m20 woes

[Edev]

Use a multimeter and check the pin outs on the harness connector to the ECU. Seriously, that will show you what is screwed up. Stop wasting time randomly swapping parts and diagnose it. It'll take a couple of hours, but you will actually get somewhere with it.

So I take the ECU off of the harness then I turn the key to the on position, right before you actually start the car. Then I take the multimeter and use it on the harness side of the ecu?

[whiltebeitel]

Use a multimeter and check the pin outs on the harness connector to the ECU. Seriously, that will show you what is screwed up. Stop wasting time randomly swapping parts and diagnose it. It'll take a couple of hours, but you will actually get somewhere with it.

[Edev]

Eric, I wish I could come help you but I am broke with no gas.:(

If I can't get someone more local to come over and help, I'll pay for your gas to and from my house.

I replaced the fusible link with a 50a like Luke did, and it still doesn't get a spark.

WHAT THE FUCK

[dashboardmonkey]

Eric, I wish I could come help you but I am broke with no gas.:(

[Edev]

Josh came over and we tried out his main relay. Still a no go. I'm probably going to take it to a shop since I can't figure it out and the only people coming over and helping are Josh and Matt. Ugh.

[Edev]

my bet is a bad cps and or a bad coil. not a bad dme, most 173, 883...ect fail from fuel issues not spark

Yeah we just put in a different dme and it didn't help. I'm now going to look to see if anyone has a cps. Coil is good, I've used 3 different ones from working cars.

[gregslow318i]

my bet is a bad cps and or a bad coil. not a bad dme, most 173, 883...ect fail from fuel issues not spark

[gregslow318i]

my bet is a bad cps and or a bad coil. not a bad dme, most 173, 883...ect fail from fuel issues not spark

[whiltebeitel]

Even a $5 HF multimeter will get you far enough to figure out most anything that could be bad, wiring wise.

[StereoInstaller1]

This right here is why you should never own 1 E30

[Edev]

Last time this happened to me, I took out my multimeter, my Bentley, and checked everything I could from the pins to the ecu. It's not bad, and the troubleshooting guide will probably find a few things a miss. If everything checks out, try swapping in an ecu from a running M20 E30.

I need to get a multimeter. I've called a few people who have m20s, so I'm hoping I'll be able to use one of their ECU's.

[whiltebeitel]

Last time this happened to me, I took out my multimeter, my Bentley, and checked everything I could from the pins to the ecu. It's not bad, and the troubleshooting guide will probably find a few things a miss. If everything checks out, try swapping in an ecu from a running M20 E30.

[Edev]

Alright so I'm not getting spark. It sparked once, but then after that it didn't do it again. I saw the spark and then I put my finger on the plug while it was attached to the wire. Nothing. Can anyone chime in? I'm starting to get really frustrated with this.

[Edev]

Does that whole "spark test" thing make sense to you now? If you are using only the positive (like a screwdriver stuck in the boot) you hold it near the ground, so the spark jumps across,right?

If you are using a spark plug, the body of the plug needs to be solidly grounded, then the spark jumps across the electrode.

Yeah I'm pretty sure I got it now. I'll go give those a try.

[StereoInstaller1]

Does that whole "spark test" thing make sense to you now? If you are using only the positive (like a screwdriver stuck in the boot) you hold it near the ground, so the spark jumps across,right?

If you are using a spark plug, the body of the plug needs to be solidly grounded, then the spark jumps across the electrode.