hooked up wrong but I'm not sure because I can't find a book or any diagrams online or at the parts stores. Not waiting a week for it to get here!

Here's where I'm at, replaced:
Plugs
wires
cap
rotor
coil

I get spark from testing the coil, but when cranking it doesn't fire the plugs, like the electronic point system doesnt work.

Any way to figure this out? It may be a broken wire on the electronic part of the distributor.



What wires are supposed to go where on the coil?
Ive got the yellow/blue-yellow connector on the Negative, Black/white on positive, blue on Negative.
I've got another two wires I can't find where they are supposed to go!

[TDI_ftw]

It will produce a spark while the positive leads are jiggled when loose, so I'm assuming the electronic points are not sending the signal to the coil, or its not receiving it.

[FestYboy]

spray out the inside of the dizzy with carb or brake clean. oil contamination can cause a no spark condition.

[TDI_ftw]

ok got the dizy apart... its got almost 1,000ohms for the coil inside there, is that right?
i assume its nil chances that the electronic points are bad?

I'll clean it up and try that!

[TDI_ftw]

ok now i found a frayed wire and it broke putting the thing back in, it was the blue/yellow connector at the plug by the dizy.
Now whatever the black box with one wire coming out of it is, the wire broke off of that. I assume its the capacitor?

The voltage before the wires broke, on the coil inside the dizy with key on is 0.7v, is this right? The two prongs i measured if the igniter is pulled out.

I think that is the problem, shouldn't the internal coil be 12v? I don't want to fry it trying that though!

[FestYboy]

the black box is a cap for sure. i'll have to look up the voltages quick to see what should be there but usually you'll either have a 12v (battery voltage) or a 5v referance from the PCM.

[FestYboy]

ok you should have battery voltage at the blue wire with the key on, in the dizzy (at Ign modual) if you don't have that, you have a break in that wire between the ignition switch and the dizzy.

[TDI_ftw]

I checked all the continuity on the dizy wires and they seem fine even when flexed around.
What/where should the coil wires go? I'm confused on where the cap wire should go, I got the wire soldered back onto the cap and I do get spark turning the dizy by hand while grounded, but it seems inconsistent and not sparking at the same area while turning it, almost random and continuous.

The coil in the dizy ohms to 1k ohms and from what I've read its typically 500-1500 ohm depending on vehicle, so I'm ruling that out.

Also recleaned/brake cleaned the 3 block fused connections as well, all have 12.2v, battery chargers @ 6amps, battery is cranking well.


With no jumper from the +B I don't get voltage to the coil, would that have any effect? I mean jumping it from the battery to +B on the coil will just shortcut the wiring from battery/ignition/harness etc?

[TDI_ftw]

I found this, translated on google,
http://translate.googleusercontent.c...S0i7txbZDROWpg


It's for fuel injected, but apparently I have my wires all mixed up, I'll try and sort this out.

[TDI_ftw]

ok found this, but it doesnt have the blue wire on it, or my 'extra' black wire, I'm still lost...

[kartracer46]

That looks like one for an 89 automatic which is fuel injected and has a different one year only distributor. I can see if I have an 88 or 89 Manual schematic and post it up for you.

[TDI_ftw]

ok, so I can have the dizy out and without the condenser hooked up to anything it 'seems' to fire on one of the plug wires with a spark plug on the firewall for ground.

I put the dizy back in, and crank it, and it doesn't spark! While it was out, i had it touching ground off the valve cover, weird...

[kartracer46]

If it wasn't dark I would go out and look at my 88 for you. I may in a few if the kids haven't wasted all my flash light batteries.

[TDI_ftw]

The yellow wires taken off the dizy negative lets the spark have a LOT more juice, yet it is still intermittent with spark.

Does anyone know the gap for the electronic points thing? I played with it a little and it got better/worse now back to better/worse lol!

What would make it spark turning by hand, and not spark in the engine? we have a ground hooked up right to the dizy bolt and still nothing!

[TDI_ftw]

Looks like the yellow wires are shorting somewhere, unplugged them and it gets a hell of a spark now!
Dizy is turned all the way advanced now and it will almost start, soo close!
thanks for all the help guys!