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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

No spark Issue

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Old Jun 20, 2015 | 03:29 PM
  #1  
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No spark Issue

Ok I have a no spark issue. I have spark at the coil but not at the plugs. I figured it was cap and rotor so I replaced both. I still get no spark at the plugs. I tested the plug wires with spark tester by plugging them onto the coil and plug wires are good.
I tested ICM and PIP signals and they are present.
This has me really stumped. What am I missing? Is it possible I got a bad cap and rotor? Its an Accel brand which I thought was pretty good.
What else can I check?


Thanks for any help,
Daniel
 
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Old Jun 20, 2015 | 03:32 PM
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No Spark

Sorry would probably help if I told you the vehicle specifics.
Its a 1991 F-150 with 5.8 automatic. Also has the ICM on the distributor.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2015 | 03:48 PM
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What is the quality of the spark? Is it a lightning bolt-blue spark or a more of a static cling-yellow spark? If it is the latter, your coil may be crapping out. A weak coil will fire a plug out in the open air but with reduced intensity. It will not have enough ump to fire a plug under compression. The hotter the temps the worse it gets.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2015 | 03:56 PM
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It's a good spark. Coil is new. I have one of those inline spark testers and it lights the light up.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2015 | 04:29 PM
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And it doesn't spark a single plug after the cap? Did you replace the wires also?
 
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Old Jun 20, 2015 | 04:59 PM
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No I put spark tester at each plug wire and no spark. Also switched out coil wire with the spark plug wires and used spark tester and it lit up so I know plug wires are good. I'm guessing I have a defective new cap and rotor. I guess I'll take it back and get another one. I'm out of things to try.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2015 | 05:09 PM
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Yup. That would be the next step. Where is the old cap and rotor? May save you the price of another one in case that's not it.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2015 | 05:11 PM
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I still have the old one it had a lot of wear anyway so I'll still put a new one on. We'll see what happens with another new replacement.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2015 | 05:17 PM
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Oh, I agree. But at least you will know what parts to go fetch and another new cap may not fix the problem, and it would just be a wasted trip.
 
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Old Jun 21, 2015 | 12:37 PM
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good cap and rotor

Ok I put a cap and rotor from another truck I have that runs and it still wont run. I put the new cap and rotor on the truck that runs and it ran fine.
So I know its not the cap and rotor.
Im getting really frustrated with this and if I cant get it running today its going to the shop tomorrow which I don't want to do but I need this truck running.
So what else can I check? Im at a loss here.
 
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Old Jun 21, 2015 | 12:45 PM
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Try swapping the coil off the other truck and see what happens. After that, I have no idea.
 
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Old Jun 21, 2015 | 01:53 PM
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Ok apparently I have spark at the coil enough to light the test light but it doesn't spark a spark plug. I put a spark plug at the end of coil wire and it didn't spark the plug. So I guess its a weak spark at the coil.
What would cause that?
 
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Old Jun 21, 2015 | 02:31 PM
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New parts don't mean good parts. Your coil is bad. Nothing caused it, the coil just died.
 
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