michael hollen Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Hello everyone, need some help with mpi. I have the FIP complete system w/msd box and ignition adapter for msd box, I have spark from coil, but while cranking and checking for spark from plug wire, there is only one spark at beginning of cranking then nothing. I have replaced the ignition module in distributor and still same out come. Any ideas or input would be great. Could it be ignition switch? It worked fine before car was parked couple years ago when I started install. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott87star Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Ignition adapter is a caravan module or other? Are you saying you have spark at the coil continuously when cranking but not at the plug? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hollen Posted April 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 There is only one spark as soon as you start cranking then nothing, and yes I replaced the ignition module with the correct Wells caravan module that FIP suggests for the set-up. I also replaced the MSD box, because originally there was no spark out of coil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
substock Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 Check the switched +12 voltage(coil or msd) while cranking. You may be dropping below the needed voltage for the msd to fire while cranking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hollen Posted April 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 Ok, I'll check as soon as I can, plus I have to get a helper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionbull Posted April 21, 2015 Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 Has it ever started since the conversion?check the ground under the batterytrigger angle set? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hollen Posted April 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 Never had it runniing yet, battery moved to trunk since theres no space because of inter-cooler pipes. Bought complete system from roush long time ago. Did have to change out MSD box because of no spark at coil, checked according to MSD website. Now I have spark at coil when checked according to MSD website. Going to check wires resistence, and voltage drop at coil, and will double check grounds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hollen Posted April 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 What do you mean by (trigger angle set) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionbull Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) This is in the ecu settings.Now that i know this is from someone else and it was running before,you should be fine on the ecu settings.The behavior is that the motor is just cranking and not starting?When i was on dizzy and that happened it was a bad dizzy.If there any kickback? Edited April 22, 2015 by lionbull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hollen Posted April 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 What do you mean by "kick back"?, and I have already replaced ignition module in dist., but no change, havn't had a chance to check cap and rotor yet (they are the same I got with system), havn't checked the other things yet, since the weekend is the only time I have to work on the car. Appreciate the help from everyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionbull Posted April 23, 2015 Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 check the cap for signs of arching. I had replaced the igniter too but when i completely replaced the dizzy is when it started. I am not saying that is your issue but i learned to keep a few spares around back in the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hollen Posted April 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Have ordered the pick-up coil for the inside of distributor, might as well rebuild the thing since I bought a new ignition module already. Will check back in with you guys and let you know what happens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott87star Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 There is only one spark as soon as you start cranking then nothing, and yes I replaced the ignition module with the correct Wells caravan module that FIP suggests for the set-up. I also replaced the MSD box, because originally there was no spark out of coil Well I think we have some definitions wrong, when you answered this above I was referring to the module inside of the distributor, that is the ignition module. FIP did build a few systems (very few) where they used a 4 pin GM HEI module mounted outside as a replacement ignitor (knock box) so I assume this is what you have? Pictures are worth way more than words in this case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hollen Posted April 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 Well I replaced the ignition module which plugs into the pick-up coil inside the distributor which I just bought to replace also, basically just rebuild the distributor with all new parts, then work from there to try to get the car running Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hollen Posted April 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 Sorry, havn't figured out how to post pics here yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
importwarrior Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 when i had similar issues it turned out to be the voltage for the spark and crank sensorsdidnt drop down low enough. i believe it is called pull downthe voltage needed to be below 1.0 volt and when high it had to be above 4.0 volts i believe.once i verified that was fixed the ignition spark the car started right up for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott87star Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 OK, I'm likely mistaken about the 4 pin HEI mentioned above. So the Caravan ignition module (CR125) grounds the signal, 12V pulls it up and typically on FIP systems they've used the MSD tach adapter as the pull up. How is yours wired? One side of the CR125 gets 12 V (former VR+ side as shown in the electrical diagram) and the other side is typically a "t" connection between the MSD points input and the MSD tach adapter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hollen Posted April 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 It is wired according to FIP directions and pic of wiring diagram that came with the complete system. I beleive the diagrams can still be seen on FIP web site. I am going to go through all the wiring and check it because everything was already pre-wired when I got it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hollen Posted April 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 I do have the MSD fach adapter with this system, will have to go through all the wiring and make sure its wired correctly, I did go through the wiring as I was installing system, but I could of missed something, there is alot of wiring! There has already been some parts that hav'nt worked like the MSD box, maybe they were blown out some how, assuming the msd box is not the only part that was blown out or wired wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott87star Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 The MSD's like to consume themselves, that is a lot of energy discharging in a short period of time, over and over and over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hollen Posted May 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 I started to get into the distributor and I had the stock one on the bench also beside the dist I got with kit and noticed that the stock distributor has three prongs sticking up on stator and the distributor that came with MPI kit only has two prongs sticking up from stator inside distributor, it looks like the third prong was cut off to make the vacuum advance boss bottom out to be wired not to move. My question is; will the distributor work with only two prongs on the stator for the signal rotor ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
importwarrior Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 stock and MPI Dizzy are different for a reason.you have to lock down the MPI dizzy.Scott can explain it way better than i can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott87star Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 Short answer Michael, yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hollen Posted May 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2015 Sorry guys, been outa town for daughters graduation from the Army. Will let you guys know what I find out when I get back into the car again. I need to find how to get more time to work on car and still get Honey Dews done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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