TESTING A STAND ALONE IGNITION COIL

grumpyvette

Administrator
Staff member
"A SIMPLE QUICK CHECK FOR YOUR COIL IS
:CHECK YOUVE GOT 12 VOLTS, AT THE COIL, PUT A TEST LIGHT TO GROUND AND THE NEG SIDE OF COIL AND CRANK ENGINE THE TEST LIGHT SHOULD FLASH OR FLICKER.(ANALOG METERS WITH A SWINGING NEEDLE,SWEEP ARE BETTER THAN DIGITAL)
THIS WILL TELL IF YOUR TRIGGER IS WORKING.
NEXT TAKE A SPARK PLUG AND HOOK IT TO YOUR COIL WIRE AND GROUND THE PLUG,BODY AND CHECK FOR SPARK THERE ACCROSS THE PLUG GAP,WHEN YOU CRANK THE CARS ENGINE, BE AWARE MANY IGNITIONS WON,T HAVE VOLTAGE UNTILL YOU HAVE 4-5 PSI OF OIL PRESSURE, GAP THE TEST SPARK PLUG AT .150, SPARK SHOULD BE BRIGHT BLUE,IF ITS YELLOW OR RED, CHECK ENGINE GROUNDS FIRST, THEN START LOOKING FOR OTHER PROBLEMS, CHECK BETWEEN THE TWO SMALL TERMINALS YOU SHOULD SEE A FEW OHMS RESISTANCE, CHECK BETWEEN EACH OF THE SMALL SIDE TERMINALS TO THE COIL WIRE YOU SHOULD SEE SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF OHMS RESISTANCE minimum

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/ignition-system3.htm

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/aa062902b.htm

http://autorepair.about.com/od/troubleshooting/ss/coil-test-ohm.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_2321232_test-ignition-coil-car.html

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4809570_tr ... butor.html

and yes THE BETTER multi spark control boxes are well worth the expense as they tend to stop or make plug fouling significantly lower

http://www.msdignition.com/page.aspx?id=4209

http://www.msdignition.com/page.aspx?id=3206

http://www.msdignition.com/page.aspx?id=9765


viewtopic.php?f=70&t=232&p=277#p277
 
HEY GRUMPYVETTE?
"
Bad plug wires?
Is there any way to check each wire other than to swap the whole set?"


thats what one of things the OHMS setting on your v.o.m. meter, can be used for, good plug wire will read between 45-100 ohms per foot ,the ohms readings vary a great deal between manufacturers and different types of ignition wire so get a new section of similar wire about 2.5 feet long and use that to gauge a reasonable resistance reading on your meter, if your over 500 ohms you've usually got a defective plug wire and don,t forget to visually check for loose connections and burn marks,and to check the coil and its connections and its wire to the distributor.
one old trick is to open your cars hood on a dark night or in a closed garage with low light conditions, and briefly start the engine while you, look for arcing while moving the ignition wires slightly.


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