Date:         Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:07:21 -0700
Reply-To:     mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: No Spark and Buzzing Relay 2.1 / Redux
Comments: To: Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <c803c1a70910280739p7dbc9d9fp4b913faf2a87cfc@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I'm sure it is a simple problem but that doesn't mean it will be easy to
track down by emails. Calling it a 2.1 isn't enough. There are at least
3 major versions of the FI wiring inside that relay box for 2.1 models.

The relay on the left is the ECU power relay. Assuming this is an 1990
that ECU relay is different part than the FP relay next to it. Most 2.1
use 2 of the FP type relay but not the later years.

There are a lot of things that need to work to make spark. You can try
the parts swap approach if you have enough spares but parts swapping
often fail because more often it is a wiring fault. Better to use a volt
meter and determine if it is a wiring issue.

As a shot in the dark, clean and tighten the brown wire grounds where
they bolt to the body near the ignition coil.

Mark



Jeff Lincoln wrote:
> Sorry to post this again but I didn't get any responses at all and I'm still
> stumped. So here we are a re-post :)
>
> As I said earlier I finally have everything back togehter after an engine
> transplant.
>
> My problem is that I seem to have no spark. This was tested by connecting
> the wiring that goes to the distributor to a spare distrubutor I have - then
> removing the coil wire from the distributor cap and connecting it to a spark
> plug. Turn the key on - and give that spare distributor a spin by hand. No
> Spark - However, one of the relays in the plastic box above the coil Buzzes
> loudly when I do this. It continues to buzz until I turn the key off - there
> are two realys in there and it is the one to the left (when looking at the
> engine from the back of the van).
>
> This relay will buzz when everything is hooked up properly and I try to turn
> the engine over as well - it doesn't buzz everytime though.
>
> So any ideas?????? Is the relay bad? Do I have soemthing hooked up wrong?
>
> I've gone back over everything and can't see where anything is unhooked or
> connected to the wrong place.
>
> --
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
> '90 Carat (Grover)
> '86 (We call this one Parts)
> '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus
>