Ignition Trobuleshooting

67Dart273 said
FIRST just how "good" is the spark at the coil?

Second, how are you attempting to start the car? If you are manually jumpering the relay, you will have no "resistor bypass" and the spark won't be as hot as when using the key

Use a probe --clip lead or test lamp-- right at the coil tower to ground to see how hot the spark really is. Checking the spark through resistor wires can "through you off." You should have a good hot blue spark, 3/8-12"

Next, as above, use your coil wire and check the spark through the wire

Next inspect the cap and rotor. Are they clean, dirt and moisture free, any evidence of carbon tracking, tracks, flashover, etc?

Next check spark at two or three random plug towers with your clip lead, IE remove the plug wire from the cap, check right there at the cap.

Have you looked at the plugs? Very easy to gas foul plugs screwing around on a new engine with fuel delivery troubles.

Checked the spark at the coil by disconnecting the coil wire and grounding it on the motor, spark looks good but no actual equipment to measure it.

I am using the key to attempt to start the car.

Brand new cap and rotor, as well as distributer points and condenser.

Pulled all the plugs and I am pretty shure they were fouled with gas, cleaned them up and still nothing.

I tried jumping the ballast resistor with a thin knife and it sputtered a bit like it might start then nothing.

Set #1 at TDC on the compression stroke and the rotor points to #1 and I re-checked all the wires for the right firing order.

Baffeled here becouse the motor ran very smooth for about 5 min than wont start.