can I ground out an ignition coil and expect a spark

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perko

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Hey everyone, i'm trying to figure out a no spark problem i have. If I were to ground the ignition coil wire that leads to the distributor should I expect it to spark kind of like testing a spark plug?
 
Can use a spark plug for that matter.
To test coil without points or ecu, battery pos to plus side of coil and scratch a ground across neg side of coil.
 
So it runs or no??? No spark at the plugs??? It's on correctly-POS to wire from ignition, NEG grounded to block?
Dumb questions, but sometimes they are never asked.
Easiest thing in the world to do here.
#1-Make sure the hot is hot, and the ground is not. (Can quote me on that one)
#2-If you have a neighbor you don't like or a "Village Idiot/Village Drunk", make sure #1 is done correctly, then have someone-one of the previous designees-pay them $5 if you need to- and when they are holding on to it, crank it!!! (They should have negatively grounded themselves also-reaching for a beer and bare metal works good)
That charge from the coil WILL light you up, so go easy on #2, I can get away with it except that 4 hours a month when Village Drunk is sober.
OK, 1 wire leading to the coil should come in hot, and the other side is ground, thats the same pole most tach's hook to.
I honestly don't remember one sparking when connecting the wire-I disconnect BAT.
A new one might be what you need.
 
Hey everyone, i'm trying to figure out a no spark problem i have. If I were to ground the ignition coil wire that leads to the distributor should I expect it to spark kind of like testing a spark plug?

"It ain't" (always) that simple...............

Is this a breaker points distributor? If so, the distributor might have an internal problem, IE the condenser/ capacitor is bad and THAT might prevent a spark
The dist. points wire might be grounded

DISconnect the dist wire, but with points ignition (which requires a good condenser) don't expect much of a spark if you ground the coil and have no cap connected

Some more:

Turn key to run, check coil + and coil - voltage, making sure points are closed You should see somewhere between 6--10V at coil + and less than 2 volts, less the better-----on the neg terminal

Open points, both readings should go to "same as battery"

Put your meter on coil + crank engine, read meter. With engine cranking, you should see at least 10V or more
 
If I were to ground the ignition coil wire that leads to the distributor should I expect it to spark kind of like testing a spark plug?
Yes but..... Grounding charges the coil, ungrounding causes the spark.

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Yes, post #6. And don't get your fingers close when holding the wire. Even on the lower-voltage "primary" side, you can get a good shock from the coil.
 
I found by connecting an old file or rasp to ground then run the ground wire in post 6 up & down the file sort of simulates the point opening & closing
The spark will be quite feeble as the condensor is not in circuit but enough to prove the coil is could sort like a poor mans defib
 
I pulled a plug wire off a running gm with hei,and bad wires. I got a jolt,through the fender. When leaning on a fender guess whats closest..
Been extra careful since.
 
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