Help! No spark????
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 28
From: Medina OH
Help! No spark????
Yesterday, I went to take the 85 Vette out for a ride, and all she would do is crank. The crank is strong, just no fire. So I pulled some wires, and saw there was zero spark.
All fuses, wires, and battery connections are fine, so I went out and picked up a new HEI coil, still no spark... This morning, I'll pick up an ignition module, cap and rotor and give that a shot. The MSD Boost and 6AL Control connections are good. Any other things you think I should look at??? The car was running perfect when I pulled it into the garage Friday night
The Vette is an 85. I have the engine and ignition information at the following link: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2236613/2
All fuses, wires, and battery connections are fine, so I went out and picked up a new HEI coil, still no spark... This morning, I'll pick up an ignition module, cap and rotor and give that a shot. The MSD Boost and 6AL Control connections are good. Any other things you think I should look at??? The car was running perfect when I pulled it into the garage Friday night
The Vette is an 85. I have the engine and ignition information at the following link: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2236613/2
Last edited by 85 Stalker; May 7, 2006 at 08:18 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Both the coil and the HEI module can be tested which is a lot cheaper than replacing them. If you don't have spark after replacing these, the pickup coil is suspect and can be tested for gross problems with an ohmeter. Also, the first thing to check is for 12v on the pink (on my 87) wire going to the distributor. This wire supplies 12v to the HEI when the ign sw is in run.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 28
From: Medina OH
Originally Posted by Midnite 88
Have you pulled the dist cap and verified that the rotor is turning?
Just put the new module, cap, and rotor in -- still no fire at all at the plug
I wonder if it is the MSD 6AL?????
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 28
From: Medina OH
Originally Posted by jfb
Both the coil and the HEI module can be tested which is a lot cheaper than replacing them. If you don't have spark after replacing these, the pickup coil is suspect and can be tested for gross problems with an ohmeter. Also, the first thing to check is for 12v on the pink (on my 87) wire going to the distributor. This wire supplies 12v to the HEI when the ign sw is in run.
Time to look at the Hynes manul to find out where the pickup coil is...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,263
Likes: 414
From: Muskogee OK
Cruise-In VI Veteran
yeah make sure that darned pink wire to the dist. is connected, my clip was broken and the wire wasnt conneted, but it looked it. wouldnt fire but everything else checked out fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 2
From: seattle WA
Well, I hope you got a digital volt ohm meter. If you did just turn the dial to the horeshoe looking thing....that's ohms.Most of the wires you'll be wanting to check you'll want to use this funtion. When you turn it on..hold the two probes in the air apart..you'll see OL, this is the reading you'll get if you have an open.Most of the areas for values are in your FSMs.Nice tool, you can ohm the plug wires, injectors, igniton components etc. Some areas you'll need to check for voltage.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 28
From: Medina OH
Originally Posted by flannel_man
yeah make sure that darned pink wire to the dist. is connected, my clip was broken and the wire wasnt conneted, but it looked it. wouldnt fire but everything else checked out fine.
Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!
That was it!!!!!! The wire and connection looked good, but when I inspected it closer and bent it, I could see it was broken. I replaced the connecter with a new female clip, and when I hit the key, she fired with less than a second. The car runs better now than before the module went out
I think the problem was two-fold. The module went bad, and with me taking the cap on and off so many times, I broke the wire, which may have been half broken earlier..... Thank goodness this occured at the house.
Good stuff, thanks for all the help guys! For those reading this post, this is some good information to keep in the back of your mind in the event you ever get in a "no spark" situation. I was about a minute from calling a tow truck to bring her to the shop!!!!!
TIME FOR A VICTORY BREW!!!!!
Last edited by 85 Stalker; May 7, 2006 at 12:30 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 2
From: seattle WA
glad you found it, BTW, to get used to your DVOM, turn it on ohms, like I explained, take a plug wire, measure the length.....they should ohm close to 5000 ohms per foot.Best thing I learned how to use.Now, I gotta play with the scanner.
