320i Ignition Help

[Adam]

My 2002 has a 320i m10 and I’ve hit a wall with the ignition. I was given the diagram but I don’t understand it. 
I followed the 2002 wiring diagram but it doesn’t get spark so I’m changing it back.

Does anyone have experience with this? 

[conkitchen]

JUST SEEING THIS: why is the black wire from the coil going to the housing body of the distributor.  If that is truly what I see, that's a problem.  You are grounding the coils output.  

 

Have you tested the spark by simply pulling the coil wire, grounding it, and then cranking the engine? This forum is a great tool for help. It also needs input to better help.  More and simple details of what you have and what you did will get you faster results.  

 

was it running before

did you change out anything

etc....

 

At first blush you likely don't need the resistor block from 12V+ to the coil.  Voltage drop to the ignition system might be too low for the Hall Effect to work.  Also check the plug at the ECU-if you can call it that for bad connection and power.  

 

Try and connect it directly to 12V+ Ign/battery source.  

 

Those e21 distributors rotate the opposite direction of an e10 (2002) so perhaps check your firing order.  

 

 

Edited November 6, 2022 by conkitchen

[Hans]

Like he says, did it run before?

Oops, Toby says I can't respond to e21 posts.

Edited November 6, 2022 by Hans
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[Adam]

Yes I tested the spark. It was running before but I replaced the wiring harness. Not sure what “ECU” you’re talking about. I don’t have the Ignition module connected at all because I can’t figure out how.

[Hans]

Which harness? 

[Adam]

All of the wiring. It’s a kit from Johnny law motors but had to be modified quite a bit.

[conkitchen]

ECU=ignition module and on 1980+ year e21's there was also a Bosch Lamda control unit typically mounted under the dash.  

The Hall Effect distributor for the e21 system needs ignition module to be connected to work.  

[conkitchen]

Sound like Jonny law to the rescue. 

 

[Adam]

Wierd, just looked up a picture of the lamda control unit, don’t remember seeing that anywhere. Definitely would of seen it, the car is disassembled.

[Hans]

So,, to be clear, the car ran fine, you changed the harness, now it doesn't.  So either you didn't have all those control boxes, and it's a new electrical problem, or, the new harness doesn't have the wiring mods that fed them?

Edited November 6, 2022 by Hans

[Adam]

Yes the wiring job is incomplete. I need help finishing it. The wiring diagram I was given was confusing. Was just asking if anyone’s done this before and has tips/ knows what to do.

[tech71]

i just saw this on another channel🤭

46 minutes ago, Adam said:

Was just asking if anyone’s done this before and has tips/ knows what to do.

What pray tell, are you doing exactly? I dont really recall a statement issued on that.

Now is the time for you to say something like:

"I'm replacing the ---- wiring harness and going back to the cars original ignition system"

Or

"I'm replacing the ----- wiring harness and using the installed 320i ignition system"

 

 

[Adam]

Im replacing every wire. Using the installed 320i ignition only because it’s a 320i engine and don’t think it would be possible to revert it to an 02 system. Due to the distributor spinning the opposite way.

[tech71]

4 hours ago, Adam said:

I don’t have the Ignition module connected at all because I can’t figure out how.

Nothings going to work until you figure out how, pretty sure it triggers the coil.

The wires to its plug have been cut?

[Mark92131]

12 minutes ago, Adam said:

Using the installed 320i ignition only because it’s a 320i engine and don’t think it would be possible to revert it to an 02 system. Due to the distributor spinning the opposite way

 

Just need to swap out the Cam for a nice IE 292 Cam, a set of larger eccentrics, and buy and install a 123 Ignition Blue Tooth Distributor and be sooo much happier at the end result.

 

Mark92131