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Posted by jyotin on February 04, 2003 at 20:11:12:

In Reply to: Posted by on February 01, 2003 at 23:25:50:

To test the coil. Crank the engine 'till the points are open. Disconnect the high voltage wire from the center of the distributor cap and hold the end near a good ground -- leave an 1/8 - 1/4 inch or so space betewen ground and the wire tip.
Take a screwdriver or wire and short the points to ground. Each time you short the wire to ground, you should get a spark from the coil wire that you are holding near some good ground.

Incindently, this is a way to test if your wires are leaking. If you get shocked when your are doing this, the coil/spark plug wires should be replaced. Not to worry, the shock won't kill you or anything, it will just let you know in no uncertain terms that it is leaking. If your jeep starts OK in wet weather (or used to seart OK) then the wires are likely not leaking.

If you get a spark, then the coil is good. If you do not get a spark, then the coil MAY be bad. To get a final determination in the case where there is no spark, measure the voltage at the "+" side of the coil with the ignition switch on and the points open -- should read 6 or 12 volts. If not, then you have no electricity to the coil. If you do not have a volt meter, you should be able to rig a light bulb that you could use to test the "+" side of the coil. Assuming that you have electricity, then disconnect the wire from the coil to the points. Try the shorting of the "-" side of the points to ground as above and see if you get a spark. No spark your coil is shot.

Coils don't go bad all that often, so I think it will test OK.

A bad condensor will result in highly (obvious) pitted points -- one side will look like a stalactite and the other will have a gouge in it. I've only had a condensor to go bad once, and it was very clear that the points were being eaten alive.

Points could be shorted to ground. I've done this before, and if the points are shorted to ground then you will get no spark.. In fact, this is a low budget way to keep someone from starting your jeep. Beg borrow or steal an Ohmmeter. Withe the points open and with the wire disconnected from the "-" side of the coil, measure the resistance from each side of the points to ground. One side should be a dead short, the other side should have no continuity to ground at all (an open).

No spark is a common problem with a vehicle that has not been run for a while.

good luck

Jyotin

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: To test the coil. Crank the engine 'till the points are open. Disconnect the high voltage wire from the center of the distributor cap and hold the end near a good ground -- leave an 1/8 - 1/4 inch or so space betewen ground and the wire tip. : Take a screwdriver or wire and short the points to ground. Each time you short the wire to ground, you should get a spark from the coil wire that you are holding near some good ground. : Incindently, this is a way to test if your wires are leaking. If you get shocked when your are doing this, the coil/spark plug wires should be replaced. Not to worry, the shock won't kill you or anything, it will just let you know in no uncertain terms that it is leaking. If your jeep starts OK in wet weather (or used to seart OK) then the wires are likely not leaking. : If you get a spark, then the coil is good. If you do not get a spark, then the coil MAY be bad. To get a final determination in the case where there is no spark, measure the voltage at the "+" side of the coil with the ignition switch on and the points open -- should read 6 or 12 volts. If not, then you have no electricity to the coil. If you do not have a volt meter, you should be able to rig a light bulb that you could use to test the "+" side of the coil. Assuming that you have electricity, then disconnect the wire from the coil to the points. Try the shorting of the "-" side of the points to ground as above and see if you get a spark. No spark your coil is shot. : Coils don't go bad all that often, so I think it will test OK. : A bad condensor will result in highly (obvious) pitted points -- one side will look like a stalactite and the other will have a gouge in it. I've only had a condensor to go bad once, and it was very clear that the points were being eaten alive. : Points could be shorted to ground. I've done this before, and if the points are shorted to ground then you will get no spark.. In fact, this is a low budget way to keep someone from starting your jeep. Beg borrow or steal an Ohmmeter. Withe the points open and with the wire disconnected from the "-" side of the coil, measure the resistance from each side of the points to ground. One side should be a dead short, the other side should have no continuity to ground at all (an open). : No spark is a common problem with a vehicle that has not been run for a while. : good luck : Jyotin

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