Still having problems with my M3

[rallyman1984]

Right,
Changed the Crank Sensor, and the two pulse sensors. But now car wont start at all (as of tonight) No Spark at all.

The Coil is seeing 12V in and 12V out, however there seems to be no spark/power coming out of the HT Lead, neither when ignition on, nor when cranked over. The cap and rotor arm look like new, but seems to be the coil at fault at the moment. ??

But, changed it with 3 other coils (Not BM ones i have to admit) and none of them seem to give any output. Surely all Three Coils i have lying about cant be knackered.

Really REALLY getting sick of it all now.

E30 M3.

[gareth]

12V in and 12V out...? you've lost me there. are you getting 12V on both terminals on the coil?

[rallyman1984]

Sorry Gareth.

Yes, I meant 12V on both Terminals.

Seem to be getting no output on HT Lead tho ?? Like I say, tried 3 different coils, all the same, surely all three cant be knackered. Going to borrow a "known Good" one tomorrow off my friends Golf.

[gareth]

maybe i'm being really daft (+ tired and drunk!!!) but i thought the positive terminal on the coil should be connected to the distributor trigger (points in old money!!!) and the negative terminal earthed...

where are you measuring the 12V between?

[rallyman1984]

Voltmeter, Terminal on + side of coil reads 12V, and terminal on - Side of coil also reads 12V (with ignition on)
E.g Putting red (+) wire off Voltmeter on the coil wire (which ever side) and the Black wire off the Voltmeter (-) onto a good earth (e.g Strut bolt)

[Brianmoooore]

Voltmeter, Terminal on + side of coil reads 12V, and terminal on - Side of coil also reads 12V (with ignition on)
E.g Putting red (+) wire off Voltmeter on the coil wire (which ever side) and the Black wire off the Voltmeter (-) onto a good earth (e.g Strut bolt)

Perfectly normal. That's what I would expect to find.
If you go putting any old ignition coil on your car you stand a good chance of frying the ECU.
Gareth - please don't touch the electrics on your car! Ever.

[rallyman1984]

Well, they arent "any old coil" they are all similar coils, similar resistance etc... but still none of them seem to be giving out anything.

[nadz325i]

has the car ever started? is it intermitent? if so check water in the ECU.

common fault, water/moisture builds up in the ecu and causes this to happen.

[rallyman1984]

I'll check today Nadz.

The car was intermittent. Now just wont start at all.

Is there anyone i can get to read/check my ecu ???? auto electricial type person ?

[gareth]

Gareth - please don't touch the electrics on your car! Ever.

to be fair, this is actually an area i've never had a fault with and have only ever assumed it works like that. please forgive my drunken assumptions! i'm not all that bad really at car electrics!

hides head in shame.............