Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2011 10:49:08 -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 start/no spark
In-Reply-To: <CAJRLdXYJkk=XRdsg0Lhbg9bbyYzmaU60smxPAk0MEuE2ME-c-Q@mail.gmail.com>
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If you remove the 13mm nut that holds the distributor clamp to the
block, you can lift the distributor/clamp out and spin it by hand. Every
90 degree turn should cause a spark. Every 90 degree turn should make
the fuel pump relay click and fuel pump run a second. This will tell you
if the hall unit is working. Of course the key must be on.
You can actually do it just by loosening the 13mm nut most of the way
and lifting the distributor up 1/4" with the cap off, then spin the
rotor with your finger. Every 90 degrees should trigger a spark and a FP
relay click. If you want to try this method be sure to pull the cap
first and note the position the rotor points in so when you are done you
can more easily get the distributor back down fully. It is keyed to only
go one way but knowing which way it should point helps you get it into
fully seated position quickly. With the cap off you also pull the center
spark lead from the cap and hold it near engine metal to watch the
strength of the spark when you turn the rotor.
Mark
TJ Hemrick wrote:
> All,
> Is there an easy way (e.g. side of the road/limited tools) to check if
> the Hall Effect Generator is working or not. Here's the situation; I felt
> some minor hesitation the other night but only from standstill till it got
> moving. Immediately, I suspected my latest POS Advance/Discount auto parts
> fuel pump (even though the first pump was 4 months old and failed and the
> current replacement is 3 weeks old, I'm ordering a new BOSCH from our
> trusted vendors first thing Monday). Well, we got to the next light and
> the van stopped running. No restart. Ran to the back and shot some
> starting fluid in. No change. Right then and there, I thought, this is
> NOT the fuel pump (well, not completely). If it didn't start on starting
> fluid, I'm not getting any spark. Got it home (2 miles courtesy of AAA)
> and tore into it today. I got a weak and intermittent spark from the coil
> wire grounded to the transmission bolt. I pulled a plug and did the same.
> No spark. I cleaned all the contacts in the cap and tip of the rotor.
> Still, no spark. I suspected the coil or ECU. Just out of habit, I
> pulled the grounds under the coil and cleaned them (they looked good). Is
> there any way to do a field check on the Hall Effect Generator or coil.
> I'll end up bumming a ride from the neighbor to the shop to get some
> spares but trying to do it the right way.
>
> TJ
> 87 GL Auto
>
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