Expert: Brad Sears - 9/24/2009

Question
QUESTION: HiBrad,said I too many follow ups.I checked the ground wire inside the distributor like you requested and it appears to be fine.I'm at your mercy. Thanks again !!!

ANSWER: OK, Now get the trusty old voltmeter out. With the key on and the points open run the red lead of the voltmeter to a good ground, like the ground terminal of the battery. The the black lead of the voltmeter to the wire connection terminal of the points. There should be battery voltage. If not check the connection where the lead wire and the wire from the condenser attach and make sure that they are not turned so that they are grounding against the breaker plate. If that shows OK, then disconnect the wires from the points and check the lead wire with the voltmeter for voltage. If no voltage check the distributor side of the coil, if you have voltage there then the wire from the coil to the points has an internal break. That is common as this wire flexes each time that that the vacuum advance moves. Let me know the results.
Brad

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey Brad,did as you said.All good.Key on,points open,6volts going from pos.on battery to wire connection terminal of points.Disconnected wires from points and checked lead wire.Got 6 volts.I'm all ears !!!

ANSWER: Ok, now with the points closed and the voltmeter connected to the ground side of the battery and the terminal on the points, the voltage should be zero. Let me know. Oh, did you change the condenser when you replaced the points?
Let me know, I'll be on and off the computer all day. I am just installing a new electric brake controller on my motor home and building the unit into the dash instead of hanging it off the bottom.
Brad

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Brad,yes I replaced the condenser.Key on,points closed,from the pos.side ob batt. to points terminal,zero reading.Points open,reading 6 volts.Hope you're having a easier time than I am ,on your project.Thanks so much for helping me.I'll look forward to the next step. Tom

Answer
At this point you should have spark. With the distributor cap in place, remove the high tension coil wire from the center of the distributor cap. Hold the wire about 1/2 inch from the block and crank the engine. Spark should jump from the wire to the block and should be a bright blue. An orange spark indicates a defect in the condenser or coil. No spark indicates a coil. If there is a bright blue spark, reconnect the wire and remove a spark plug wire from a plug. Insert a spark plug into the wire and again crank the engine. Remember that you will have to crank the engine through two revolutions in order to see a spark at any one spark plug. make sure the plug is grounded against the block. Now if you had spark from the coil and not at the plug you have a problem in the distributor cap or rotor.
Let me know. Yep, the brake controller is all in and now I am wiring up the cell phone amplifier and mounting the external aerial. We leave for winter quarters in three weeks and live in the motor home for 6 months.
Brad