hi folks,

im looking for help with my mk2 escort 1600 xflow......the car used to be an auto but ive converted it to manual and rebuilt the engine. However after plumbing in the engine ive found that there is no spark and there doesnt seem to be any power going to the coil.....
Ive tried taking the coil H.T lead off the dizzy and checking for a spark ....ive tried pulling plugs out to check for sparks and ive put a 12 circuit tester on the positive wire with the points open and still nothing.......i also bench tested the coil with a multimeter and get a reading of 3 ....dont know what that means really..............anyone got any ideas

 

Have you checked you have a good earth to the engine ?

 

Hi ....cheers for the replyI actually have 2 earth wires on the engine .....the main battery earth cable attaches to the block at one end and has the double cable at the other end that goes to the battery and the body....the wire to the body is starting to break......i have also ran another thinner earth wire from the same point on the block and bolted it to the inner wing......i have ordered a new negative terminal so ill try that......... should i put the other earth in a different place..peter

 

Its just a good place to start by making sure your getting all the power from the battery and all the components have good earths
Have you looked for a wiring diagram on line?
It cant be a very complicated system

 

Has it got anything to do with the gearbox inhibitor.

 

if theres no power to the coil dose that not mean the problem is before the coil?

 

I unplugged the inhibitor wiring out from the loom and connected everything back up....but i did this years ago and cant remember where it all went but the car turns over so i think i can rule the inhibitor wiring out .......it would be handy if i could get photos of an auto with the wiring intact.......i even tried running a wire from the battery to the positive on the coil and still nothing

just to add that the engine turns but its not as fast as it should be

 

Theres a red relay behind the instrument cluster...does anyone know if this is connected to the ignition?

 

Correct, it's simply a switched supply, it is the GROUND that is switched which is what causes the HT voltage to be produced.

With the ignition on, try your circuit tester again and ground it on the car body etc.

As said initially have you got the engine earth strap connected correctly?

As you say the inhibitor prevents the starter from operating so the car does not move, so it won't be this!

Martin

 

Hi
Ive tried it with ignition on and ground to body but still nothing...........so frustrating as it all worked fine before the rebuild......when the new earth wire comes I'll try that then see where I am from there
Peter

 

So are you saying the engine isn't grounded at the moment?

In any case this won't affect the supply to the coil, you do know you have to use a good earth, i.e. any part of the car body will not work, use the negative terminal if you are unsure.

Martin

 

I am clueless with electrics ...i was just earthing the end of the tester to the slam panel.....it lit up when I touched the positive battery terminal so thought that would be ok for testing the coil.......ill do as you said tomorrow and let you know the results

 

The fact it works when connected to the battery shows that is a good earth.

You really need a meter to get some precise information, I suspect there may be power there, as you have already said an alternative feed made no difference, so as I say I suspect it's either the coil or the ground.

Martin

 

Im going to convert to electronic ignition .....this was always on the cards and the way its going nows probably a better time than any.......my thinking is that at least by replacing the coil points and condensor I can rule these out.......is this a good way to go?.........here is the ebay number for what im looking at......180674243990.....its the accuspark kit....is this ok or does anyone have a better idea?

 

sorry about this i dont no how to put up a post . i have 1.8cvh sierra i wood like to no how to put in my new AccuSpark adjustable Rev Limiter i have 3 wires comeing out off the coil black red & green yellow & green then 3 wires out off the limiter black red white