[Mgs] Trying to Start My 58 MGA

[PaulHunt73]

Remove the distributor cap, remove the coil lead from it and connect the 
lead to a plug laying on the block.  Turn on the ignition and flick the 
points open and closed.  There should be two effects - one is a bit of 
arcing at the points, and the other is a spark jumping the plug gap.

If there is no arcing at the points you need to check the voltages on the 
coil SW and CB (or maybe +ve and -ve).  There should be 12v on the SW all 
the time the ignition is on.  On the other terminal there should be 12v when 
the points are *open*, and an earth when they are closed.  12v all the time 
in this second wire means the circuit through the points is broken.  Earth 
all the time means something is shorting them out.

If there is lot of arcing and spitting at the points the condenser may have 
failed.  There is not much you can do to confirm this apart from 
substitution, but rather than remove the old one and fit a new straight 
away, jury-rig the new one between the wire going to the points and the body 
of the distributor.  If the spitting and arcing reduces significantly, then 
the old condenser *has* failed.

When you have a good spark at the plug, refit the distributor cap and coil 
lead, and try cranking.  If no go take the plugs out and sniff them and make 
sure there is a good strong smell of petrol on each of them.

If so connect the plug leads to the plugs (one at a time to stop them 
falling off) laying on the block and crank, and check they are all sparking. 
If not then the rotor or cap could be breaking down.

PaulH.

----- Original Message ----- 
> Can someone explain or point me to something on line that  shows how to 
> check
> for spark - preferably without getting  the bit?