Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: No Start After Converting to Pertronix

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Tacoma, WA USA
    Posts
    3,437
    My Cars
    '78 320is 83 320i R.I.P.

    No Start After Converting to Pertronix

    Well I got the car back from the shop on Monday. They did the smoke test and fixed a couple vacuum leaks at the valve cover, and timing cover. The brake booster was leaking too so I got another booster and had it rebuilt by the company in San Jose who specializes in doing so. After I got the car home, I installed that booster but sadly the engine was still searching for an idle. I'm taking it in to another shop to have an gas analyzer test and get the FD dialed in right. So before I did that I thought I'd swap in the Pertronix module and coil. Now the car won't start. First few times I got one brief, quick fire but no start. Now I get crank but nothing hinting at firing up. When I put the Bosch red coil on following the rebuild, I had to install a ceramic ballast. I removed that according to the instructions and connected those two wires together, also as mentioned in the instructions. There is no longer a condenser so that plug is no longer going anywhere. What am I missing here?

    Oh SNAP!!! German Engineering is IN DA HAUS YAH!!!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    District Nine
    Posts
    17,984
    My Cars
    sold 78 BMW 320i
    It's easy to forget this, but - Is the rotor installed and engaged in it's slot?

    When the OE ballast wire was bypassed during retrofit with a ceramic ballast, did you bypass the entire length of ballast wire? (it's 3 feet long)
    Last edited by epmedia; 08-10-2018 at 01:23 AM.
    Tbd

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Tacoma, WA USA
    Posts
    3,437
    My Cars
    '78 320is 83 320i R.I.P.
    Quote Originally Posted by epmedia View Post
    It's easy to forget this, but - Is the rotor installed and engaged in it's slot?

    When the OE ballast wire was bypassed during retrofit with a ceramic ballast, did you bypass the entire length of ballast wire? (it's 3 feet long)
    Yup, the rotor is in properly. I didn't soldier the wires together yet from the ballast. I merely slide the two female spade connectors into each other and then slightly crimped them to give them a tight union. That should be enough to test with I'm sure.

    Oh SNAP!!! German Engineering is IN DA HAUS YAH!!!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Hauser, ID
    Posts
    146
    My Cars
    '72 2002
    The wire that hooked to the condenser needs to be attached to coil negative. That is also your tach signal wire.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Tacoma, WA USA
    Posts
    3,437
    My Cars
    '78 320is 83 320i R.I.P.
    I believe that it is Mike. I'll have to double-check. I just meant that there female connector mid-wire is no longer plugged into anything. As I was just thinking however, should I have needed to drastically change the gap in my plugs???

    Oh SNAP!!! German Engineering is IN DA HAUS YAH!!!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    District Nine
    Posts
    17,984
    My Cars
    sold 78 BMW 320i
    Quote Originally Posted by Bimmerknut View Post
    Yup, the rotor is in properly. I didn't soldier the wires together yet from the ballast. I merely slide the two female spade connectors into each other and then slightly crimped them to give them a tight union. That should be enough to test with I'm sure.
    Yes, that should be fine for test purposes. make sure the wire connection at the start/run bus is good too..

    Quote Originally Posted by Bimmerknut View Post
    I believe that it is Mike. I'll have to double-check. I just meant that there female connector mid-wire is no longer plugged into anything. As I was just thinking however, should I have needed to drastically change the gap in my plugs???
    Wish I knew for sure, but it should run good with the OE plug gaps. I would not experiment with bigger gaps until after it's been driven for awhile.

    Remove the fuel pump fuse and check for sparks from the coil, them check for sparks at the plugs. Remove all plugs before testing for best results.
    Tbd

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    gainesville,fl.
    Posts
    2,643
    My Cars
    1977 320i
    Quote Originally Posted by Mike2002 View Post
    The wire that hooked to the condenser needs to be attached to coil negative. That is also your tach signal wire.
    I converted, but I used the cheapo model. Two things:

    1)There is a wire that doesn't get used anymore, so it just lays there (I guess it went on the condenser). If that one isn't taped up it touches the head and completely shuts the car off (even if it isn't directly touching-it sort of seeks the nearest ground). This might be the wire which is quoted above. Mine is not connected, but my tach works. I'll need to take a pic if there's some confusion; might take a day or so.

    2) The magnet! Mine came with 2 sizes. I had stupidly bought a used pertronix setup for a 2002. It didn't fit, but I got the "flamethrower" coil, and the magnet that came with it was the only one that worked. This was because the magnet has to sit just right. It's been a while and I forget just how, but I know the HOT-SPARK would have never worked if I didn't figure this all out myself.

    None of this is probably helpful, sorry.


  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Tacoma, WA USA
    Posts
    3,437
    My Cars
    '78 320is 83 320i R.I.P.
    Quote Originally Posted by dups View Post
    I converted, but I used the cheapo model. Two things:

    1)There is a wire that doesn't get used anymore, so it just lays there (I guess it went on the condenser). If that one isn't taped up it touches the head and completely shuts the car off (even if it isn't directly touching-it sort of seeks the nearest ground). This might be the wire which is quoted above. Mine is not connected, but my tach works. I'll need to take a pic if there's some confusion; might take a day or so.

    2) The magnet! Mine came with 2 sizes. I had stupidly bought a used pertronix setup for a 2002. It didn't fit, but I got the "flamethrower" coil, and the magnet that came with it was the only one that worked. This was because the magnet has to sit just right. It's been a while and I forget just how, but I know the HOT-SPARK would have never worked if I didn't figure this all out myself.

    None of this is probably helpful, sorry.
    It's okay. You probably had Weedies for breakfast bro! LOL! I've been busy so hopefully tomorrow I can delve into it and figure it out.
    Thanks buddy!

    Oh SNAP!!! German Engineering is IN DA HAUS YAH!!!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    gainesville,fl.
    Posts
    2,643
    My Cars
    1977 320i
    Quote Originally Posted by Bimmerknut View Post
    It's okay. You probably had Weedies for breakfast bro! LOL! I've been busy so hopefully tomorrow I can delve into it and figure it out.
    Thanks buddy!
    LOL @ Weedies! No, I don't even drink...anymore.


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Tacoma, WA USA
    Posts
    3,437
    My Cars
    '78 320is 83 320i R.I.P.
    It was all meant tongue in cheek my friend! Been a long week. I slept in today. Going to throw some ribs in the smoker and settle into seeing what I can do with this no-start issue. Not even sure when I'm going to start but gotta start somewhere.

    Oh SNAP!!! German Engineering is IN DA HAUS YAH!!!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Tacoma, WA USA
    Posts
    3,437
    My Cars
    '78 320is 83 320i R.I.P.
    Quote Originally Posted by dups View Post
    I converted, but I used the cheapo model. Two things:

    1)There is a wire that doesn't get used anymore, so it just lays there (I guess it went on the condenser). If that one isn't taped up it touches the head and completely shuts the car off (even if it isn't directly touching-it sort of seeks the nearest ground). This might be the wire which is quoted above. Mine is not connected, but my tach works. I'll need to take a pic if there's some confusion; might take a day or so.

    2) The magnet! Mine came with 2 sizes. I had stupidly bought a used pertronix setup for a 2002. It didn't fit, but I got the "flamethrower" coil, and the magnet that came with it was the only one that worked. This was because the magnet has to sit just right. It's been a while and I forget just how, but I know the HOT-SPARK would have never worked if I didn't figure this all out myself.

    None of this is probably helpful, sorry.
    Ok Dups! It's done and running again. The Red wire and Black wire are from the module. The Orange wire is a replacement for the OEM green wire going to the positive side of the coil. The other Black wire is the tach wire and goes to the negative side of the coil. There is a pink connector at the top at about 12 O'clock. That wire went to the ceramic ballast that I added when I switched to a Bosch Red coil a few years ago. I'm just going to tape and tuck it back somewhere as it doesn't seem to effect anything.

    Now I'm going to work on the wiring to figure out why my tail lights come on when the ignition is on. I do not have the turn signals or headlights plugged in yet.

    39142082_10155998100648192_8842030476282560512_n.jpg

    Oh SNAP!!! German Engineering is IN DA HAUS YAH!!!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    gainesville,fl.
    Posts
    2,643
    My Cars
    1977 320i
    Oh, you got the flamethrower, too. Rockin'!

    No worries, my whole life is tongue and cheek. I'm just glad you got it going.

    When I did mine, I timed it also. They say, "Do it then, and you'll never have to do it again." Or something cheeky like that.

    What are you doing with your degree? I haven't been on here for a while; pretty much since I started grad school. However, the e21 is being put to daily use. I think this is 5 years now, and I've only ever had the one real problem-the starter. My kids don't like riding in it, though. We got a 2003 Grand Caravan, but it keeps breaking down. No real surprise there.

    Good luck with the tail lights.


  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Tacoma, WA USA
    Posts
    3,437
    My Cars
    '78 320is 83 320i R.I.P.
    Thanks buddy! What would be magical is if I got the turn signals and headlamps plugged in and my tail lights worked as they should. Even the brake lights don't work and everything worked before. My guess is the harness is grounding out where it goes through the shifter access hole.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    District Nine
    Posts
    17,984
    My Cars
    sold 78 BMW 320i
    Glad you figured out the wiring, BK. Can you tell the difference in power?
    Tbd

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Tacoma, WA USA
    Posts
    3,437
    My Cars
    '78 320is 83 320i R.I.P.
    Quote Originally Posted by epmedia View Post
    Glad you figured out the wiring, BK. Can you tell the difference in power?
    I'll know better after I get it back from having the FD dialed in. At the moment the idle still seems irratic to me. My mechanic said he got all the vacuum leaks except the brake booster and I just put the rebuilt one in. I checked the timing and I don't think it can look better than this, do you??? (I painted the timing notches on the flywheel when I put it all back together.

    Timing Marks.jpg

    Oh SNAP!!! German Engineering is IN DA HAUS YAH!!!

Similar Threads

  1. My 318is converted 325 won't start after new harness.
    By Wsmcke in forum 1983 - 1991 (E30)
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 04-14-2013, 05:08 PM
  2. Help!! Car wont start after returning from Body shop
    By PDX///M in forum General BMW Mechanical Help sponsored by RM European Auto Parts
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 06-16-2008, 09:38 PM
  3. Car won't start after being stored..
    By Titanium98m3 in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 01-13-2003, 04:11 AM
  4. car won't start after brake light circuit fix
    By dmw in forum General BMW Mechanical Help sponsored by RM European Auto Parts
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10-20-2002, 02:29 PM
  5. car won't start after brake light circuit fix
    By dmw in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10-20-2002, 02:28 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •