SKANDIX - Your quality choice in VOLVO and SAAB car parts

IMPORTANT
Please read the complete instructions carefully before starting the installation. If not all steps are clear, please contact a qualified mechanic. Please always remember: SAFETY FIRST!

Step 1: Finding the static ignition point
Memorize the connector of cylinder 1 on the old distributor. Remove the old cap und rotate the engine in running direction until the rotor points to the memorized position (connector cylinder 1).
Now carefully rotate the engine further to the position: static set degrees before TDC (see workshop maual). Now the engine is set to the static ignition point needed by the 123 ignition (in other words: the engine is near the end of the compression stroke of cylinder 1). Make notes regarding the ignition sequence as well as the ignition cable routing.
 

Step 2: Old one out, new one in
Now it´s time to check if the correct ignition curve is setup at your 132ignition. Remove the plug (allen wrench wrench size 5mm) at the side (see picture below) of the distributor housing. Under it you will find a switch, offerring 16 positions from "0" to "F". Compare the setup to the table in the technical details at the end of this instruction. Change it if necessary using an appropriate tool. Put the plug back in place.
Disconnect the ignition cable from the coil (terminal 4 / middle). Now put the distributor cap aside. Disconnect the thin wire between distributor and ignition coil (terminal 1 or "-") from the coil. Remove the screw holding the distributor in place and pull it out of the engine.
Remove the cap from the 123ignition and install it to the engine. Therefore turn the rotor until the drive snaps in place and the new distributor is perfectly fitted. Turn the housing of the 123 ignition into a suitable position making it easy to connect the wires und vacuum hose.
If necessary you can turn the drive on the distrubutor shaft to obtain a more suitable position of the rotor. Therefore carefully pull the 123ignition out of the engine and remove the retainer spring holding the drive. Use a punch to remove the pin. Now you can put the drive back in place in a position fulfilling your needs and fix it again.

Step 3: Adjusting the static ignition of the 123ignition
Connect the red wire of the 123ignition to the current switched by the ignition lock (terminal 15 or 54). Standard ignition coils (3 terminals) have a "+" or "15" marked terminal. In cars with armoured ignition coil this connection has to be routed from the main electrical hub (see schematics). Do not connect the black cable for now. Switch the ignition on. If you can see an LED shining through one the 4 or 6 holes in the aluminium disc, turn the housing of the 123ignition in rotation direction until the LED goes off. Now turn back the housing against rotation direction until you can barely see the green LED light up. While turning the housing push the rotor to the same direction to eliminate any play in the drive. Fix the 123ignition using the screw at the bottom of the distributor. Take care it sits well because this is the ground connection. Switch off the ignition.

Step 4: Finish the wiring
Connect the black cable to the "-" terminal (terminal 1) of the ignition coil according to the schematic on page 1 (not for P1800! For this model see the drawing "Specialty rev counter of P1800, P1800E, P1800ES" in this document).
Connect the spark wires to the cap of the 123ignition according to the correct ignition sequence. Start with cylinder 1 (where the rotor points). For an injection engine connect hte white and yellow wire to the terminals 1 & 3 (or 3 &1) of the Bosch connector but ignore the terminal in the middle. Connect the spark wire from the coil to the cap of the 123ignition (terminal 4). Install the cap on the distributor. Route the black and red wire with maximum distance to the high voltage wires using cable straps or other suitable material. Connect the vacuum hose to the 123ignition. In older models with a steel vacuum pipe it has to be replaced by a rubber vacuum hose.  

Step 5: Starting the engine and test drive
Now you can start the engine. If the work of the previous steps has been done exactly, your ignition should be set up precisely enough for a test run. To optimize the ignition timing, the final adjustment can be made with a stroboscopic lamp (see dynamic ignition adjustment in your workshop manual). Remove the vaccum hose during final adjustment. Enjoy the advantages of your 123ignition.

Tips:
Never disconnect wires while the engine is running. This should never be done with electronic high-tech systems like the 123ignition. The sparks are much stronger now due to the 123ignition, use spark wires of good quality. The resistance of primary winding of the ignition coil may not be less than 1 Ohm. Compensated silicon spark wires are the best choice. Distrust old ignition coils, they all look the same but you can not see if they have ever been overheated before. Buy a new high performance coil with your 123ignition and you can be sure it will not overheat. Replace rotor and cap of your 123ignition every 30 tkm.
Replacement products are:
cap for 123ignition 4-cylinder: Skandix 1027433
cap for 123ignition 6-cylinder: Skandix 1027436
rotor for 123ignition: Skandix 1027434

Technical specifications

• operating voltage: 4,0 to 15,0 Volt, negative ground!
• speed range: 500 to 8.000 rpm
• temperature range: -30° to 95° Celsius
• ignition coil: standard oder high performance, resistance of primary wind not less than 1 Ohm
• vacuum advance: like original distributor
• dwell-angle: micro processor controlled
• current break: after app. 1 Sekunde. While engine is not running the power supply to the ignition coil is interrupted to avoid overheating.
• Spark balance: software controlled, better than 0,5° crank shaft
• connectors: red = +6 or +12 Volt black = negative connection to ignition coil

relay circuit to be used with armoured ignition coils wihtout P1800
30 battery +
31 battery -
50 starter from ignition lock
54 switched current from ignition lock (switched off during engine start, that´s why we need this relay circuit)
1 ignition coil - & rpm signal
4 spark wire from coil (middle) 

Specialty rev counter of P1800, P1800E, P1800ES
relay circuit for 13ignition for armoured coil (P1800 Jensen, P1800S)

30 battery +
31 battery -
50 starter from ignition lock
54 switched current from ignition lock (switched off during engine start, that´s why we need this relay circuit)
1 ignition coil - & rpm signal
4 spark wire from coil (middle)

ATTENTION! Information for cars with standard ignition coil (P1800E, P1800ES): In the P1800 the black wire from the distributor is not connected directly to the ground terminal 1 of the ignition coil. Rather it has to be connected to the white wire from the cabin. In the P1800 the connection from distributor to ignition coil is routed through the rev counter.