Re: [AMC-list] The big tow of shame

[Bruce Griffis <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx>]

I pulled the coil and got it tested. It tested at 9 volts. Pertronix
guy said I needed 8 volts to fire. It's less than 12, but has
something. Resistance was bad (I guess - there were 2 tests, volts was
okay but ow, the other test was out of spec).

I picked up an MSD coil and installed it. Still no spark at the plugs.
So - distributor cap (I don't think so, at least SOME plugs should
fire), rotor, lead between the distributor and the coil, or the
pertronix ignition.

Since a rotor is cheap and should be an in-stock item, I may replace
it for kicks and grins. I'll swap out the cable between the coil and
the distributor as well. If that doesn't do the trick, then I know
where the problem is!

(wish I wasn't so ham-handed setting points, I have a spare new-in-box
set of points and a good condensor, but I stripped the threads in the
breaker-plate again. That would definately prove where the problem is)

Anyway - I should be closer to an answer tomorrow.

On 4/27/09, tom jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Sun, Apr 26, 2009 at 14:43, Bruce Griffis <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>
>> Well, I put a voltage tester on the post that leads from the coil to
>> the distributor and had voltage.
>
>
> Did you use a lamp type tester, or a volt meter?
>
> Tom - you mentioned taking a plug wire and seeing if there was spark.
>> Is that the place to start? Or how do I make sure I'm getting juice to
>> the distributor? I'd like to rule out the lines between the coil and
>> the distributor first, then maybe the rotor (that would effect every
>> cylinder).
>>
>
> If you really wanna get rigorous -- put a voltmeter -- not a test light --
> on coil "+" then ground coil "-" with a piece of wire. The volt meter should
> read 12V (plus or minus 1V).
>
> If that's OK, pull the coil wire, hold it 1/16" from the block or fender,
> intermittently ground coil "-". It oughta spark.
>
>
> If you don't have a volt meter, you can do a pretty good test with just a
> length of wire --
>
> * Pull coil wire off distributor.
> * Hold it 1/16" from block, etc.
> * Ignition on.
> * Ground coil "-" on and off.
> * Should see FAT spark at coil wire.
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