metalman said:
Do ya think that's what Gerrard is talking about?
And if you can educate me- What is the SPOUT signal?
Metalman
If the connector has two yellow-light green wires (on a 92, at least) and a small plug that shorts these two wires, then it is the SPOUT Check Connector. I don't know why the wiring diagrams refer to it as the Tach Check Connector as it is not the tach signal.
Here's what the manual says about the DIS:
The DIS consists of the following components:
* Crankshaft timing sensor
* Camshaft sensor
* DIS ignition module
* Ignition coil pack
* The spark angle portion of EEC-IV module
* Related wiring
The crankshaft timing sensor signal is called PIP (profile ignition pick-up). The PIP signal provides base timing and RPM information to the DIS module and the EEC-IV module. Base timing is set at 10 degrees BTDC and is not adjustable.
The camshaft sensor provides cylinder identification (CID) information. The DIS ignition uses CID for coil fire sequencing and is also used by the EEC-IV for fuel synchronization.
The DIS ignition module receives the PIP signal from the crankshaft sensor, the CID signal from the camshaft sensor, and SPOUT (spark out) signal from the EEC-IV module. During normal operation, PIP is sent to the EEC-IV module from the crankshaft timing sensor and provides base timing and RPM information. The CID signal provides the DIS ignition module with the information required to synchronize the ignition coils so that they are fired in the proper sequence. The SPOUT signal contains the optimum spark timing and dwell time information. The spark angle is determined by the rising edge of SPOUT, while the falling edge of SPOUT controls the coil current "ON" or "DWELL" time. The dwell time is controlled or varied by varying the duty cycle of the SPOUT signal. This feature is called CCD (Computer Controlled Dwell). With the proper inputs of PIP, CID and SPOUT the DIS ignition module turns the ignition coils on and off in the proper sequence for spark control.
The Ignition Diagnostic Monitor (IDM) is a function of the DIS module. The DIS module sends information on system failures to the EEC-IV, which stores the information for diagnostic self tests. The IDM signal is also used to drive the vehicle instrument tachometer and/or test tachometer for diagnosis.
The ignition coil pack contains three separate ignition coils which are controlled by the DIS module through three coil leads. Each ignition coil fires two spark plugs simultaneously; one plug on the compression stroke and one on the exhaust stroke. The spark plug fired on the exhaust stroke uses very little of the ignition coil's stored energy. The majority of the energy is used by the spark plug on the compression stroke. Since these two spark plugs are connected in series, the firing voltage of one plug will be negative with respect to ground, while the voltage of the other will be positive with respect to ground.
Failure Mode Effects Management: During some DIS system faults, the failure mode effects management (FMEM) portion of the DIS ignition module will maintain vehicle operation. If the DIS module does not receive the SPOUT input, it will automatically turn the ignition coils on and off using the PIP signal. However, this condition will result in fixed spark timing (10 degrees BTDC) and fixed dwell timing (no CCD). If the DIS module does not receive the CID input during engine cranking, random coil synchronization will be attempted by the module. Therefore, several attempts (cycling the ignition switch from OFF to START) may be required to start the engine. If the DIS module loses CID input while engine is running, the module will remember the proper firing sequence and continue to fire to maintain engine operation.