e8 timing issues
 

I restabbed my CAS as per the FSM. I opened the top of it to make sure it is correct and it is. My settings are as follows
Trigger Angle: 65 +/- 3
Tooth Offset: 10 or 11 (start with 10)
Split Value: 15
Lock Timing: -5
Internal Reluctor (tirgger and home)
Falling Edge (trigger and home)
Gain and Filter (trigger and home) to 1 and 1
Spark Mode: Distributor
Constant Charge (for leading and trailing)
Falling Edge (for leading and trailing)
Charge Time (4-4.5mS)
Spark Brake Time (default) 600 is fine

I can not get the thing to run no matter what i do. ive triple checked my wiring. i live alone so i dont have someone to help me set the timing or i would have done it with my timing light. Is there any other way to roughly set the timing without starting the engine? Could you do it by looking at the values in the trigger diagnostic window when the crank pulley is aligned at -5btdc?

btw, any preferences on a brand of timing light. mine is on the fritz and works about 50% of the time :/

thanks

You can rig yourself a remote start trigger (or just go buy one). Put a female spade terminal in a 12g wire and hook it to the trigger post on the starter solenoid. Then you can touch that to 12V+ to crank the engine with one hand while holding the timing light with the other. Once the engine is cranking shoot the pulley with the timing light to see if you're close. If you're within 10* or so it should start fairly easy. Once it's started you'll get a better strobe to work with and you'll be able to dial in the timing.

I've had bad luck with a string of timing lights. I just ponied up for a Ferret 84 which comes highly recommended. I always ended up in the same boat with timing lights working half-assed after a couple years. I'm guessing dropping the pickup every so often doesn't help. :(

On my E8 I need the Pre-gain Filter Group at 2 for both the trigger filter level and the Home filter level in order to have spark. This is in the Trigger setup

Here is my set up.

My Tooth offset is 11
Constant Charge Time 4.5
Spark Break 600

Spark mode: Direct Fire
Ignition Spark Edge: Falling
Trailing Spark Edge: Falling
Dwell Mode: Constant Charge
Trailing Dwell Mode: Constant charge

+100000000 trillion on the remote start button.. they are cheap... you can crank the motor over with one hand and adjust the CAS with the other hand

ok i just checked with 2 different timing guns, im not getting spark. the coils have power.
my wiring has been 3x checked and is as follows. i traced the wires back to the ecu pin so i am sure they are correct.
E8 Using Stock Ignition System:

Wiring:
Ignition Output 1 (light green) to Leading Coils (Pink)
Ignition Output 2 (white/black) to Trailing Coils (Pink)
Ignition Output 3 (green/black) to Ignition Toggle (white)

Mazda CAS - E8 Trigger Harness
Red -------> Yellow
Green ------> Green
White -----> Blue
White/Blk-----> Blue
(Red = 12V+ not used)

i stabbed teh cas by fsm. i checked the inside of it to make sure it looked like how it should be according to hitman.

ive tried filters ranging from 0-2 and gains from 1-4 for the trigger and home. im honestly not sure what hte hell is going on. is the signal put out by the coils to weak for the timing gun to detect under cranking? i used 2 types of guns, 1 had a loop i connected around the plug wire and the other i connected inline with the plug wire.

Random question, what should the values in the trigger diagnostic be when the yellow pulley mark is aligned wiht the pin?

Thanks in advance for your help

lee

Tossed in an old set of plugs and the car started right up.

Now i have more problems...joy.
The engine is shaking quite a bit when it is idling and when i give it some gas. Also i can not get it to idle worht a crap. Any ideas on what i should check. thanks