coil or hall sender?

[Paulgo]

I'm about to replace to the distributor after vagcom threw up a hall sender fault code on my 3b. The car is turning over but wont fire and the injectors arent pulsing. Fuel is getting to the rail tho.

Talking to a local mechanic and he suggested I check the coil as this can often be the problem, even tho a hall sender fault code has been thrown up.

Anyone come across this before - is it possible? Obviously replacing the coil is whole lot easier than the dizzy!!

cheers

Paul

[Nj]

take the dizzy out and check the gear on the end. I had a nightmare a long time ago and turned out the plastic gear had shattered. change whole dizzy or just put a metal gear on the end.
If you haven't had the dizzy out yet there's a cap of metal that sits over the bolt that releases it. You can get a BIG flat blade screwdriver through the gaps in the inlet manifold and batter it with a hammer to get it off. it's a tamper proof plate.
anyway, that's what gave me my hall sender error because the gear wasn't turning properly the hall sender wasn't matching up with the timing.

good luck

[Knight Rider S4]

Hi Paul

As Noel says

I would first visually check to see if the rotor arm is turning when getting cranked over

Other thing would do is check wiring to the dizzy for the hall sender as I had to replace mine as kinked round and snap off a wire

Cheers

Steve

[Nj]

ah yes. checking the rotor arm would be smarter than taking the dizzy out
there are 2 brown wires with O rings that earth to the inlet manifold if I remember right? Steve, is that right or am I making that up? If I remember right they could be a potential source of trouble.

[Paulgo]

Thanks for the replies guys. I will check those earth points as I had something very simialr with my old 80, which turned out to be the earth strap.

My Money is still on the dizzy tho and I have wanted to change it for some time as I know there's damage to the gear from the rattle on revving (well when it did rev!!) - and I've got a dizzy with a metal gear to go in.

I have a spare coil in my dad's garage (got a feeling its off a 7a but I think they're the same) so I can check it with that when I can manage to get hold of it. I also makes sense to check that the dizzy is turning - getting the cap off is probably easier than getting it back on again!

cheers

Paul

[Smiley]

On the ABY there's an additional earth at the back of the head, near the downpipe. 3b - don't know.

[Paulgo]

Got the dizzy cap off - and the rotor arm isnt turning when the car is cranking over. I assume this confirms that its the dizzy thats dead

[Nj]

yes. that means the gear has disintegrated matey. The good news is you know what it is now
tamper plate off, new dizzy in and off you go again

[Paulgo]

Cheers mate. Think I will have to get the IM off tho. Access is just about non existent and I’m not sure what the tamper plate is like – cant even see it at the mo! Read a few posts about knocking it off with a long handled screwdriver and a hammer, even a chisel! So should be fun!!

But at least it confirms what the problem is – and it is a job Ive been meaning to do for long time!

Bit unsure of how easy getting the timing all lined up and spot on will be - but there’s only one way to find out!!

[hub]

the ignition distributor is the same between a 7A and 3B engine??

[Nj]

here's the diary of my pain when I had to do the same (without removing the IM)

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21711

[Paulgo]

cheers mate - spotted these as part of my reseach and some really good info in there! Think I will still go for the IM removal, now I've got my head around it - always meant to get in there and clean the thing up, so nows my chance - still a bit daunting tho!!

[Nj]

That seems to be the right approach mate. My thread should really be titled "how not to..."

[Paulgo]

Been there and go that badge!

[Jonas_R]

I would remove IM, makes it so much easier changing the Dizzy. IMO not that big of a job removing the IM.