Hey guys, I'm stumped.  I've got an 88.5 with a 90 EFI set up in it and only 64k on the rig.  Due to several reasons, I parked it over a year ago.  When I parked it, it ran well, but a little rich.  Now I can't get it to start. 

It has a new red top battery, the electric fuel pump is running and I get a good stream when I loosen the fuel line directly below the fuel injection.  It will not start with starting fluid.  I have power to the coil with the key "on".  I tested the coil with a multi-tester and I got 1.3 ohms with the primary test.  When I did the secondary test, I got 12k.  Everything is in spec.

I swapped out the ECM with another one that is known to be good.  Both ECMs are the same number.  I changed all four plugs, cap and rotor.  I verified that the plug wires are run properly.  I have no spark when I ground out a plug on the block.

I'm guessing the next step might be the ignitor.  Why would an ignitor go bad by sitting? 

Anyone have any thoughts or ideas?

Thanks for any help!!

Hey guys, I'm stumped.  I've got an 88.5 with a 90 EFI set up in it and only 64k on the rig.  Due to several reasons, I parked it over a year ago.  When I parked it, it ran well, but a little rich.  Now I can't get it to start. 

It has a new red top battery, the electric fuel pump is running and I get a good stream when I loosen the fuel line directly below the fuel injection.  It will not start with starting fluid.  I have power to the coil with the key "on".  I tested the coil with a multi-tester and I got 1.3 ohms with the primary test.  When I did the secondary test, I got 12k.  Everything is in spec.

I swapped out the ECM with another one that is known to be good.  Both ECMs are the same number.  I changed all four plugs, cap and rotor.  I verified that the plug wires are run properly.  I have no spark when I ground out a plug on the block.

I'm guessing the next step might be the ignitor.  Why would an ignitor go bad by sitting? 

Anyone have any thoughts or ideas?

Thanks for any help!!

Check for spark by pulling a plug, re-hooking up the wire, and then laying it next to the block so the outside of it grounds. Crank engine and look for a spark. (You probably already know how to do this, I'm just typing it out just in case)... Spark yes/no will help diagnose.

-Eric

I grounded the plug and have no spark.

I grounded the plug and have no spark.

Is your distributor's rotor turning when you crank the engine?

-Eric

did you check all the fuses in the box? there is one fuse that will stop the coil.

I did check all the fuses.  Which one stops the coil?

I redid all of my grounds yesterday.  I put in longer wires and a brand new ground from the dist housing.  All of the grounds go to one of two bolts on the body.  I also have the main battery ground going to those two bolts.  I used crimp connectors and heat shrink tubing.  While I had the wiring harness open, I replaced all of the old factory splices.  There are several splices where a third wire is crimped on and covered with blue tape in the engine compartment.  I replaced those with heat shrink and crimps as well. 

After all that, I turned the key.  Nuthin different.  Nada.

I do have power to the coil as I stated before.  The coil tests out fine for resitance.

I didn't have anyone to help me check to see if the dist is turning yesterday.  I will start there and try grounding the main coil wire, but I won't have a chance until Tuesday at the earliest. 

Thanks for all the help!!

Assuming this is a Samurai...

If it is not blowing fuses, then you have an open situation somewhere in the ignition system.

Normally - or at least for me and a few others, the problem is a short in the ignitor which is located in the distributor.  The way to troubleshoot a short is to unplug everything from the ignition circuit, install a fuse and add thing back until the fuse blows again.

In your case, I would use a multimeter set to DC voltage and measure along the ignition circuit until you find no voltage.

Go to Ack's FAQ (see signature, below) and do a search for diagram to get a copy of Dice's Colored wiring diagram.  This will get you a complete Samurai diagram. Then do a search for samurai supplement to get the .pdf-format FSM supplement for tbi-equipped Samurai engines ('90-'92).  This document should contain the tbi wiring diagrams not found in the Samurai diagram.

Hopefully, the previous owner didn't replace entires sections of the harness with different-colored wires...

I hope that this helps!