GSXftw
10+ Year Contributor
- 381
- 78
- Dec 16, 2009
-
Medford,
Oregon
So I've had an ongoing problem on my car for quite some time now. First was I noticed I was overworking my stock ignition system what seemed like pretty early, about 26 psi on HX40 pro/E85 the trusty .024 BPR7ES started not being enough. Went to non protruding plugs, ARC2 CDI box, went to a .018 gap, was able to run 30psi occasionally, but the spark just went downhill from there. Went from not being able to do pulls, to not being able to drive at all! In a matter of weeks anything over idle and the spark gets drowned out.
Another condition I noticed was some of the dash lights started to go dim. I have no doubt they are related, as the driveability got worse the lights just got dimmer.
Here is where we are at today
I have tried another coil pack, igniter, no CDI box, all the same. I show good voltage at the "gauges" fuse, and although the dash light goes out when its pulled, the car still runs so doesn't seem to be the common factor.
I Tested/bypassed ignition switch, no change. The MPI relay checks out good. Not really suspecting a component since the lights are so dim at the exact same time, and they are that way all the time, even KOEO. Suspected a ground but I have checked/cleaned every underhood ground point. Have beefed up with 0ga the battery to body, firewall to intake 8ga, 96a relocated Saturn alternator with upgraded charge wires, the exhaust to body strap is in place, ECU grounds 101/106 are upgraded. The only ground I haven't tested is the one in the upper right dash area that requires the dash out, which I may look into doing if its worth it.
I do seem to see low voltage on the yellow wires going into the CDI which would normally plug into the coil. Are there any electric gurus that can tell me where I should look? I've been staring at diagrams looking for something, tried very hard to help myself here and am just stuck.
Thank you for any help
Another condition I noticed was some of the dash lights started to go dim. I have no doubt they are related, as the driveability got worse the lights just got dimmer.
Here is where we are at today
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I have tried another coil pack, igniter, no CDI box, all the same. I show good voltage at the "gauges" fuse, and although the dash light goes out when its pulled, the car still runs so doesn't seem to be the common factor.
I Tested/bypassed ignition switch, no change. The MPI relay checks out good. Not really suspecting a component since the lights are so dim at the exact same time, and they are that way all the time, even KOEO. Suspected a ground but I have checked/cleaned every underhood ground point. Have beefed up with 0ga the battery to body, firewall to intake 8ga, 96a relocated Saturn alternator with upgraded charge wires, the exhaust to body strap is in place, ECU grounds 101/106 are upgraded. The only ground I haven't tested is the one in the upper right dash area that requires the dash out, which I may look into doing if its worth it.
I do seem to see low voltage on the yellow wires going into the CDI which would normally plug into the coil. Are there any electric gurus that can tell me where I should look? I've been staring at diagrams looking for something, tried very hard to help myself here and am just stuck.
Thank you for any help
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