[C1] No Spark
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 378
From: Knoxville, TN
2020 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
No Spark
My '60 basic 283 has a PerTronix ignition. The other day, I took the car out. It backfired a few times then died and wouldn't restart. While waiting for the flat bed (30 minutes) I tried starting it and it ran well. I took it out once more later in the day and the same thing happened. It died only to restart about 30 minutes later. I diagnosed a bad coil. Bought a new one and the car ran great. That was 2 days ago. Went to start it tonight and it won't start. I attached a spark tester to a plug wire and there is no spark. Do I replace the PerTronix ignition or go in some other direction?
Thanks,
Bud
Thanks,
Bud
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 378
From: Knoxville, TN
2020 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Not a chance. I c an't remember where my dwell meter is. How can I tell if the PerTronix is working beside installing a new one?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,202
Likes: 4,187
From: Kannapolis NC
That's the main issue, you can't. you could put a set of points in and see if it now runs well. Your best hope with a pertronix is find there's no voltage going to it, but there's no internal troubleshooting
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
Put a test light on the negative side of the coil (distributor side) and crank the engine. The test light should flash on/off/on/off/on brightly. If it doesn't, look at the p tronix.
That's assuming your test light will light up on the + side of the coil while cranking.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 378
From: Knoxville, TN
2020 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Mike, with ignition switch on, I should be getting 12V to the positive side of the coil, I'm not. Jumping from + batt to + coil still no start.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
Well, sounds like you're problem is upstream of the distributor. Put a jumper from the battery to the + side of the coil, crank the engine and see if the test light flashes and/or the engine starts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5,372
Likes: 2,880
From: Western Massachusetts
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C2 of Year Finalist (stock)
2015 C2 of the Year Finalist
You can put a set of points in without setting dwell sufficient for it to run and rule the Pertronix in or out. Check your wiring. You have a ballast resistor on here?
Dan
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,947
Likes: 407
From: Bronx New York
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,287
Likes: 2,147
From: Bowling Green, Kentucky
I put my last set of Delco D112P points in the distributor in 1996. Car fires on the first turn of the key.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 378
From: Knoxville, TN
2020 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Update. I'm getting a good spark from the coil to the distributor. Voltage into the ballast resister is 11.75V, out of the resistor 5.5V. Seems low to me. So, since I'm getting a good spark out of the coil to the distributor, where do I look now?