No spark
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 813
Likes: 1
From: Auburn, Il
No spark
Hey guys, I was out messing with the truck now that shes home. The engine turns over, I put new plugs, wires, cap, rotor and coil but Im not getting any spark at all. The truck has been garage kept since 85 and its got either the 170 or 200 inline 6 in it. Is there a chart somewhere to find the firing order just to make sure it wasnt messed up before I got it ( I just replaced 1 plug and wire at a time). All help is appreciated... Thanks...
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 335
Likes: 3
From: Centennial, CO
Firing order won't change the fact you have no spark, Firing out of sequence will give you backfire if it is wrong. Do you have the correct wiring to the coil and are you ok that the coil is good. Julie has all kinds of wiring diagrams and she should be along to route you in that direction.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 128
From: Windermere Valley,B.C. Ca
Here you go,……….. but if the firing order was out you should get a occasional boom or arm hair burning spit back, If no spark at all, it is something that controls all cylinders, you didn’t list points in your list, is that because it doesn’t have any?
fo-200-250.jpg
fo-200-250.jpg
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 813
Likes: 1
From: Auburn, Il
When I put the new coil in it I removed and marked which wire came off which side, I also put a new solenoid in it along with the new plugs and wires. Originally it had a V8 in it but now it has a 69 Falcon inline 6 and it has been converted to 12 volts so the wiring isnt the neatest if you know what I mean. She turns over fine just no spark at all so as far as I know everything that I could replace has been replaced with new so maybe there is a wire or something not hooked up right or missing.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 0
From: Powell River B.C.
Are the new plug wires carbon fiber or solid wire- I have heard that the older igniton systems and coils don't have enough omph to send a spark down new type spark plug wires. Maybe someone can confirm this info for us.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,873
Likes: 3,110
From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
The one wire that got me twice is the one coming from the coil, goes through the distributor base and to the top of the points. I've had one that broke and one that was shorting out on the distributor base plate on two different trucks. It's a cheap easy fix, it won't hurt to take a look at it.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 335
Likes: 3
From: Centennial, CO
One more thing to check. Pull the coil at the distributor (center wire on dist) and crank it over. If you get fire at that point then it is something in the distributor. Be careful though because if it is firing there it is a pretty good zap.
Vern
Vern
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Cargo Master
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From: Windermere Valley,B.C. Ca
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 914
Likes: 51
From: SW Missouri
If you have points.
Take a volt meter or test light and see (with the key on,) if you have voltage at the input wire on the coil. (the one coming from the ignition switch) If you do, turn off the key and remove the distributor cap and rotor. Turn on key and take a insulated screwdriver and open and close the points and see if you have a spark at the points. If so, your coil is likely good. If no voltage at the input wire, run a wire from your battery positive terminal to the input side of the coil and then check the points. You should have fire at this point, but if not the coil is likely bad or the small wire running from the coil to the distributor is bad or grounded.
That should give you a few things to get started checking. It's a back to basic starting place. Just take it step by step.
Take a volt meter or test light and see (with the key on,) if you have voltage at the input wire on the coil. (the one coming from the ignition switch) If you do, turn off the key and remove the distributor cap and rotor. Turn on key and take a insulated screwdriver and open and close the points and see if you have a spark at the points. If so, your coil is likely good. If no voltage at the input wire, run a wire from your battery positive terminal to the input side of the coil and then check the points. You should have fire at this point, but if not the coil is likely bad or the small wire running from the coil to the distributor is bad or grounded.
That should give you a few things to get started checking. It's a back to basic starting place. Just take it step by step.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,148
Likes: 4,747
From: Burbank, WA
The one thing you didn't mention is whether or not the truck was running before you "fixed" it. If it was, and now it's not, you need to retrace your steps and find out what you did wrong. If it didn't run before, and it still isn't, it's a matter of basic troubleshooting and wire checking until you find the problem.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 813
Likes: 1
From: Auburn, Il
Thanks guys I will try some of that tomorrow when I get home from work, I never even thought of tring half that stuff....lol
52 Merc,
I'm sorry, no the truck was not running at the time when I replaced everything. Thats what I'm tring to do it get her started up. It has been in storage since 1985.
The one thing you didn't mention is whether or not the truck was running before you "fixed" it. If it was, and now it's not, you need to retrace your steps and find out what you did wrong. If it didn't run before, and it still isn't, it's a matter of basic troubleshooting and wire checking until you find the problem.
I'm sorry, no the truck was not running at the time when I replaced everything. Thats what I'm tring to do it get her started up. It has been in storage since 1985.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 476
Likes: 1
From: Greatest state on earth
A 69 Falcon will most likely have a I-200, even tho the 170 was available. You didnt mention replacing the points and condenser. That would help a lot. Unless someone has changed over to a later Duraspark.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 813
Likes: 1
From: Auburn, Il
When I took the cap off you could tell that they were replaced right before it was stored. The guy at Napa told me they were still good so I didnt replace them yet but I will replace them with new ones myself just to be on the safe side.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 128
From: Windermere Valley,B.C. Ca
They might have been incorrectly installed previously, make sure the wire terminal is not grounding to something.