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Incidently, I blew my 60amp fuse the other week when fitting my windscreen. I just accidently 'brushed' back of my fuse box with a spanner and it blew without any fuss or drama. The moral of the story is always disconnect the battery when working on the car but we all know that!!
1) Should the feed to the ignition switch (The large red cable, Terminal 30?) be connected through the fuesable link? I don't think it does, as it's not shown going through a fuse before the switch on the diagrams. I'm assuming it just needs to be connected to the cut-off switch.
2) I've been looking at the wiring diagrams for the ignition switch, and I've come to the conclusion that I have a franken-car. All the diagrams I've seen (Bently, Haynes & downloaded BMW from E30 Zone) mention the 4 main connections on the switch - Red from battery to the switch (30), Black to starter (50) and the two green cables which are on terminals R & B (one of which goes to the coil - where does the other go to?)
The thing is I have four more cables on the switch - from terminals PR1, PR2, PL1 & PL2. I haven't found out what these are for yet... They're small cross section, so they're not taking a lot of load... The only thing I've come up with is they're something to do with the on-board computer my donor had.
I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that I can't read wiring diagrams!
Well, at least I fathomed one thing out correctly and got the starter and ignition switch wired up to the right terminals. I got the engine to crank tonight - so I did put the engine and starter motor back together correctly.
Not quite as momentous as starting her up, but at least I could check the compression on the cylinders. Which seem to be spot on. Huzzah!
I think my cut off switch may turn out to be more of curse than a blessing. I've wired it up as per the instructions, and get nothing from the bottom terminals. The main chunky terminals are fine - it's just the lower spades that don't seem to be doing anything. I ended up bypassing it to check the cranking.
Well, at least I fathomed one thing out correctly and got the starter and ignition switch wired up to the right terminals. I got the engine to crank tonight - so I did put the engine and starter motor back together correctly.
Not quite as momentous as starting her up, but at least I could check the compression on the cylinders. Which seem to be spot on. Huzzah!
I think my cut off switch may turn out to be more of curse than a blessing. I've wired it up as per the instructions, and get nothing from the bottom terminals. The main chunky terminals are fine - it's just the lower spades that don't seem to be doing anything. I ended up bypassing it to check the cranking.
You'll have that baby running again soon
I didn't use a cut off switch so can't help on that one,
I think my cut off switch may turn out to be more of curse than a blessing. I've wired it up as per the instructions, and get nothing from the bottom terminals. The main chunky terminals are fine - it's just the lower spades that don't seem to be doing anything. I ended up bypassing it to check the cranking.
On the cut-out switches I have seen the smaller terminals are used just to earth the alterrnator via a chunky resistor to stop it going overvoltage should someone operate the cut-out switch when the engine is running. Is yours different?
Robin
PS - if you haven't already got one an automotive multimeter - or even a bulb fitted with some flying leads and croc clips - is pretty essential to debug the wiring. Even if you do know what you are doing!
My cut off switch has 4 spade terminals on the bottom - one pair of which do exactly what you describe. The others are supposed to be connected to the ignition switch and the coil, but when the switch is on, I don't seem to get power across them.
I have a multi meter. It's been very useful so far.
2) I've been looking at the wiring diagrams for the ignition switch, and I've come to the conclusion that I have a franken-car. All the diagrams I've seen (Bently, Haynes & downloaded BMW from E30 Zone) mention the 4 main connections on the switch - Red from battery to the switch (30), Black to starter (50) and the two green cables which are on terminals R & B (one of which goes to the coil - where does the other go to?)
The thing is I have four more cables on the switch - from terminals PR1, PR2, PL1 & PL2. I haven't found out what these are for yet... They're small cross section, so they're not taking a lot of load... The only thing I've come up with is they're something to do with the on-board computer my donor had.
I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that I can't read wiring diagrams!
I can't help for the ignition switch as I re-used the BMW loom and fusebox - I certainly have those wires but they disappear off into the loom and do I know not what (and don't care as long as everything works). Could they be something to do with the un-loader circuit (which you won't need if you are not using the BMW fusebox)
Have you looked at the wiring diagrams on [url]www.diakom.ru[/url]. I have a complete set for 1989 vintage if they will help (In pdf format) I think they are taken from the BMW workshop manuals and are more complete than those I have found anywhere else.
Well, I've completed all the running electrics, and rigged up temp connections from the oil pressure and ign. warning lights.
It turns over, and the fuel pumps clatter away. I believe I can also here the injectors clacking...
All it needs now is a little application of unleaded, and fingers crossed, she should start! :-)
I've also ordered my instruments - I plumped for a matched set from ETB, as they seem to be cheaper then anywhere else, and are SVA OK out of the box (unlike the ones I wanted to get from Europa)
100mm Speedo and Rev Counter, 52mm Oil Pressure, Water Temp, Fuel & Volt Meter. Didn't bother with a clock, as time will mean nothing when I'm driving.
They should take a week to arrive - I'll post some pics when they do.
Awesome. I think you might need a (better) silencer for the SVA though ;-)
I checked out the ETB web site you suggested (for instruments). They are certainly cheaper than Green Gauges and I like the no nonsense advice they give (on the website) as well. Just as well I have been pontificating about ordering from Green Gauges. You may well have saved me some money! (Make the wife happy anyway...)
Excellent! Glad to be of service. Just don't tell the wife... The savings will only get converted into shoes...
I think the Speedo works out to be more expensive than the GG one, but everything else is so much cheaper it more than cancels it out. (by my calcs the whole set with senders is over £200 cheaper!)
The chap I spoke to on the phone when I ordered seemed very pleasant, and genuinely seemed interested in what I was building. He also confirmed that the speedo will work with the E30 diff sender, so that's another cost removed.
Their lead time seems a whole lot shorter as well.
Jason
It is brilliant when you strike an engine up for the first time - well done. I still get a tingle of excitement run down my neck even by other builders videos, and remember gettting an old J2 Comma van engine running in the middle of my Dad's work shop 35 years ago when I was 13 or 14 years old. I used a milk churn for the radiator with pipes dangled loose in to it and a milk bottle for the petrol tank!! Great fun. And well done again for getting it to start first time - no wrong wires, missed earths etc - very impressive.
As Rob says, I think the silencer will need a bit of work??!!
Mike
Thanks Mike - and thanks to everyone else's congrats. I'm still on a high from the first fire-up, especially as that was the first engine I've ever rebuilt.
The advice I've gotten from you lot has been invaluable. Cheers!
I've also ordered my instruments - I plumped for a matched set from ETB, as they seem to be cheaper then anywhere else, and are SVA OK out of the box (unlike the ones I wanted to get from Europa)
They should take a week to arrive - I'll post some pics when they do.
Hi Jason
Did your instruments arrive yet? I would be interested in seeing some pictures and your opinion of them if they have?
