No spark, sometimes.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
From: Mobile, AL
No spark, sometimes.
I have replaced most of the fuel system, and cleaned every thing that even remotely connects to the intake or throttle body including the throttle body. And it seemed to work until today, a little mis-firing, and then no start. From the infamous smell test I could tell that I was recieving fuel, just not burning it. So I tested for spark...
...No joy. No spark what-so-ever. Is it my coil or my distributor, and how do I tell? I am used to a Chevrolet HEI distributor and am fairly new to to this one, does it have a points system? Just a little guidence as how to go about this problem would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
...No joy. No spark what-so-ever. Is it my coil or my distributor, and how do I tell? I am used to a Chevrolet HEI distributor and am fairly new to to this one, does it have a points system? Just a little guidence as how to go about this problem would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Frostbite Falls
No spark, sometimes.
No, no points. If I am not mistaken your engine should use the Thick Film Ignition (TFI). It has been known to be problematic. The first thing I would do is check with Ford as there was a recall. If they won't do anything for you then you'll need to replace the module which will be on the distributer where the vacuum advance usually resides. You have no vacuum advance. This will be a real PITA.
This is assuming that it is not your coil.
This is assuming that it is not your coil.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
From: Mobile, AL
No spark, sometimes.
Thanks guys, I think it is my coil. After taking my dist. cap off and seeing it was still new. I checked my coil with the old trick of putting a spark plug on the coil wire and had my buddy turn the engine over while I grounded the plug and watched for spark. None at first and then after some tapping on the coil I had spark. It has already been purchaced and will be installed soon.
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 105
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From: Frostbite Falls
No spark, sometimes.
That is not the correct procedure to check a coil and you did not determine that the coil is at fault. You need to use a digital multimeter and check the resistance of your coils. Yes, I said coils. Your coil has two windings (coils). There is a primary and a secondary coil. You need to check it all as well as the wires going to the coil. The only thing you did with your test is confirmed that sometimes you have spark. Yes, the coil may be at fault, Yes the wires that connect to the coil may be at fault and yes , something way upstream from the coil (module, pick-up, wire) may be at fault. You wont know until you thoroughly test the system. Or you can buy parts in a hit and miss attempt at repairing the problem. You might get lucky, then again you may spend a ton of money and end up with a whole new ignition system. But, that in itself would not be a bad thing either. Need info on testing the coil? Just ask, or for better instructions then I could give you look in your repair manual. You can do it.
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
From: Mobile, AL
No spark, sometimes.
Where are the two coils, I pretty much knew my redneck way of checking for spark was not the most up to date and acurate. But it showed me that the problem was probably not after the coil, and it drew attention to my question and narrowed things down a little...
YES! please help me figgure this out. I knew there were two coils in an ignition system but I thought they were in the same plastic shell and were just one part. The one I have is direct replacement from AutoZone and has not been taken out of the box yet. If I don't need it I could use the 13.00 for something else.
YES! please help me figgure this out. I knew there were two coils in an ignition system but I thought they were in the same plastic shell and were just one part. The one I have is direct replacement from AutoZone and has not been taken out of the box yet. If I don't need it I could use the 13.00 for something else.
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 105
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From: Frostbite Falls
No spark, sometimes.
The coil has two coil (windings) inside of it. Sorry if I confused you on that. One coil (Primary) is tested by measuring the resistance at the primary wires. Those are the wires that plug into the bottom of the coil. The secondary has the High Voltage wire (coil wire) coming out of the top. You measure the resistance across this terminal. There are specific values that you must know. I used to know what they were but I can not remember. When my wife gets home I'll get my book out of the Bronco and find out what they are and post them for you
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 818
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From: Mobile, AL
No spark, sometimes.
Thanks I know its bad to admit but I havent bought a chilton's yet. And I rely on fellow B2 owners for their input sometimes its easier to understand. I built a hot rod K5 Blazer in high school but this is some how harder. Darn fuel injection and it's vacume controlled every thing, I miss my 4 bolt main 350.
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Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
From: Mobile, AL
No spark, sometimes.
Got it! I just found out that auto zone will check your coil for you for free. I immediatly took it and had it tested and it checked out just fine, so it is not the coil. Now I used the K.I.S.S. " keep it simple stupid " method to realize that maybe it was something simple, and it was. I took the wire harness off the coil and cleaned the all the connections, and the engine seems to be running fine. Thanks for all your help beefysbronco, and Ken00, I will pull the trouble codes now that it is running.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,656
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From: shepherd
No spark, sometimes.
tfi module my bII started backfiring all of a sudden and it would miss a bit at times and then it would die. 5 minutes later it would crank then 2 min. later it would die. all that happened in one day.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
From: Mobile, AL
No spark, sometimes.
I got it it was a bad connection in the ignition switch. The switch was telling the truck to start but not to fire. That coupled with a bad external fuel pump are the source for all my headaches.
Thanks.
Thanks.
