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Re: [alfa] Re: NEW DATA! 164LS Challenge - taming of the shrew round two



The best way is to hook up a voltmeter (preferably on the power lead to the 
ECU) and observe during cranking. This is one case where an old fashioned 
needle type analog meter is more useful - you can watch the motion of the 
needle. Some digital meters sample at such a slow rate that you can not see 
dynamic drops.

Gwynne Spencer

At 01:53 PM 6/16/2004 +0000, you wrote:
>I also put in a brand new battery.  The voltage should be fine, but I can 
>check it while chranking.  The ignition switch seems unlikely since I have 
>no other electrical issues during starting, etc.  I suppose I can by-pass 
>it or check all of the connectors though.
>
>--
>Jason Hagen
>Chicago, IL
>'73 Spider
>'95 164Q
>
>
> > At 1:42 PM +0000 6/15/04, alfa-digest wrote:
> > >Here's what I haven't changed:
> > >- - Ignition coil control packs
> > >- - Ignition coils (but since car runs perfect when running, this
> > >seems remote possibility.
> > >- - Actually swap out AFM (air flow meter)
> > >- - Ignition switch (though this appears fine based on other tests)
> >
> > I've heard of this problem before, and never thought about it too
> > hard.  But now my parents want a 164LS or Q, so I suppose I should
> > start thinking about things like coil-on-plug ignitions.  Yikes.
> > Without knowing what exactly the ignition control packs are
> > responsible for, I'd say they might be responsible.  I also have to
> > wonder if a coil or coils is/are drawing too much current in certain
> > situations.  Likewise, if there's too big a voltage drop across a
> > (failing) ignition switch, injectors, coils, coil control packs,
> > and/or the ECU might not be seeing enough voltage to work properly.
> > What tests have you done to conclude that the ignition switch is
> > working fine?  In the fusebox, is there a difference in voltage
> > between an always-on circuit and an ignition-switched circuit?
> > What's the battery voltage when the starter is cranking, within the
> > first second of cranking, and after ~5 seconds?  I've heard of this
> > (and inexplicable stalling) happening on enough 24V cars that I'm
> > tempted to think it might just be a stupid software glitch, but Karl
> > Chen's recent discovery of the toasted ignition switch connector
> > gives me hope that some of these glitches might have to do with bad
> > ignition switches and/or associated wiring.  (Karl, having resolved
> > the fried connector, have you confirmed that that was the problem,
> > and not just a symptom of all the current going through a failing
> > ignition switch?)
> >
> > -Joe
> > --
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