I know, there is a Megasquirt forum for this question, but it's hardly traveled as well as this one, and my problem may well not be a Megasquirt problem as it is a Ford V8 problem.
I'm running a MS2+extra, running direct spark control (no EDIS) on a 4.6 DOHC Modular Ford ('97 Lincoln Continental) sitting in the back seat of an Escort. Best I can figure, there is no reason this thing shouldn't run, but it doesn't. Not for more than 10 seconds anyway. Every now and then it will act like it is kinda starting and run making noise on 5-6 cylinders for a few seconds and then die. After which it won't even attempt to hit on starting. Looking at the tooth logger, it seems to be receiving and interpreting good signal off the crank- it shows tall line four distinct lumps and another tall line, rather consistently. It has fuel pressure. Verified that injector and spark outputs are firing on the bench. I've replaced the ignition coils that didn't seem to be sparking. This engine ran fine in the donor car it was removed from with the factory ECU. Obviously works kinda sometimes, which makes me think I have to be close to success, but really racking my brain as to what isn't right, and changing all kinds of settings not seemingly getting any closer, maybe getting further away.
I have tried starting it on starting fluid, which does not seem to do anything except shoot vacuum plugs across the garage when it backfires through the intake, which it only does some times, 2/3 times it does nothing at all, or will hit once or twice turning over... Leading me to suspect a spark or timing issue. With a timing light hooked up, my light only lights up occasionally when cranking. Not sure if it's weak/no spark or my timing light is just that crappy. I have verified that the MS2 is pulling those lines to ground on a bench, and verified that it is pulling the lines to ground installed in the car with the stim plugged in.
There are a few assumptions I have made based on what I have found on the internet where everything is true, if anyone can help verify these assumptions, that could be very helpful:
1997 Lincoln Continental 4.6 32V V8 - Stock VR sensor and trigger wheel settings: 36-1 tooth, missing tooth is 50 degrees prior from Cyl 1 TDC (yes?) Firing order 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8, 4 spark outputs running wasted spark, A:1&6, B:3&5 C:7&4, D:2&8, already verified that plugs are connected to the right cylinders.
I have left all of the MS default tune settings alone as far as the spark and fuel maps, including the default ignition basic settings regarding dwell and whatnot. These settings worked well enough on my Zetec (which I think is the same or very similar coil)
Have tried both alternating and batch fire on the injectors, seemingly no different results, though I thought this was a long shot at solving the prob.
Any help troubleshooting greatly appreciated!
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