MC tweaks

[Dan Cordon]

I've actually designed something that does this, though I haven't tried
it on any audis. It basically replaces the distributor cap and rotor.
Instead of switching the path of the high tension (voltage) lines, it
does the same for the coil signal line. You feed in the coil trigger
from the ECU to the center, then distribute that signal to 5 other
coils. It was relatively simple to make....used a small brass roller on
the rotor part which contacted a plate with (4 in my case) 5 wide
contacts (with small gaps between them) that were connected to the
respective coils. This way, the ECU is still controlling the spark
timing, but you get the advantages of the coil-on-plug setup.

All said, it worked great on my Honda, but I've since gone to AEM
programmable ECU where I have 4 coil outputs. I personally like the new
system better just because the electronic solution is much slicker than
my mechanical one. But as a ME, not an EE, I had to work with what I
know :o)

Chances are that in most cases this system would be more trouble than
it's worth. Coil-on-plug is great, but all that custom work would cost
the customer a ton. I'm sure there's way better improvements for the $$.

> Mihnea, I don't think so, currently the 3B ECU just fires one coil, it does
> not have the capacity to fire 3 different coils, so some kind of control unit
> would have to intercept the 3B ECU coil driver outputs, interpolate it, and
> then fire 5 seperate drivers, one to each coil.  This isn't probably worth the
> effort since I'm not aware of any such unit on the market.
>
> Javad
>
> In a message dated 12/4/2003 12:45:30 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> mik at info.fundp.ac.be writes:
> Totally agreed with you Javad!
>
> Just one question, I know DIS is great and that's why I've upgraded my 3B
> to RS2 ECU and coil packs but would you mind sharing some thoughts on the
> feasibility of converting a 3B to coil packs but retaining the original ECU
> in there with the same ignition control duties? Would there be any way to
> convert the HT signals into low tension ones to drive 5 coils?
>
> Thanks for your thoughts,
>
> mihnea
>
--
Dan Cordon
Mechanical Engineer - Engine Research Facility
University of Idaho