View Full Version : No power from ignition live
Been trying to sort this for a couple of days but cant figure it out.
1993 K reg Nova 1.2i wont start, was working fine up until sunday night refused to start but eventually did start, monday i went to go out in it and she wouldn't start (yes, she), a mate of mine came over and put a new dizzy cap and rotor arm and she still wont start.
With a voltmeter he found that there is only 2 volts going from the ignition live to the coil when there should be 12, Has any one else experienced this or know what the problem is and how to fix it? I really need my car working asap as i have to be in work eary hours tomorrow and then late hours.
let_nova
26-03-09, 03:24 PM
good start would be to check all earths.
Check the battery is acualy pumping out 12v. also check the ign barrel, make sure theres 12v coming out of there.
The battery was new, it has been drained now due to cranking it over while trying to figure out the problem, i was thinking earths as well will give them a try, if its not sending 12v from the barrel what could be the problem?
Duff barrel.
Also check all the fuses. And it might be worth putting a jump lead from the neg termnal to one of the engine hoist points on the engine (flat things that stick up from the exhaust and inlet)
All fuses seem fine, i didn't know barrels went duff, every days a school day, damn where could i get a new barrel from :( what will putting a jump lead to a hoist point achieve? sorry n00b here.
jump lead from neg terminal to the engine lifting eye will just help earth the engine better.
worth adding a couple new earth leads from battery to several points around the engine i.e from battery to chassis/alternator/block
inside the ignition barrel the terminals could have slowly covered in crap making resistance which is then stopping it give out a full 12v.
Ignition barrel makes some sense trying to get a new module now see if it works will post up any news thanks people, any more advice still appreciated.
its not the barrel, its the ign switch, the barrels the metal bit where the lock fits into, the switch is on the end of this. just take the plug off and short the wires out, it should start. cant remember which ones where....
Yer, what i ment, i ment to edit my post but forgot lol
No joy in getting one :( any one got one spare?
Have you tried everything else?
You can get them off ebay iirc
So far no, Battery is still drained as i have been busy with other personal things.
Id check everything else before you spend any money!
Checked mostly everything else, even put a new dizzy cap and rotor arm on it so if i change this and it still does not work then I'm pretty stumped and will take it somewhere.
So you checked that its not just a flat battery, or a dodgy earth, and youve checked the voltage at the barrel ignition switch?
Battery was new, it is flat now due to cranking it over to find the issue. Earths haven't been checked yet due to loosing my handy tool kit :mad: but there is only 2 volts going to the coil from the ignition live.
sounds like the swich is duff, scrappys mate its a pocket part ;)
Sure does marra and i sure think if i get time tomorrow i will be off to the scrappy, aint gonna risk pocketing it at my local scrappy as they aint scared to kneecap ya with a big power bar lol proper ruff cunts.
ant_tay
27-03-09, 08:11 AM
i may have one if you dont manage to get one let me know
cant you just take your ignition switch apart and spare it all with contact cleaner
ant tay will do
burgo, I'm not sure mate, I'm not good with electrical stuff
Update - Got a brand new ignition switch and changed it over this morning which it did need as the old one was on the way out anyway.
Problem not solved though car still wont start :cry:So in all it has had a new distributor cap a new rotor arm and a new ignition switch.
There was power going to the coil at first but then it started getting fussy, getting really pissed off now as i need it working. Another option is to put the new engine in which i don't want to do without rebuilding it first :cry:
fitting a new engine wont fix an electrical problem
have you tried putting a new feed from the battery to the coil to elliminate a possible feed problem
Was thinking of fitting the new engine/loom/sorting bits out.
My mate was doing things with the coil while i was turning it over but im sure i saw him put some wire from the battery to the coil.
And he also used his coil and then tried with mine.
Was thinking of fitting the new engine/loom/sorting bits out.
My mate was doing things with the coil while i was turning it over but im sure i saw him put some wire from the battery to the coil.
And he also used his coil and then tried with mine.
well find out for sureif he did run a new positive wire as over a forum we can only try and help/diagnose if we know for a fact what has and hasnt been tried. if he did try that then the next thing to check is the ignition modual as the coil earths through that
well find out for sureif he did run a new positive wire as over a forum we can only try and help/diagnose if we know for a fact what has and hasnt been tried. if he did try that then the next thing to check is the ignition modual as the coil earths through that
Just remembered he did as he dropped it on the floor after using it.
so you put a 100% 12v feed to it yet with the tester it only showed 2v?
I'm assuming he got 12v doing it that way, he didn't talk much was too busy stressing.
to be honest mate you need to have a word with him and find out what he did exactly
to be honest mate you need to have a word with him and find out what he did exactly
We were getting a breif 7-10v to the ignition live terminal of the coil then it was dissapearing to 0v we were never getting a spark from the coil to the king lead. and the previous owners alarm box has gone but all the wires remain and are linked together in one fashion or another. Would a knackered dissy stop the power going to the coil?
That's what he said in a post on mig.
A ****ed dizzy wouldnt cause coil problems. That sounds like it could be a coil fault more than anything. But it depends where he was getting the voltage.
Sorry i cant help anymore. Over a forum isnt very easy lol
the cam sensor in the dizzy could be fooked and not putting out a signal but that wouldnt affct the voltage. if its not the coil it can only be the ignition modual
Update.
New coil and distributor on and there is a spark at the plugs, just the battery is too dead to start her up so will do that tomorrow morning.
I think i ****ed it up by not marking the distributor so the timing is out but it's not hard to fix that.
Run's and go's but i need a fuel pump relay (the one behind the fuse box) so for now there is a temporary bodge which i don't think i need to spell out.
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