spark plugs firing only when the starter motor is turning?

[chan]

hi there, just discovered an electrical fault with my sj 410. i put the engine back in a few weeks ago and it was running absoulty fine. i went to start it up the other day and i turned the key to start it and it fired up but as soon as i let go of the key it died and kept doing the same thing.

its as if its only sparking when the start motor is turning.. if i hold the key in the start position i can rev it but as soon as the key clicks back it dies.


anyone had this problem before?

is it a lose ignition wire?

[carnut]

hi fella,,
it sounds like your ignition swicth is knackerd. check none of the wires have come of the back,
whats happening, is your losing live feed.
andy

[ScottieJ]

Yeah the main live from the ignition is the problem, check that all wiring in the engine bay is as it should be as well.

[Tramp]

It may be a break in the ballast resitor, my friends 410 had a mod on it where the ballast resistor was shorted out whilt the engine started, and then was used again, afterwards. It was just a relay double up to the power for the starter motor solenoid,

Other than that it could be the ignition, new ones can be picked up cheap enough, i had to fit a new one to my sj, there are 2 types so make sure you get the right one, the tamper proof bolts that hold the casting an are easy to remove with pliers (then i replaced them with proper allen cap bolts) and there is just a plug and socket to plug them into the loom. if you have a multimeter, you should be able to test if the new switch works, as one cable is the feed in, then the other 3 cables should be continuous a the switch goes through different positions (off, accessories, engine running, start

Luke

[chan]

thanks very much guys. i know when i picked the car up you could take the key out while it was running but i thought it was just the key because it looks more like a lolly stick than a key

however there is a wire hanging out the 4 pin plug so i will join that up quickly and see if she goes!

thanks

[Angie]

We have been discussing this at college. sounds like ballast resistor

[chan]

i fixed the wire and still no joy. where is the ballast resistor?
the white thing on the coil?

[carnut]

YEP..

[chan]

cheers mate i will try it i think i have a spare somewhere

and there only a few quid on ebay

[chan]

ballast resistor is fine and working so it narrows down to the ignition barrel or the ignition live shorting out somewhere because i got a spark from the fuse board.

i am going to tow my zuk up to the yard and compare the wiring to my mates zuk and see if i can spot any differences between them.. i might just have to make an igniton barrel with a 4 way switch for now as funds are non existent!

does anyone know what colour wire is the ignition live is and where it goes? or am going to have to look at the wiring diagram in the haynes manual :(

thanks