Inconsistent "mark" when using timing light
Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:27 pm
Hey all,
Need some advice on a problem that I have with the car at the moment. The MPI conversion is pretty much done and dusted but we are having a problem now we are trying to crank over the engine and get the base timing setup (basically the last thing that needs to be sorted).
I am running an optical distributor from a sonata (the same era that the mpi manifolds get pulled from), which has a 4+1 disc in it hooked up to my e6x ecu. The ignition is running wasted spark with 2 twin coilpacks.
We have hooked everything up, got a timing light on the first plug and my mechanic is watching the light while I crank the engine over. The e6x has the injectors off so that it won't try and actually kick over, and timing is locked at 10 degrees so we can setup the distributor angle.
The problem is such that as the engine cranks over the mark rotates around (rather than the expected where every spark lands the timing light mark in the same location). We describe this as "sporadic spark angle" as there is no real consistency with the angle while its cranking over.
Another diagnostic is that the engine speed RPM guage on the e6x is showing a fairly erratic rpm speed when it cranks over as well, jumping from 125rpm to 1888rpm and everywhere in between (those are just 2 values i can remember)...most of the time it bounces around 150-350rpm though.
To me the above 2 problems would indicate a problem with the grounding of the shielding for the trigger signals. To begin with the ground for the shield was connected at the sensor end, which would cause problems...this has since been cut so there is no longer a connection, but the problem persists. My mechanic feels that the problem is not with the shielding but is with the dizzy itself (he thinks that 4+1 will not work and I should be running 4+2).
Am I correct in thinking that 4+1 is capable of working? If so, any ideas on what the problem is and how I could diagnose it?
Another possible cause was raised when I was talking to one of the other starion guys who brought up it could be that the trigger/home signals are around the wrong way (ie, ecu is recieving 4 home signals and 1 trigger per revolution). Could this cause the problem?
Any ideas would be great...really want it running.
Need some advice on a problem that I have with the car at the moment. The MPI conversion is pretty much done and dusted but we are having a problem now we are trying to crank over the engine and get the base timing setup (basically the last thing that needs to be sorted).
I am running an optical distributor from a sonata (the same era that the mpi manifolds get pulled from), which has a 4+1 disc in it hooked up to my e6x ecu. The ignition is running wasted spark with 2 twin coilpacks.
We have hooked everything up, got a timing light on the first plug and my mechanic is watching the light while I crank the engine over. The e6x has the injectors off so that it won't try and actually kick over, and timing is locked at 10 degrees so we can setup the distributor angle.
The problem is such that as the engine cranks over the mark rotates around (rather than the expected where every spark lands the timing light mark in the same location). We describe this as "sporadic spark angle" as there is no real consistency with the angle while its cranking over.
Another diagnostic is that the engine speed RPM guage on the e6x is showing a fairly erratic rpm speed when it cranks over as well, jumping from 125rpm to 1888rpm and everywhere in between (those are just 2 values i can remember)...most of the time it bounces around 150-350rpm though.
To me the above 2 problems would indicate a problem with the grounding of the shielding for the trigger signals. To begin with the ground for the shield was connected at the sensor end, which would cause problems...this has since been cut so there is no longer a connection, but the problem persists. My mechanic feels that the problem is not with the shielding but is with the dizzy itself (he thinks that 4+1 will not work and I should be running 4+2).
Am I correct in thinking that 4+1 is capable of working? If so, any ideas on what the problem is and how I could diagnose it?
Another possible cause was raised when I was talking to one of the other starion guys who brought up it could be that the trigger/home signals are around the wrong way (ie, ecu is recieving 4 home signals and 1 trigger per revolution). Could this cause the problem?
Any ideas would be great...really want it running.