[Roadsters] No spark... no run... :(

[The Ken Pearce]

Fouind this on Datsun.org     I'll troubleshoot at lunch... might be my
points...

Ken

Ignition





Pull off the coil wire from the distributor, and hold it about 1/4" from
 a grounded piece of metal. Double check the hand brake is set,
transmission in neutral, and have a friend crank the engine over. You
should see a nice fat blue spark jump from the coil wire to ground.





To make sure the cap and rotor are OK, if the coil wire test passed,
pull the wire off a spark plug, insert a paper clip into the spark plug
boot, and repeat the test (plug).





IF OK, go to FUEL Test:





If no spark is present, then remove the distributor cap and check the ignition
points and wiring.





A simple "light bulb tester" can confirm there is power at the ignition coil,
and that the points are functional.





Clip the light bulb tester across the ignition coils "+" and ground.
With the ignition on, the bulb should light. (If not, the ignition
switch, or wiring has a problem... you can "hot wire" the car by placing
 a jumper wire from the battery "+" terminal and "+" wire on the coil.





Now clip it across the  "+ and "-" terminals: When the points close, the
 light should come on, when the point are opened the light goes off.
[Check the points, make sure they open and close, and the wiring is
connected.]





It that checks out, the coil is probably at fault.  MOST electrical problems
are just dirty & loose connections!









> From: ken__pearce at hotmail.com
> To: datsun-roadsters at autox.team.net
> Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:17:41 -0700
> Subject: [Roadsters] No spark...  no run...    :(
>
> Ok, down to debugging an electrical problem on my 68 2000...
>
> My initial guess is that my ignition coil is toast.    Here are my
> observations:
>
> 1.)  No spark on wires, not on the plug wires or the center coil wire when
I
> crank it over.
> 2.)  When ignition key is on, I have 0 volts between + and - terminals on
> coil
> 3.)  When ignition key is on, I have 12 v between + on ignition coil and
> ground (fender of car)
> 4.)  When ignition key is on, I have 12 v between - on ignition coil and
> ground (fender of car) (this one is weird)
>
> seems perhaps the coil is shorted and + and - are connected internally
(thus
> explaining #4 above)
>
> Should the coil be producing high voltage (spark) on the coil wire all the
> time when 12v is applied to the + and - terminals on the coil?    Does the
> distributor (cap, rotor, points, condenser) have any role in the ignition
coil
> producing high voltage?  Or does it just receive that voltage on the center
> wire hi-tension wire?
>
> I tried running a small wire directly from the battery neg terminal to the
> coil neg terminal  and from the battery + to the coil +, still no spark...
>
> The coil is probably original, and could probably stand to be replaced
> anyway...
>
> Anyone with trouble shooting tips or techniques, I'm all ears!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ken
> Bellingham, WA
> 68-2000 (oh so close to running...)
> ________________________________________
>
> datsun-roadsters at autox.team.net
>
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
> Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
> Unsubscribe:
http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/datsun-roadsters/ken__pearce@hotmail.co
m