How do you test the ignition coil?

[elfdowney]

Hey Ya'll... here's whattsup... '86 GL wagon, 5sp-DR,, carb, 290,000 mi... blew out the timing belts... replaced belts, oil pump, water pump... set flywheel mark on center mark, dr side UP, passanger side DOWN,,,buttoned it back up... NO START... ck distributor - turns... ck plug wires for spark - nada... Q? How do I ck for spark at the coil... do you ck it with the key ON?... can someone walk me thru it?... pls talk real s-l-o-w and don't use no big words I'm afraid I'm not doing it right. TIA Larry

[Turbone]

Make sure everything is hooked up but the coil wire to the disty.

Hold the end of the coil wire that goes to the disty and have someone crank the engine over :-p

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, I'm being a wise a$$.

Dont hold the coil wire, stick a screwdriver in the end and ground it out. If you see spark when you crank the engine, its good.

[Cougar]

The first thing to check is to see if you have voltage on the plus and minus sides of the coil with the ignition ON. If you have voltage on both sides then the next check is to place a test light probe on the minus side of the coil and crank the engine. The light should pulse with the firing pulses to the coil.

[elfdowney]

Thanx Guys!... will try it today after work... Larry

[elfdowney]

Thanx Guys... it works!... it Definately works.

[zukiru]

sounds like somebody got a little Zap! get a video next time?