1600 HPE Coil wires -which ones?

[ddaimlerdan]

Hi,
Bought a 1600 HPE, arrived without coil in place. I have one in place but not sure where the wires go to the coil. I have put the red one to +ve on the coil, the green one to -ve. I have no spark! The only spark I can get is when I put a spark plug into the HT lead from the top of the coil (and earth it onto engine bay) I do get a spark here when I turn ignition key back from 'run' key position (not 'start' position) - I get a single spark at plug each time. ( And a relay clicks in engine bay at the same time also)

Questions:
Should there be more than 2 wires going to coil?
If I have 2 wires in correct position then what is most likely problem considering my symptoms?
Does it matter which way ballast resistor is wired up, ie direction?
(The two loose wires in the general area are a light grey one and what looks like a thin earthing wire.)
Anyone can help with this I would be most grateful, also looking for a downloadable electrical wiring diagram for this car ie 1600 HPE (with Bosch Ignition Control module) Car is 1984 'A' reg.

I have downloaded Haynes electrical info for the Beta but it doesnt even show the Control module in it, and has 4 wires going to coil in that, the colours of which are not relevant to my car.

[A1.6HPE]

Hello ddaimlerdan,
I have the same type of HPE, but it is currently away getting the windscreen surround "sorted". So I cannot check the wiring directly. I posted a wiring diagram for the S3 Beta Coupe and HPE that I stupidly named "2000ie" - check the downloads area. It also covers the 1.6 carburettor cars and shows the Bosch module, ballast resisitor and coil on page 2.
The diagram shows red wire to + on coil that is fed from the ballast resistor which has a red and a red/black at the other end. The resistor can be connected either way. The loose grey wire is for the electric fuel pump on the ie models. The - on coil has a green wire that comes from the Bosch module. I do not recall a black earth wire near the coil and the diagram does show it. There should be a suppresor on the - conection. The main feed from ignition switch is the red wire at the resistor that shares with the red/black that is the feed to the module. Module is earthed through a black wire. The click should be the fuel cut off solenoid on the carburettor, not a relay.
The pickup in the distributor connects via green and brown wires to the module. Sorry but i don't know what sort of resistance/impedance reading you should get from the pickup.
The green/black on the module goes to the rev counter.

Hope this helps - is the coil the correct type for a ballast resistor?

Leo

[ddaimlerdan]

Hi Leo,
Thankyou for your excellent answer, it has helped an awful lot, I can exclude a lot of things as being the problem as a direct result.

Still no spark though......mainly due to the fact that I dont have the red/black wire, and the fact the downloads from Lancisti on the subject dont download (Webmaster has acknowledged this)........my frustration grows with a car that just wont start, I have tried everything I can think of....

I have new confirmed to be correct coil and new ballast, the thing I am working on at the moment is:

1) With HT lead removed from coil, and test bulb put onto -ve (and then earthed) test bulb doesnt light up, but does if I remove green wire to -ve.
On a non electronic ignition car that would mean point/condensor problem perhaps, but what about on the Bosch electronic system this car has?

Dan





Dan