83starionT Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 (edited) Cannot get my 1983 starion to spark. This happened at the last drift event i was at. I was full rpms spinnin em and then she just died. No spark from the coil. When i have key on i have 12 volts on both sides of the coil. Brand new coil as well MSD. I tried to replaced the Gold ignition box with another but no luck. Repalced ECU with another and no luck. Replaced Dizzy with no luck. Im not sure what to do with this thing. I was considering going with the Fuel Injection Pro EDIS System. Any ideas please????????????????????????????????? Edited October 17, 2009 by 83starionT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jettajody Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 Is your coil wire [plug wire] in good shape????? Stick a screw driver with nice rubber handle in the whole but not touching and have someone spin her over. If you have spark than its that coil wire........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83starionT Posted October 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 K Ill try that right now Is your coil wire [plug wire] in good shape????? Stick a screw driver with nice rubber handle in the whole but not touching and have someone spin her over. If you have spark than its that coil wire........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83starionT Posted October 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 No suck luck the wire OHMS out. And I replacede it with a known good wire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jettajody Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 No suck luck the wire OHMS out. And I replacede it with a known good wire.Okay, did you still check for that spark like I said above. It's possible the cap or rotor may have took a dump on ya. Process of elimination baby!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83starionT Posted October 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 If the spark is not getting from the ignition coil to the dizzy then nothing will happen. I have checked for spark at all the plug wires and nothing. I will check the Screwdriver in the coil thing tho and see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83starionT Posted October 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 Ok no spark on the screwdriver in the coil opening. If the spark is not getting from the ignition coil to the dizzy then nothing will happen. I have checked for spark at all the plug wires and nothing. I will check the Screwdriver in the coil thing tho and see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83starionT Posted October 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 And my tach does not jump up and down when the car is cranked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jettajody Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 Okay I tried bro! Maybe you can try a different coil now just to see. MSD coils are now made in China, so you know how that goes... If you got 12V at coil and the ground is good, and you have tried a new ignitor box than just keep scoping as I doubt it is a ECU problem.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83starionT Posted October 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 Thanks man, I appreciate any input and help. Okay I tried bro! Maybe you can try a different coil now just to see. MSD coils are now made in China, so you know how that goes... If you got 12V at coil and the ground is good, and you have tried a new ignitor box than just keep scoping as I doubt it is a ECU problem.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jettajody Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 And my tach does not jump up and down when the car is cranked.HUH?????? Mine doesn't jump either, not sure I understand.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83starionT Posted October 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 Well ive read on certain posts that question asked. Im not sure if that is for later years that have the black ignition box 2 by 3 inches or what. I thought it might be good info lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83starionT Posted October 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 I guess im not sure which voltage to look at and where to see if i am getting a trigger from the dizzy. It ohms out as well with a digital meter 1089 ohms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jettajody Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 You said your car is a 83, right? They come with the lil' black ignitor knock box so yours has been converted, probably with a 88-89 ECU and injectors as well. I am not sure if you have to do anything with the wires when you switch boxes, but if so. A spliced wire may have come loose... Just a thought though....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Komeuppance Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 You said your car is a 83, right? They come with the lil' black ignitor knock box so yours has been converted, probably with a 88-89 ECU and injectors as well. I am not sure if you have to do anything with the wires when you switch boxes, but if so. A spliced wire may have come loose... Just a thought though....... Nah 83's use a gold metal box, similar to the 88/89's. Check to see if your ECU is getting a cranking pulse from the dizzy, two wire plug. You can also check this by cranking and if the fuel pump is running during cranking the ecu is receiving a signal, listen for the fuel pump, or use the fuel pump test plug (thick black wire with black plastic female spade connector style) near the MAS/air can area (on later cars, not sure about 83) and watch for voltage. -Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83starionT Posted October 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 Yea the fuel pump is running when i am cranking the engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technology Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 if it was working, then stopped working, I would say it's a broken wire or a connector that came loose. Or the pickup inside the distributor isn't picking anything up. Check your fusible links, wiggle them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indiana Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Check your fusible links, wiggle them.What he said, if the ECI fuse link is bad it won't fire. If the link stretches its bad, if the ends are crusty throw it out and get a NEW one. You can get new ones still or get fuse link wire and put the ends on it yourself but don't replace it with just a piece of wire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83starionT Posted October 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 The fusible links have all been pulled and checked with a meter and then re-installed, and then also rechecked with a meter for full continuity between the posts on the ECI terminal. We've also checked the Ignition module inside the distribtor(s) for correct OHMS that is stated in the manual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFBMX88 Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 (edited) If the fuel pump is running during cranking, then you know the ECU is getting the rpm signal from the distributor. Is fuel being injected during cranking though? Just because the parts are new doesn't mean they're good! What is the resistance spec on the coil itself? Also, what MSD are you using? Do you still have the manual for it? It is possible to create spark with the MSD manually, so you're gonna want to make sure it works. Starts at page 9: http://www.msdignition.com/uploadedFiles/MSDIgnitioncom/Products/Ignitions/6420_instructions(1).pdf Check the basics! Edited October 20, 2009 by SFBMX88 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlattopMike Posted October 22, 2009 Report Share Posted October 22, 2009 Have you tried replacing the coil?You should be able to borrow a generic coil from somewhere. You said you metered the pick-up coil. It should read between 920 and 1120 ohms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83starionT Posted October 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 I think it has to be the ignition module under the hood. Ive checked everything but that because not sure exactly how to test it. I replaced it with another unit but i believe it to be bad. Was wondering if anyone had that gold box under the hood for a 1983 that I could buy from them. I have tested the pickup in the distrubutor and it shows 1089 ohms. This box seems to be the only other thing that the manual is pointing towards. Please let me know if anything....Thanks!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83starionT Posted October 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 And yes i did I tried 3 coils just to be sure, lol.. 2 MSD coils and then went back to the factory one to no Avail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlattopMike Posted October 25, 2009 Report Share Posted October 25, 2009 The 83 ignitor box is pretty bullet-proof but it is the 1st thing the manual points to.I'm pretty sure that any ingitor box will work, the plastic ones just have more problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83starionT Posted October 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2009 Well i got anothe ignitor box on the way but something tells me this is not the problem. I keep reading the thing about the tachometer bouncing. When i crank my car over i dont get the bounce on my tach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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