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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: daddyizzle on June 11, 2006, 07:29:50 PM

Title: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: daddyizzle on June 11, 2006, 07:29:50 PM
I'm baffelled. My son started it up my sami this afternoon to leave his work, and it died at the end of the parking lot when he stopped to wait for traffic to clear. It doesn't seem to be getting spark from the coil. I put in a new one and still no spark It appears to to be hooked up correctly. I have the weber and I don't know if any of those disconnected wires would have anything to do with it. I also checked the fuse under the dash. I don't know if this has an ecm and I don't know if it would cause a loss of spark. I thought maybe the ignition switch? Like I say, it turns over but No spark. The weber was installed over 8 months ago so I wouldn't think those wires would cause it but I do have a sensor light that has stayed on since, with the exception of an occasional flick off.  Any help appreciated. Thanks
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: Digger on June 11, 2006, 07:33:20 PM
Did you try replacing the coil-to-distributor wire with a fresh one? I have heard of those going bad and causing what you are descibing...
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: daddyizzle on June 11, 2006, 07:54:08 PM
I haven't but I will try putting a jumper there. I work nights and have to leave in about 15 minutes so I will try something so I don't have to get a ride in.
Thanks.
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: daddyizzle on June 11, 2006, 08:09:37 PM
I'm sorry, I misunderstood you.  Yes I replaced the coil to distributor ignition wire. The only other thing I can think of that May factor in to this is that I replaced the speedo cable  about 12 days ago. Maybe I disturbed a wire under the dash, don't know. Is ther away to by pass the ignition switch and try to start it like the car thieves do. Without cutting all the wires. Either that or wire around under the hood to bypass and run power right to the coil. I suspect I am getting no power to the coil since it  is a new coil and still  produces no spark. At least I can't see or hear a spark when I hold the coil wire a little bit away from it. I  also held a couple of the other wires off the cap and tried cranking it. I did notice a fair amount of green residue at the connectors on top of the cap. I'm pretty sure I had replaced it along with the wires in the last year. but not sure.
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: daddyizzle on June 12, 2006, 06:10:53 AM
I think I'm replying to my own message not sure, Worked all night so it's all I can do to handle a beer and the keyboard. Anyways, I was told by one of my more talented maintanance men  that the ignition control module must be bad or it jumped time. How can you tell if it jumped time?  I had the timing belt changed about 2 months ago and would like to think that my mechanic knew what he was doing since he primarily does work on 4x4s although not alot of sammis if any. 

The other question is, where is the ICM and what is the difference between an ICM and a ECM. Does the sami have both?
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: Rhinoman on June 12, 2006, 12:27:29 PM
AFAIK there isn't an ICM on the sammy, its all built into the distributor unless its EFI. There should be a ground wire from the distributor to the firewall, this sometimes goes bad.
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: daddyizzle on June 12, 2006, 12:33:57 PM
I tried jumping from terminal to terminal with a wire and alligator clips without success. There is a control module behind the glove compartment but I don't know if it would have anything to do with it. If so, can it be tested?
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Maybe the ignitor assembly?
Post by: daddyizzle on June 12, 2006, 03:24:58 PM
Now I'm told that the ignitor assembly in the distributor may be bad. I don't know if that would cause the coil to not fire a spark. I'm not sure how it would affect it. So I wonder how you would test it without having to take it out. I sure don't want to throw too much money in parts only to find I replaced a part that wasn't bad.
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: msabmf on June 12, 2006, 06:52:33 PM
you need to check for voltage at the coil poss side also check your points in the distributer (non elec ignition ) to see if they are opening they may be worn down
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: Rhinoman on June 13, 2006, 05:05:03 AM
you need to check for voltage at the coil poss side also check your points in the distributer (non elec ignition ) to see if they are opening they may be worn down

Do any Sammys have points?
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: daddyizzle on June 13, 2006, 06:25:27 AM
I believe its electronic ignition. I will check for vollts this afternoon. I was told that somehow the distributor, Via the ignitor assembly, tells the coil to energise and produce the spark. I don't understand how this could work but maybe it's true? I always thought that the coil energised and the distributor just took that energy and distributed the spark. ??? ???
Title: Re: 87 sami. low input voltage. won't start. help?
Post by: daddyizzle on June 13, 2006, 02:12:07 PM
I put a voltmeter up to the coil input wires with the key on. no reading. I turned the motor over and got .24. I don't know exactly what this means as I am not an electrician. Is this ignitor in the distributor controlling whether or not the coil energizes or is there possibly a problem in the ignition switch itself?
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: dsumers on June 13, 2006, 02:56:41 PM
You need to have battery voltage at positive side of coil key on.  If this is good, then hook up a test light alligator clip to positive side of battery and probe the negitive side of coil, while cranking engine, light should flash.  If light is not flashing, then your not geting the pulse (ground) from the pickup in the distributor.  The igniter/pickup coil in the distributer does the same thing electronically as a set of ignition points do provide a ground to the distributer so the field in the coil collapses causing the spark.
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: daddyizzle on June 13, 2006, 03:08:15 PM
How do I check for the battery voltage  on the coil inputs with the key on. I thought I did by putting the pos probe to the pos side of coil and the neg probe to the neg side of the coil with key on. Is there a better way to check it. I had my voltmeter set for the 20 vdc and it read .24 the way I did it but I may have been doing it wrong.
Title: update: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. low volt readings. Anyone help?
Post by: daddyizzle on June 13, 2006, 04:00:01 PM
I took the volt meter and hooked to the battery. 12.8 volts. I hooked to the pos and neg on the coil with ign on and it read 00. I turned the key and it went to around 1.5 volts.  I went from the pos on the battery to tne neg on the coil and turned the key. It hobbled between 2.8 and the low 3 volts. Maybe this tells somebody something.  Again I'm wondering if a bad ignitor would cause any of this. If not, shouldn't I have 12 volts at the coil with the key on prior to turning over the motor.? I don't even have the 12 volts at the coil with the motor turning over. Maybe this makes sense to someone. Maybe someone can take a voltmeter to their known good ignition system and see:

1  Coil input voltage with key on
2  Coil input voltage with motor turning
3  Pos on battery to neg on coil with key on
4  Pos on battery to neg on coil with motor turning
Title: Re: 87 sami. electrical tests. what do the results mean?
Post by: daddyizzle on June 13, 2006, 04:59:49 PM
Ok. I fixed my test light and hooked it to the pos and neg on the coil. no light with key on.  hooked it to the pos on the battery and neg on the coil and turned the key. the light pulsed with the engine. what does it all mean.
Title: Re: 87 sami. update: what next the ignition switch?
Post by: daddyizzle on June 13, 2006, 06:32:06 PM
I got a hold of a used distributor and threw it in. I guess I have a spare now. It has the same result. All multimeter tests are the same. What now. The actual keyed ignition switch bad? could it be that simple? Or back to the control module behind the glove box. I was under the impression that the module dealt with the carb and emmissions. Nothing to do with the ignition. As far as the ignition switch, maybe it turns the motor but doesn't send energy to the coil. I had an escort exp that had the ignition swich housing crack and the motor turned but wouldn't start until I replaced the switch. I guess I'll try that next unless someone has a better idea.
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: msabmf on June 13, 2006, 06:58:23 PM
replace the coil
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: dsumers on June 13, 2006, 07:41:15 PM
Hot wire it.  connect a wire to the positive side of battery and positive side of coil, should run.  If so you need to find out where you are losing your power somewhere between the coil and ignition switch.  I would suspect a poor connection at the connector.  you might check to see what the voltage is key on on the other side of the connector.
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: daddyizzle on June 13, 2006, 08:12:04 PM
I swapped coils, so I will try the hot wire. I suspect the ignition switch at this point. Can I go with a wire from the positive side of the battery directly to the positive side of the coil and drive it down the road like that?
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: dsumers on June 13, 2006, 08:20:15 PM
yes, dont drive any further than you have as you may burn up the coil.
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: Digger on June 13, 2006, 11:24:45 PM
Have you tried checking the voltage, key on, with the pos voltmeter probe on the positive coil input wire and the negative probe of the voltmeter on the negative battery terminal? You might just have a bad ground...
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: Rhinoman on June 14, 2006, 05:11:15 AM
You must have the correct type of coil, I agree with Digger check that it is grounding properly
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: daddyizzle on June 14, 2006, 06:29:44 AM
I did a couple checks. Key on,  Pos coil to neg battery, 11.6...   Key on, neg coil to pos bat. .56.  I will pull the ignition switch, which I assume is seperate, and near the ignition key tumbler assembly and inspect. if memmory serves me correctly, The escort exp. (that my 16 year old boy totalled on the first day of summer last year) had a similar problem. For some reason I went right to the ignition tumbler in this case. It was doing pretty much the same thing. I figure that if I throw the right part at it, I will eventually fix it. and have a whole bunch of spares. This way,  instead of paying 300.00 or more for diagnostics, I get a bunch of extra parts. However, I am tired of 3 people having to share one car. When I do figure it out, with the help of all of you, I will post the details and this way the next guy doesn't have to go through the head aches I am going through.
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: Digger on June 15, 2006, 06:17:18 AM
Key on,  Pos coil to neg battery, 11.6...   Key on, neg coil to pos bat. .56. 

That sounds like a bad ground to me...
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: dsumers on June 15, 2006, 02:56:23 PM
If your getting battery voltage at the coil key on, the ignition switch is good.  This may sound stupid, butt have you removed the distributor cap and made sure the distributor is turning when cranking the engine?
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: daddyizzle on June 15, 2006, 04:19:36 PM
I got it running. I believe it was all in the distributor. I had reinstalled the replacement distributor a tooth or two off. I will post a follow up tomorrow. thanks everyone for all the help.
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: Digger on June 16, 2006, 12:29:51 PM
That wouldn't explain why it worked fine, then just quit while you were waiting on traffic...

When was the last time you replaced the timing belt? it should be done at least every 60,000 miles on these engines. I would say it either jumped time from a worn timing belt slipping or possibly even the crank keyway on the timing belt pulley might have gotten messed up if the nut worked loose...
Title: Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Problem solved, update to follow soon.
Post by: daddyizzle on June 16, 2006, 05:51:18 PM
I will  post what I learned this weekend so someone else doesn't go through the same mistakes I went through. It was so simple I could wretch. I could kick myself or at least I should kick myself.
Title: problem solved! Re: 87 sami. No spark from coil. Anyone help?
Post by: daddyizzle on June 17, 2006, 07:33:55 PM
I finally got it figured out. I originally checked for fuel pressure and thought I had it. Having been dead for two days, she actually started and drove for 30 miles to my work only to die when time to leave. I had done all kinds of electrical trouble shooting with the my mind convinced that it was all electrical.

I will have to go and document the electrial test results when I have time so I will know what the normal reedings are. The vehicle runs fine now.

Here's what I found was the problem all along.   The mechanical fuel pump of all things.  I just put a fuel regulator on her   about a month ago. It is set at somewhere around or less than 2 psi. I think what might have happenned is the regulator put strain on the tired old fuel pump. I pulled the old one off and put the new one on. It still wouldn't start, no gas.  I looked at the old one and tryed to see how it worked. I then pulled off the new fuel pump and moved the mechanism.  I then pulled the fuel pump rod out of the engine and inspected it. I noticed that it was a little hard to pull out by finger tip. I pulled it out with the needle nose pliers. I wiped it off and put some lucas on it, and slid it back in. I again made sure the fuel pump spring was functioning and reinstalled the fuel pump. It started right up.

I believe the culprit was a combination of the regulator wiping out the fuel pump, the fuel pump rod having a little sludge on it, and the fuel pump spring being too weak to keep the rod in contact with the cam. Eventually, the rod settled up against the fuel pump lever and didn't have away to make it back over to the cam. Thus rendering the fuel pump ineffective.

The lesson learned being to check a little harder for fuel first, and be selectiive of what parts you want to throw at a vehicle. In this case, I only had less than 50.00 in a distributor in addition to the 50.00 for the fuel pump.

My only concern know is that the fuel pump might stress under the force of the regulator but I don't anticipate this being a problem because there is a return line to the fuel tank that keeps the fuel cycling to keep the fuel pump cool. I suppose all mechanical fuel pumps work on this principal but not sure. I haven't had one go bad before therefor I never felt the urge to see how one worked. I stuck with the mechanical because I didn't want to trust an electrical one.   I think it just happenned to be the original fuel pumps time to give out. Had I not been going on 3 hours sleep a day, I probably could have reasonned a little more effectively and saved myself alot of time and headaches.

Now, if there is an advantage to an electical over a mechanical fuel pump, I'm open to hearing the pros. Thanks again for all your suggestions. I learned alot about all the other electrical stuff anyways.