No spark- help!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 319
Likes: 3
From: LONG ISLAND NY
No spark- help!
I was trying to start up my 406 in my 1986 vette for the first time...tonight.. when I ran out of light and I am not getting any spark.
Engine cranks and there is fuel... but no spark.
There is a new distributor in the car...and the Prom was just changed to a custom TPIS unit.
I started looking through reproduction chevrolet service manual for the test procedures for troubleshooting when you can crank the engine and you have fuel but my reproduction manual seems to have a misprint or copy error.
There is a gap in pages where this test procedure should be... the manual goes from page 6E3-A-21 and then skips to 6E3-A-24.
1) can someone who has the chevy manual scan the missing pictures and post them or email them to hildharry@msn.com
2) Please tell me what you guys think the problem could be and what test procedures you would use to figure out why I am not getting any spark.
Your help is greatly appreciated.
Harry
Engine cranks and there is fuel... but no spark.
There is a new distributor in the car...and the Prom was just changed to a custom TPIS unit.
I started looking through reproduction chevrolet service manual for the test procedures for troubleshooting when you can crank the engine and you have fuel but my reproduction manual seems to have a misprint or copy error.
There is a gap in pages where this test procedure should be... the manual goes from page 6E3-A-21 and then skips to 6E3-A-24.
1) can someone who has the chevy manual scan the missing pictures and post them or email them to hildharry@msn.com
2) Please tell me what you guys think the problem could be and what test procedures you would use to figure out why I am not getting any spark.
Your help is greatly appreciated.
Harry
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Pull the distributor cap and look at the rotor. The rotor has a hemispherical depression in its center and if you have been cranking the engine after installation with one or more plug wires disconnected, the spark will jump from the center of the rotor metal arm through this depression and make a carbon path to ground. Then when you connect all the plug wires, no spark will occur because it is jumping the easiest path to ground through the carbon path.
In my 87 manual, the ignition system is section 6D4. 6E3-A-21 to 24 deals with the fuel injection.
You can test the spark coil by placing a 0.1 Mfd capacitor (a capacitor from an old points type distributor will work) across the primary wires (disconnected) and pulse 12v on the primary and you will get a hot spark off the secondary to ground. You can remove the spark control module and have it tested at an auto parts place. Also check for continuity on the pickup coil in the distributor.
Check for 12v on the pink wire (C3) on the distr plug in, ign on and look for pulses when cranking on the purple/wh wire (A) and on the white wire (B).
In my 87 manual, the ignition system is section 6D4. 6E3-A-21 to 24 deals with the fuel injection.
You can test the spark coil by placing a 0.1 Mfd capacitor (a capacitor from an old points type distributor will work) across the primary wires (disconnected) and pulse 12v on the primary and you will get a hot spark off the secondary to ground. You can remove the spark control module and have it tested at an auto parts place. Also check for continuity on the pickup coil in the distributor.
Check for 12v on the pink wire (C3) on the distr plug in, ign on and look for pulses when cranking on the purple/wh wire (A) and on the white wire (B).
