Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (September 2004, week 2)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Tue, 14 Sep 2004 19:11:23 -0400
Reply-To:     "Daniel L. Katz" <katzd54@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Daniel L. Katz" <katzd54@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: testing the ignition coil (85 1.9L)

On Tue, 14 Sep 2004 13:19:17 -0500, Aerowolf <aerowolf@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

>Thanks for the help! > >Would it work to just ground the old plug's side electrode, instead of >knocking the electrode off entirely? YES That way, the gap could be kept >at the 0.028" to 0.031" that the book recommends? Or should the gap >be a bit wider than the normal plugs to test for actual coil voltage? > >(I went a bit overboard and bought a battery ground cable to ground >the engine to the body under the ignition relay panel -- the old strap >that had been there wasn't there, and I wanted to ensure I had a good >ground. so I'm pretty sure that grounding isn't an issue here.) > >In the event that the + and - both show a steady voltage, which other >parts might I have to worry about? How difficult is it to replace a >Hall Effect Generator inside the distributor, if it comes to it? (or >should I just give up and buy a new distributor, since that's a lot >easier to install than rebuilding an old one?) How could I verify >that it's that, and not the ignition control unit? WORRY ABOUT THIS IF AND WHEN THE TIME COMES. > >Also, here's a part of my lack of training showing through: On the >crankshaft, if the timing mark is at TDC, does that mean that the #1 >cylinder is at TDC? YES, BUT NOT NECESSARILY 0 DEG - CHECK THAT ROTOR IS POINTED AT #1 TERMINAL ON DISTRIBUTOR. Or does it have a multiplier such that it could >be one of 2 or 4 cylinders at TDC? In the latter case, how would I >tell when it's on #1? (please forgive my ignorance here -- I'm asking >because if I have to replace the distributor, I need it to be at TDC >cylinder 1.) > >-Kyle > >On Mon, 13 Sep 2004 19:26:51 -0400, Daniel L. Katz <katzd54@yahoo.com> wrote: >> kyle: >> >> a bad coil is truly rare. >> >> first get an old spark plug and break off the side electrode to make a >> tester. then pull off one spark plug wire at the plug and insert tester, >> with the center electrode a few mm from a convenient ground (engine or >> body). have an assistant crank and look for a spark. if no spark, pull off >> coil wire at distributor and again crank and look for a spark a few mm to >> ground. if no spark, and assuming coil wire is ok, then go on to the coil. >> your test light should have a wire with an allegator clip, which you clip >> to any clean unpainted ground (body or engine) to complete the circuit. >> with an assistant cranking, test light should turn on more or less steady >> when touching coil (+); if not, no voltage at coil (+), which has nothing >> to do with the coil. assuming voltage at coil (+), light should flicker >> when touching coil (-) while cranking; if no light, coil primary is open >> (bad coil); if steady light, other ignition parts at fault. while >> cranking, voltage at coil (-) normally spikes to about -300 V, which will >> really bite if you close the circuit with your body. if tests at coil +/- >> check out ok, then, since no spark, coil secondary probably shorted (bad >> coil). >> >> it is hard on ignition module to make spark jump more than a few mm, or >> worse, leave high tension side open, so either re-attach plug and coil >> wires or ground them once you've tested for a spark. >> >> it is possible to have spark voltage on coil wire but no spark at plug >> because of moisture inside cap. >> >> this is pretty brief, but outlines what to do to test coil without a >> meter. >> >> as i said, almost all coil replacements are unnecessary - due to a >> mistaken diagnosis, or just plain wrong guessing. >> >> dan >> >> >> >> On Mon, 13 Sep 2004 09:40:54 -0500, Aerowolf <aerowolf@GMAIL.COM> wrote: >> >> >Heya, in my continued travails of getting Morgan running again (it >> >lost spark on the highway), I have found that people seem to suggest >> >that there's only a few pieces that can fail, with the coil being the >> >most likely. One of my friends has suggested that putting a test >> >light on the coil contacts would be a good idea, to make sure that the >> >ignition control unit is doing its proper job. (his suggestion is >> >that if the light flashes while I'm cranking it, the ICU's doing its >> >job, and the coil isn't.) >> > >> >My question is, "where would I put the test light contacts?" There >> >are three contacts on the coil, one of which is the >> >high-voltage-to-the-distributor, one is two-green-wires (marked "-1"), >> >and the other is three individual black and black/white wires (marked >> >"15+"). >> > >> >Assuming I'm reading this right, the 15 terminal would be where I push >> >the probe, and I would connect the clip to ground? I don't want to >> >damage my ignition system, and since I'm not the best electrician on >> >the planet, I'd like to make sure that my assumptions are correct. >> > >> >Any suggestions? Thanks! >> > >> >-Kyle >>


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.