Trouble Starting/Electrical Issues

[werdna]

Hey,

Went to start the Giulia this morning and no go. Half hour of messing around and I ended up none the wiser and late for work.

I will add I did install a car stereo yesterday. I'm assuming ive knocked something for this to happen but i'm not 100% sure.

The car runs electronic points through a crane cams electronic ignition module. I have no idea how the setup works apart from the fact a little red light comes on the unit when the car kicks over. Does anybody know if the wiring for the module runs through into the cabin?

From this mornings trouble shooting analysis I determined the following:
- Determined there was no spark after removing lead and holding nearby
- Ignition light on module not coming on
- Checked all the fuses - none blown
- The stereo works
- All other functions seem to work

When I go to turn the car on, it cranks but nothing happens in the way of combustion.

My gut feeling is that I have knocked something under the dash and that has wrecked the power to the ignition module. Or I have somehow blown the module... The other possibility is that it's a separate issue that has just co-incided with me 'working' on the car.

Any/all suggestions are welcome.

Thanks,

Andrew

n.b. Sorry about the incoherent structure and flow, i'm just stewing at work trying to diagnose...

[Cool Jesus]

The module seems to have been installed prior to you ownership. So unless you have info to contrary, assume it was professionally installed. I would at least assume the module would need to know that your turning on the ignition, so there would be run/acc wire from the ignition switch. Stereos also have this requirement so there is a good chance that a wire has been knock off. Don't be surprised it the wire has just been twisted on to, I have frustratingly found this all to often from previous moron owners.

Disconnect the stereo plug, check voltages there, check module for light on, trace the wire from module to ignition switch. It will either be direct connection or via a relay. Don't stress mate, sounds like a simple fix, I know the frustrations of diagnosis whilst at work.
Do you have a wiring diagram for the module, that would help greatly.

[werdna]

Thanks for your time Mr Jesus.
Yeah, it seems to be professionally installed. Your explanation makes a lot of sense to me. (I'm not too mechanically or electronically minded). It would explain why everything works bar the ignition module. Looks like I now have to establish which wire corresponds to the module and make sure that it is connected. I feel a LOT better, was thinking I somehow blew the thing up. (I still might have but it doesn't seem as likely after your diagnosis).

There was some interesting 'wiring' in place. Lots of twisting and old electrical tape, I guess it was all in period - the old unit was an AM radio.

Thanks again,
Andrew

[Cool Jesus]

twisting wires and then taping them up was never a standard, other than for the back yard butcher or a quick fix when your stuck in the middle of nowhere. I've been finding this crap wiring in the jeep wrangler I'm working on and its making me want to visit the previous owner to give him a piece of my mind...

If all you did was install a stereo, and your confident with your wiring, I very much doubt you've fried your module. Just go back and recheck to be sure, then trace the wiring from the module to find where tis power is source from. The Giulia, has minimal wiring and electronics as it is, so shouldn't be a difficult or huge task. Although this can be a negative for these older Alfas with undersuized wiring and currents being drawn through switches unecessarily, be thankful of this in this situation as diagnosis is simpler.

[Cool Jesus]

Just did a quick search on crane cams modules. They all seem to describe a thin red wire from the module to the ignition switch, this wire would eithere power up the module and/or tell it to get ready for a start up. They don't seem to use a relay, so I'm assuming it doesnt draw a lot of current and is in effect just a signal wire. See if you can trace this wire back to the ignition and see where and how its hooked up.

PS, this is a good spot to instal a kill micro switch under the dash on this wire???

[werdna]

Cool Jesus - I owe you a beer!
A small connection right at the back had come apart. It definitely helped that I was looking for new(er) wiring. After that it started first go.
Thanks again for all your help, I would have been searching somewhat aimlessly. I hate to think how id go in a newer car with 10x the wiring!

Andrew

[Cool Jesus]

Mate, knew it would be easy, you were already on the right path. You just need a little shepherding.  Now start installing relays to save your switches and what little wiring there is in these Bella autos. Glad I could help 

Edit; just noticed a typo in my first reply, I meant to type 'assume it wasn't professional installed'. No matter now.

[aggie57]

Great team work guys!

[ItalCarGuy]

I love a happy ending