Need some serious help with no spark!!
nate_j
09-07-2006, 10:23 PM
Please give me some help everybody, because I am lost with this problem! Here's the scoop:
I was driving my 91 Tsi Talon at normal rpm's, at normal operating temperature, but was low on gas. All of the sudden the car completely shuts down, so I pull over assuming that I ran out of gas (even though I had gotten that low before and had never run out). Adding fuel did nothing, as the engine didn't even appear to be fireing by the sound of it. This is what I have tried since then:
I first assumed it was the fuel pump, so I checked for a humming sound when turning the key to ON as the manual suggests, but I heard nothing. I pulled the fuel pump and powered it directly and it ran fine, although very quiet, so maybe thats why I didn't hear it. After replacing the pump, I loosened the banjo fitting on the fuel filter to check for pressure and fuel came shooting out, suggesting the pump is fine. I then checked all my plugs for spark by pulling and grounding them individually, and none of them were sparking. At this point I don't think its the fuel system, but it also seems unlikely that the coil or ignition power transistor went bad considering they control 2 cylinders at a time, but I checked them anyway. My coil checks fine according to the manual, but the power transistor failed part of the test. My roomate happens to have a 91 Tsi Talon as well (in good working order) and he is nice enough to let me "borrow" parts to check them in my car. I replaced it with my friend's power transistor, which did nothing. I also tried his coil, as well as both of them together and still no spark at all.
I then thought it may be the ECM, which gave no error code but more importantly gave no dead signal. So just because it was easy, I swapped the ECM with my friends car and still no spark. Where do I go from here!!! If I could get any advice or suggestions on this problem, I would really appreciate it!
Nate
I was driving my 91 Tsi Talon at normal rpm's, at normal operating temperature, but was low on gas. All of the sudden the car completely shuts down, so I pull over assuming that I ran out of gas (even though I had gotten that low before and had never run out). Adding fuel did nothing, as the engine didn't even appear to be fireing by the sound of it. This is what I have tried since then:
I first assumed it was the fuel pump, so I checked for a humming sound when turning the key to ON as the manual suggests, but I heard nothing. I pulled the fuel pump and powered it directly and it ran fine, although very quiet, so maybe thats why I didn't hear it. After replacing the pump, I loosened the banjo fitting on the fuel filter to check for pressure and fuel came shooting out, suggesting the pump is fine. I then checked all my plugs for spark by pulling and grounding them individually, and none of them were sparking. At this point I don't think its the fuel system, but it also seems unlikely that the coil or ignition power transistor went bad considering they control 2 cylinders at a time, but I checked them anyway. My coil checks fine according to the manual, but the power transistor failed part of the test. My roomate happens to have a 91 Tsi Talon as well (in good working order) and he is nice enough to let me "borrow" parts to check them in my car. I replaced it with my friend's power transistor, which did nothing. I also tried his coil, as well as both of them together and still no spark at all.
I then thought it may be the ECM, which gave no error code but more importantly gave no dead signal. So just because it was easy, I swapped the ECM with my friends car and still no spark. Where do I go from here!!! If I could get any advice or suggestions on this problem, I would really appreciate it!
Nate
blk_srt
09-08-2006, 12:33 AM
Have you checked for shorted wires?
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