Ms

[roymacavoy]

Been a good 6 months since I have touched my escort. Would love to fix this simple yet impossible ignition problem. Wondering if any solutions may have surfaced since my last post. Really dont want to wire in a full ms wiring harness. Although I have already purchased one. If I do, I will have a plug and play harness available to sell, lol.

[mx-3_4evr]

Well if you do go with the Glen's garage wiring harness, I can help. Glad you are back

[roymacavoy]

Another update....
First let me say, thank you for the support and help I have already received with this.


Tonight I took a good amount of time with the car......
I have 12v to the sparkplug wires. I followed the power from the ignition to the coil to the distributor cap and to the rotor and to the sparkplug wires. I cant check to make sure the sparkplugs are getting power through the distributor. I have checked the timing and all is good there. The only thing(s) that I can think of that is bad is the distributor and or the ignition module. I know I am beating a dead horse but its still not firing.... I have little hair left and what I do have is now grey!! help........

[Krono]

Let's just review a little here so I know where your at.

You have no spark at the plugs.

All grounds are in place and in good shape.

You changed the distributor and the igniter already.

You have 12v at the coil with key power on.

You have 12v at the distributer with key power on.

You have a good ground at the distributer.

Also, i cant recall if you checked, but if you put 12v on one side of a test light and touch the negative side of the coil, it should pulse as you crank. If it doesnt, then the problem is somewhere between the igniter and the ecu (somewhere in the harness)

Sorry if i asked questions that you already stated the answers. Just trying to see where your at exactly.

[roymacavoy]

No worries on the questions...

I have 12v to the distributor, ie the 4 wires that clip into it. 12v to the yellow/dark blue, 4.99v to the plain white one. 4.99v to the white with red stripe. The other is a ground that is grounded. The ignition module also has power and is grounded. I still dont have any spark. The coil has power as well. I have changes all the ignition components including the ecu. I dont have a test light at the moment, I will see about getting one tommorow.

[Krono]

I would do the test on the negative side of the coil. You can make a test light with a 12v automtive bulb and some wire if you have to.

If you find that the igniter isnt working, id replace it and try that. Grab one at the jy.

If replacing it doesnt work, then its in the grounds or the wiring.

If the test shows that the igniter is working when you crank it....

Do this to check your coil.

Unplug the coil wire from the distributer, put a plug in the end, strip about 2 inches off the end of a piece of wire, wrap the exposed wire around the threads of the plug then ground the other end of the wire. Then unhook the negative side of the coil. Take another piece of wire and hook it to the negative side of the coil. Take the other end of the wire and tap it on a ground. The plug should have a bright spark every time you tap it.

Then if you do have spark out of the coil, i'd replace the distributor.

Even if the igniter, coil, and distributer are new, i'd still do these tests just to narrow it down.

It might sound dumb, but if the igniter is working and the coil is good, try a new set of plugs before you throw down the coin for a distributer.

[roymacavoy]

So all your tests were done and all showed to be working. I have not tried new plugs yet but a distributor will take almost a week to get here so I will have some time to do that.

[Krono]

Well, that's a good deal. At least you narrowed it down. I'd say the dist is shot. Still try them plugs though.

You should post a wtb add in the classifieds, im sure someone on here has one you can get. Try to get the optical one if you have a choice.

[Krono]

Any word on this?

[roymacavoy]

Sorry, myself and mx-3 4ever have been redoing the wiring harness for the ms. We are just about there.

I have a few questions about the wiring of the ignitor and the coil. The ignitor has 3 wires, 2 are used by the MS and the 3rd is a ground. The MS wires (color) blue (#36) and green (#31). I have been using the wiring diagrham that photoeye used for his set up. I am wondering how is the ignition coil wired then?

http://www.wihandyman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31479&page=9

This is the information I am using. It looks like it was almost there and then he switched ignitors lol.
Also, Do I need to have a 4 wire tps or can I use a 3 wire?

Thanks!!!

[MD323]

the 3 wire is useless to the MS

forgive me but what ignitor and what coil are you using (didnt see it in the post)

if its a single coil stock ignitor it should be G/w to the MS B/o to ground and y/l to the coil neg

[roymacavoy]

I am using the stock ignitor and a aftermarket msd coil. The red oval one.

http://www.dfe.net/images/MSD8202-1sm.jpg

As far as the TBS, I need a 4 wire one.....

If what you have posted is correct? What goes to the positive side of the coil?

[MD323]

you can go without the TPS and use MAPDOT AE


the positive side of the coil should get a large guage ignition on 12v

you can source this easily from the 4 post connector right next to the factory ecu, in the factory harness its a thick blue wire.

[mx-3_4evr]

we are NOT using the stock harness. We are using glen's garage wiring harness

[roymacavoy]

The stock clips are being used. The stock harness has been removed and shrunk down to only necessities.

MAPDOT AE? I am not familiar with this. Maybe Antonio is, can you fill me in? Thanks