12V VR6 coilpack - Ignition outputs working intermetently

EMU BLACK / CLASSIC
1

I seem to have 2 issues with this EMU Black FW V3 install:

  • when ign outputs “work” I get a spark when using the output test feature but not when cranking (triggers synchronized)
  • now it’s the 2’nd time the outputs stopped working all together , even test feature doesn’t work. Last time they stopped working, I basically gave up thinking the ECU got damaged. Then out of a sudden they came back while I was testing other outputs.

I have lots of experience with other ecu brands but first time with ecu master so just want to confirm how some things work and what’s “normal”.

  1. What’s the proper coil configuration for a stock VR6 coil? It’s a dumb coil, but with built in signal amplifier. It uses 5-12V signal , coil charges while signal is high and discharges on the negative edge. Do I need pull-up resistors, or I’m fine without (i read that they put out 9V in certain configurations).
  2. Are there any known conditions that could cause outputs not to work when using the Test feature? I wired a high impedance injector to simplify troubleshooting and make sure it’s not a coil-pack related issue. All I’m playing with is trigger config and firing order. Do I need to restart the ECU, laptop?
  3. The trigger log only seems to capture a few engine rotations, it stops recording by itself. On one occasion it did record a few seconds of cranking, so is this a feature somewhere? or does it stop automatically because it sees an issue with the triggers? (I have 2 batteries and charger, cranks very fast, on the screen it shows synchronized the entire time)
2

What Coils do you use?

3

Stock VR6 coil with built in igniter.

Turns out that is just an incompatibility between what the ECU output can be configured as and what the coils need.

Its the combination of being able to supply power as well as ground and trigger on the right edge. The hardware can do it, but software configuration limits the functionality.

When it comes to logging triggers, I think it has some bugs, and it can’t be trusted. It detects the crank and cam triggers properly, but the way it displays the ignition and injection events is not consistent. In some cases the firing order doesn’t start with the first cylinder in the sequence; and when “home” is detected, it shows multiple ignition events all on top of each other.

Car starts and runs fine despite all that

4

I had some problems with this particular coil.

and removed amplifire and run it as passive. Never had a problem since.