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No Spark after Compression test
Posted: October 15th, 2002, 12:27 pm
by wyldside
I have a nasty little problem. I was doing a compression test over the weekend when I finished doing that, I put all the spark plugs back in and re-attached the hi-tension leads. When I went to start it, it would crank quickly but no ignition. I checked the high tension lead for a spark but there was nothing. I even checked the primary and secondary coil resistances and they are with-in limits. I even tried reseting the ECU by removing power and unpluging the ECU for about 10mins.

<P>Thanks!<P>-James<p>[ October 15, 2002: Message edited by: WyldSide ]
Re: No Spark after Compression test
Posted: October 15th, 2002, 12:51 pm
by Mike 94PGT
Did you disconnect power to the coil during the compression test? If not, the coil (or igniter for that matter) may have been damaged.
Re: No Spark after Compression test
Posted: October 15th, 2002, 1:40 pm
by wyldside
Yeah, the distributor was not disconnected. I mentioned that to the guy helping me but he said it wouldn't be a problem but that just shows how much he knows.
Re: No Spark after Compression test
Posted: October 15th, 2002, 4:45 pm
by Mike 94PGT
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by WyldSide:<BR><STRONG>Yeah, the distributor was not disconnected. I mentioned that to the guy helping me but he said it wouldn't be a problem but that just shows how much he knows.</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Hmm. FWIW, modern ignition coils can generate very large potentials (>40kV). With nowhere for this potential to discharge to (which usually occurs at the plug), the insulation system within the coil is stressed to that full value.<P>It's not impossible that the insulation between primary and secondary broke down in the coil, allowing the primary side to be exposed to that potential. If so, the potential will likely have found a discharge path to "ground" through the igniter transistor, likely damaging it in the process.<P>You might be in for both an igniter and coil.
Re: No Spark after Compression test
Posted: October 15th, 2002, 7:07 pm
by wyldside
Damn...<BR>Well, that's not going to be cheap...<BR>Thanks for you help!<P>-James
Re: No Spark after Compression test
Posted: October 15th, 2002, 11:02 pm
by curtklze
check one of the wires going to the coil.<P>hook up a test light to batt- (ground/earth) <BR>then crank the engine while [probing one of the coil wires, if the light flashes the coil is bad, if the light dose not flash then the igniter is bad.<P>good luck<p>[ October 15, 2002: Message edited by: curtklze ]
Re: No Spark after Compression test
Posted: October 16th, 2002, 11:39 am
by wyldside
I believe you are talking about the main 3 pin plug going to the distributor. Do you remember which of the 3 pins it is on this plug?<P>____|-|________|-|_____<BR>|------------------------|<BR>|---O------O-----O-----|<BR>|---a------b-----c------|<BR>|_____________________|<P>Thanks!<p>[ October 16, 2002: Message edited by: WyldSide ]
Re: No Spark after Compression test
Posted: October 16th, 2002, 8:51 pm
by curtklze
Ill check tomorrow amd let you know.
Re: No Spark after Compression test
Posted: October 17th, 2002, 8:05 pm
by curtklze
check yellow/blue wire and the blue wire and see if either flashes, these are the wires that go to the coil.
Re: No Spark after Compression test
Posted: October 21st, 2002, 11:44 am
by wyldside
Thanks! I'll give it a try!