Red spark from distributor/coil?
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Red spark from distributor/coil?
Well i finally after checking everything over and over realized that 2 of the prongs on the new ignition module had been bent and missed the plugins during the first installation on my 88 bronco 2 2.9. So i straightened the prongs back and plugged it in and got everything in shape. The firing order is where it needs to be and the coil is new. New plugs/wires as well. So i go to crank it over and my dad had a plug wire off just testing the arc on it. It arcs good but the arc is red instead of blue. I'd never seen that before. Also, it will crank over and crank over and when its just about to start, it will give off a small backfire. I have yet to get it started. Anybody know what might be the problem?
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yeah i'm gettin plenty of fuel. I tested the little valve thing on the fuel rail and it squirted up and hit the hood so it's getting plenty. You know normally plugs/wires/coils fire a bright blue color? well when i crank it over, the testing shows a bright red arc and then the truck backfires a little. never starts
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Heres someone I can associate with.
Yeah my truck is throwing the same red spark, and does basically the same thing yours is doing. I have removed the dist. and am replacing the TFI module on that I have already replaced the cap rotor wires and spark plugs. I have not changed the coil yet because it tested good. I have removed the upper intake and bathed it along with the TB I have also cleaned my injectors out and replaced the "o" rings with a fresh set.
What have you done so far? Maybe we can single something out between the two of us.
What have you done so far? Maybe we can single something out between the two of us.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Atlanta GA
I have never seen a red arc, but, I would double check to make sure you are 10 degrees BTDC on the compression stroke. I have put a dist in 180 degrees off before and the starting problem was as you described.
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so far i have replaced the plugs, plug wires, coil, distributor cap, rotart button, and ignition module. When i had the cap off i checked out the piece that the ignition module plugs into and it looked fine, no broken pieces or burn marks. I have spent a lot of time trying different things to get it to fire. Could it be possible that i did something during the process to mess up the coil and i just need another new one. I know it won't be that easy but its worth a shot right? The red arc tells me that its not getting hot enough. So something must be weak or not functioning correctly. At least i have spark now though, as opposed to the last couple of weeks
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
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From: Atlanta GA
> I know it won't be that easy but its worth a shot right?
Backfiring is one sign that the timing is off 180 degrees.
What is worth a shot is removing the #1 spark plug and making sure the rotor is pointing at 2 o'clock or so on the compression stroke. If you have double checked it, then triple check it. If you do not do this step again, you are just wasting your time and money, imo.
If it does not then start, then after marking the firewall, remove every wire from the dist.. Mark each terminal on the cap for the correct fire order#. Then reattach in the correct fire order according to the cap the spark plug wires.
Then turning the dist. slightly to the left, snug the bolt, and try to start the engine. if it does not start, turn it some more 2-3 more times. If that does not work turn back to the marked spot and turn slightly to the right, snug the bolt, and try to start. Repeat a few times.
Let me know how these EXACT staps go and I will post further ones to take.
Backfiring is one sign that the timing is off 180 degrees.
What is worth a shot is removing the #1 spark plug and making sure the rotor is pointing at 2 o'clock or so on the compression stroke. If you have double checked it, then triple check it. If you do not do this step again, you are just wasting your time and money, imo.
If it does not then start, then after marking the firewall, remove every wire from the dist.. Mark each terminal on the cap for the correct fire order#. Then reattach in the correct fire order according to the cap the spark plug wires.
Then turning the dist. slightly to the left, snug the bolt, and try to start the engine. if it does not start, turn it some more 2-3 more times. If that does not work turn back to the marked spot and turn slightly to the right, snug the bolt, and try to start. Repeat a few times.
Let me know how these EXACT staps go and I will post further ones to take.
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Freshman User
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Timing was fine.
Before I even removed the dist. from the engine I checked the spark and it had the red color so the timing cant be 180 degrees off, because the truck ran before a few weeks ago...Mine happened after the darn thing was just sitting in the drive way! I was thinking that the stator might be bad...I dont know...
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i just don't understand how my timing could be off. You have to loosen the bolt at the bottom of the distributor to adjust the timing right? Well that bolt has never been loose since i've owned it and i don't see how the timing could be out of whack. I drove it the first couple of weeks until the coil went out and the distributor is in the same place it was then
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Yokosuka, Honshu, Japan
Sounds like, as Monty said.... since you bent some prongs, it might have messed up the module, pickup, and/or stator... and, on that note, sounds like time for a distributor rebuild. Worst case scenario would be timing chain/gears worn out -- but, that would be some serious stretching. I'd double check to see if it was set 10 deg. BTDC on #1 with a light while cranking, just to be sure *shrug*
Last edited by kernel-panic; Apr 5, 2006 at 11:10 AM.
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its gettin to the point where i am contiplating pushing it in the yard with FREE written on the windshield. I got it after sitting for a year and it fired right up and ran, i put new parts on it with a tune up and now its nothing more than a paper weight. I'm quickly running out of patience.
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Beaver, Ohio
if you dont want to go with rebuilding the dist. go to a junkyard buy a used one and change it out. it sounds like what Monty and kernel-panic said. that would be easy and probably only cost around 20 or 30 bucks.