If no spark is visible, check to see if
the points or wires are shorting to ground
either at the points or at the primary terminal screw going through the housing. Also check where the contact spring connects to the main frame of the points and make sure the insulator is not melted.
What could cause no spark?
Loss of spark is caused by anything that prevents coil voltage from jumping the electrode gap at the end of the spark plug. This includes worn, fouled or damaged spark plugs,
bad plug wires
or a cracked distributor cap.
Are points supposed to spark?
Points
shouldn’t spark when the engine is running
but they might while you’re working on it. The points are the grounding circuit for the primary side of the ignition coil. If the secondary side is not completed – spark plugs in and hooked up, (make sure the plug leads are good) you can get a spark across the points.
What causes weak spark at points?
Weak spark is often the result of
a bad condenser
(and it’s a cheap part to replace). If you see higher resistance here, then you need to clean and check the connections and the circuit path to ground through the points. Start by checking resistance across the contact points.
How can I fix no spark?
- Disable the fuel system by removing the fuel pump fuse or relay.
- Insert a spark plug tester into the plug boot and ground it on a piece of metal on the engine.
- Finally, Have someone crank the engine and watch for spark.
What causes no fuel and no spark?
If there is no spark or fuel, then the first thing I would do is check
the vehicle’s fuses and relays
, particularly the EFI main and ignition relays. It may be possible that one of these components has failed and is cutting off power to the vehicle’s ignition and fuel systems.
How is no spark condition diagnosed?
If the ignition coil does not have spark, it’s time
to check its wires
. Use a test light to check the continuity on the signal wire and power wire on the ignition coil. If both wires are functional but the coil fails to produce spark, the ignition coil or the ignition control module is bad.
Should ignition points touch?
With the points touching and the probes on
each point the light should shine for you
. If the light doesn’t go on they aren’t really touching or they are so corroded that they won’t conduct electricity. You can file them down, or better yet replace them. It is a good idea to replace the point condenser at the same time.
Does spark occur when points open or close?
Spark timing is so critical to an engine’s performance that
most cars don’t use points
. Instead, they use a sensor that tells the engine control unit (ECU) the exact position of the pistons. The engine computer then controls a transistor that opens and closes the current to the coil.
What causes ignition points to burn?
The usual causes for pitted or burned points are
setting the points too close or having a bad condenser
.
How do I test my spark strength?
The proper method to check for spark is with
a spark tester
. It resembles a spark plug but has a sunken center electrode that simulates a load on the coil. Holding the plug wire and seeing if a spark jumps to ground is inconclusive. The spark is arcing in atmospheric pressure.
Can a bad ground cause no spark?
Bad grounds can cause no spark issues though
. It can cause the ground to ground through the ecu frying it. If you get a single spark when turning on the ignition then nothing when cranking it’s the ecu. It’s a really good idea to go over all your grounds on a regular basis anyway.
Will bad points cause no spark?
If no spark is visible, check to see if the points or wires are
shorting
to ground either at the points or at the primary terminal screw going through the housing. … Last but not least, there could be a problem with the coil itself or the coil wire going back to the cap.
Can ignition switch cause no spark?
No spark
is one of the most common causes of a no-start condition. It’s the first thing I check for. … The igniter or ignition module, the pick up coil or crank sensor, the cam sensor, and the ignition switch are included.
What would cause an ignition coil not to fire?
There are a few reasons for no spark, new coil pack could be defective, crank sensor, ignition module or bad wire in primary circuit,
faulty ECM/PCM
. You may have to have a good technician have a look, diagnose and estimate repair. Second link gives detailed instructions for testing and diagnosing coil pack.
What are signs of a bad ignition coil?
- Engine misfires.
- Rough idle.
- A decrease in car power, especially in acceleration.
- Poor fuel economy.
- Difficulty starting the engine.
- Check engine light is on.
- Exhaust backfiring.
- Increased hydrocarbon emissions.
