all is done, she just wont start

i have spark (to my shock, no pun intended), i have fuel (after a bit of dicking around and buying another pump)

just when i crank it it's kinda like theres an immobiliser, it will start briefly then just die out, it seems power is being cut from the coil once i let go of the ignition key

should be easy to test, but usual problem, i kinda need a second set of hands and never seem to be able to get a helper

anyway, it's a sexy thing, hard to pick up there is turbos in there without knowing what your looking for

she is booked in for a tune up at the 1600 workshop next wednesday (20/4) so either way it will be official on the road around that date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yeeeee haaaaaaaa

Use a multimeter on the coild wire +ve and see what it's doing when you have the key on accessories, on, and start there should only be a 12v signal when the key is on on or start, when you crank it check that when you let go of the key that the voltage doesn't drop down, if it does then it could be a problem with your ignition key. If voltage stays at 12 even when cranking and when you've let got of the key then your coil is getting the right power, do the same to the fuel pump check it's voltage with the same when cranking and when the ignition is on.

Doing things like that can slowly help diagnose problems.

The problem I had with my CA18 is that it wouldn't start, there was no spark when i cranked it. What actually happened is the wire I had hooked up to the ECU as the ignition wire was actually an accessory wire so when I cranked my engine it would turn my ECU off and therefore turning off my fuel pump as well.

I hope I've helped you

Cheers
Damo

sounds like the ballast resistor. is it still a points system?

it's either that or...

sometimes the "lobes" in the ignition switch wear out. when you let go of the key, it springs back and skips over the "ON" position and goes straight to "ACC".

try starting it, and when it fires, let the ignition key go slowly. if it runs, then you know it's the switch mechanism. if not, i'd look at the ballast resistor as L18_B110 said.

thanks for the suggestions guys,

um, um, it's hard to explain without going into heaps of detail and it should only be a simple problem

basically im using a factory elec dizzy but as im using a camira computer im using the camira coil, with no ballast resistor

ill wait till i have more of a play before i ask for help, as i haven't tested much out yet and theoretically the problem shouldnt be too hard to analyse

thanks anyway blokes, on a good note a mate said he should be able to help me tomorrow and he will also bring a much needed starter motor as mine is only engaging 50% of the time also (very frustrating)

i will try running a permanent wire to the coil positive just to verify my suspision, as it should start and run like that

i also suspect the ignition barrel, actually that reminds me when i turn the key from "off" to "lock" after trying to start the car, it will give a quick kick of the starter motor and the rest of the ignition system, so yes i guess the ignition barrel is suspect (now ringing my mate to bring an iggnition barrel tomorrow too )

but then i have also a turbo timmer and alarm with imobiliser, hehe, so much electronics, anything could be happening, thats why i'd appreciate the second set of hands and brain to help me nut this one out

oh well all in good fun!

check your power wire color, black/white is constant power when the ignition is on, and black/red is coil bypass, as in only powered in the start position. where you have eliminated the need for a ballist resistor, it could have mistakingly been hooked up wrong.

good thought, i checked that, black and white is my ignition signal to the computer loom, red and black is not used, so that should be right

that made me think of another question, as i dont have my 1200 manual at the moment, what does the tacho wire up to, as i have removed all the old coil stuff i suspect that i wont have a tacho (thought tacho was connected to coil positive?), but can't check, am wondering if my thought is correct and which wire it is?

the only thing is a brown wire that comes from the camira coil, i dont have it connected to anything at this point in time as i dont know what it is, and it's not like a convential coil in that it has weird plugs and what is positive and negative im not sure, i have been pre-summing that it went to the camira tacho, but as i am having difficulties im wondering if this could be a power feed

i know, i know i need to get a camira wirring diagram to find out what it is, maybe i can google that now....

sorry for ramblings

have you swapped over to the dark side and gone delco?

duuuuuude! pics pics pics!!!

dark side? say what?

i posted a pic a little while ago
here

but looks 100% better now, hmm, ill go take a pic now and post her up, what bits you mainly intrested in?

what is powering your dist????????
remember that it is a stand alone unit.
IF your ECM needs a tach signal to fire the system, use the diagram you got for a location.