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Engine Electrics

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 12:04 pm
by yorkievolvo
Been going around in circles checking topics on the forum, trying to put together a 'How To' detailing getting a non-starting car to start. No success!
Has anybody got info detailing the whereabouts of the various parts of the engine electrical systems?
Photographs / drawings ( / whatever) showing locations and names would be most helpful.
Also explanations of what the various components / bits do.
My car is a 1991 turbo auto with a B18FT-107 motor.
All info welcome.

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 10:19 pm
by jifflemon
Got lots!

But define non-start a little more.

Will it crank?
Can you hear the fuel pump?
Checked for a spark?

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 1:11 pm
by brinkie
And it's got an auto box, so there's the possibility of a faulty P/N switch too (you can only start with the gear lever in park or neutral position)

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 9:02 pm
by yorkievolvo
The questions asked, and info provided, by jifflemon and Brinkie (thank you gentlemen) led to this:
Connected a spare spark plug to the distributor, put gear selector to N and turned key to 'Start'. Engine spun over but no spark.
Same actions with P selected - same results.
Smelled petrol so assume fuel feeding correctly (?).
Made a cup of tea and checked Mr. Haynes notes. Persuaded that a visit to the local Volvo expert was in order.
Busy tomorrow so will arrange for Tuesday.
To be continued.

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:49 am
by Alan 480
yorkievolvo wrote:
Sun Sep 08, 2019 9:02 pm
The questions asked, and info provided, by jifflemon and Brinkie (thank you gentlemen) led to this:
Connected a spare spark plug to the distributor, put gear selector to N and turned key to 'Start'. Engine spun over but no spark.
Same actions with P selected - same results.
Smelled petrol so assume fuel feeding correctly (?).
Made a cup of tea and checked Mr. Haynes notes. Persuaded that a visit to the local Volvo expert was in order.
Busy tomorrow so will arrange for Tuesday.
To be continued.
but if the 'inhibitor' switch is faulty this could be the problem, not sure if it is on the box or on the gear lever?
find switch and 'jumper-it'
that would be my first port of call :wink:

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 2:54 pm
by jamescarruthers
Auto inhibitor stops the starter motor engaging

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 7:57 pm
by jifflemon
lets start with some basics:

Image

now when you tested for a spark, did you test from the king lead, or a spark plug end? either way....
Image

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 4:14 pm
by yorkievolvo
Sorry, jifflemon, I didn't make it clear. It's a B18FT engine with Bosch EZ210K ignition.
The car's in the garage, has been started but ran for only a few seconds.
These bits have been requested:
full set of ignition leads (inc from coil to distributor),
ignition coil,
distributor cap,
flywheel sensor.
Going to post on 'Wanted'.
Thanks everybody.

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 11:42 am
by Alan 480
jamescarruthers wrote:
Mon Sep 09, 2019 2:54 pm
Auto inhibitor stops the starter motor engaging
technically correct as the inhibit switch is in the feed to the solenoid :wink:

located on top of gear box for future reference :-0

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 2:42 pm
by yorkievolvo
Update.
Latest from garage reckons problem narrowed down to ' amplifier for the coil pack'.
I can't find that term in the Parts book, although there are a couple of 'control units' in the ignition circuit.
Does 'ampli...' mean anything to anybody?
Has anybody got a spare one for sale?

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 3:00 pm
by jamescarruthers
Hopefully someone who is more in to Turbos than me (well I'm in to them but I just don't have one anymore!). 

I think the coil (big canister thing) is quite expensive on those cars (like £100 compared to the N/A car's very cheap item shared with many other cars). The ignition module looks like it is available separately here:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/c/909634208‎

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 9:29 pm
by Robou
Some odd misinformation here.
The turbo has just a cheap standard coil for transistorized ignition. The coil connects to 12V at ignition on. A small module, holding two transistors, is connected to the other spade on the coil and connects/disconnects to ground. The latter action causes a spark.
This module, call it an amplifier, is managed by a small signal from a transistor in the EZ210K.
A strange way of error finding by exchanging every part of the ignition system as far as it is visible. Maybe that's why the rotor isn't on the list. But just exchanging parts till the culprit is found seems common practice nowadays.

The process can easily be checked with a multimeter. The only way to blow the module is to directly connect it to 12V.

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 3:52 pm
by jamescarruthers
Isn't this type in N/A car's much cheaper:
Image

than this type on Turbo cars?:
Image

That's all I'm saying really

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 8:57 pm
by Robou
Is this a reaction on my post or did you just have the urge to say something?

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 4:42 am
by jamescarruthers
I have an urge to say something

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2019 6:20 pm
by yorkievolvo
Update.
Ref. my post of the 16thSEP.
... problem narrowed down to ' amplifier for the coil pack'.
Has anybody got a spare one for sale?
Still looking for this 'amplifier'.
New: electrician added: 4-pin type required.

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2019 6:54 pm
by Alan 480
yorkievolvo wrote:
Mon Oct 07, 2019 6:20 pm
Update.
Ref. my post of the 16thSEP.
... problem narrowed down to ' amplifier for the coil pack'.
Has anybody got a spare one for sale?
Still looking for this 'amplifier'.
New: electrician added: 4-pin type required.
given what Robou has stated, can you not search 'tinternet' for the Bosch part number?

My SS1 runs a 'standardish' coil and has an 'amplifier-module' clagged onto the dizzy ,
in effect FOUR wires, and chassis
12V,
TWO from pick-up inside dizzy,
to low tension side of coil
earth, via the body of the amplifier

and it comes in two flavours, LUCAS & Bosch, depending on which dizzy .. . .
altough the amplifier on mine is now mounted on inner wing for easy access as it got an intermittant fault (AKA a bad connection)

try this link , can't go far wrong for < £5 . . . . .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-440K-4 ... SwzWldi1od

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 1:31 pm
by yorkievolvo
Thanks Alan 480.
Ordered the item and should receive it by Friday.
On the road Saturday - hopefully.

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2019 8:38 pm
by yorkievolvo
The saga continues.
The 'amplifier'(for the coil) didn't work so now the garage want a coil.
The Parts Catalogue says P/No.3460220-1 - does anybody disagree?
Here we go to e-bay, once more!

Re: Engine Electrics

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2019 11:03 pm
by yorkievolvo
Update
Trawled through e-bay. P/No. results NIL.
Coil results - many but with technical wordage added, e.g. 3amp ballast.
Reading Roubou's comment leads me to think that any 12v coil could be used with the amplifier.
Any comments?