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Author
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Topic: Ign. Testing
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Jake11
Gearhead Posts: 207
From: Banning,Ca,USA
Registered: Oct 2005
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posted 12-18-2005 02:06 AM
   
From: Banning,Ca,USA
Registered: Oct 2005
posted 12-04-2005 04:34 PM
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Here's the quick and easy way to diagnose those pesky ignition problems.
You need screwdriver, a jumper wire with good alligator clips on the ends,
and a dental pick. Make sure the dental pick has a good sharp end on it. First
thing to do, if your sure you have even compression, is set the E-brake, make sure
it's in neutral or park. Open the hood. If it's gonna be in the way, take the air
cleaner off and set it out of the way. Now turn the ignition key to run. Go to the
engine and pull the coil wire out of the distributor. Locate the starter solenoid
on the fenderwell and while holding the end of the coil wire a 1/4�� from the block,
crank it over. The spark should look big and nasty! Be carefull, you might get to
experience it . If it passes this test, plug it back in to the cap. Start it up and let
the engine warm up. Have a cup of coffee, or other. After it's warmed up, get your
jumper wire. Hook one end to the battery ground and the other end to the dental
pick. Now take your dental pick and use the sharp pointy end, and one at a time use
it to pierce and short each plug wire boot/connection on the dist.cap. The engine
should miss and have the same rpm drop for each one. If not you just found your
problem. Now you have to find out what is causing the ��missfire��. Ck. The cap
for carbon tracks or cracking at the terminals. Ck the plugwire, ck the plug for a
cracked insulator! Above all, be carefull! Keep everything you plan on using
again out of that fan and belts. DO NOT use the carbuerator for a ground.
Hope this helps someone.
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exlocal
Gearhead Posts: 1121
From: hacienda hts., CA, USA
Registered: Dec 2004
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posted 12-18-2005 12:42 PM
Wouldn't it be easier to just pull the plug wire from the spark plug? By piercing the boot, wouldn't you have just created a new "leak" for the spark to jump to a ground source such as the air cleaner housing when you put it back on?Sorry, I don't agree with this method. If you play with voltage directly from the battery, I think you're asking for trouble. ------------------
reliving youth
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Jake11
Gearhead Posts: 207
From: Banning,Ca,USA
Registered: Oct 2005
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posted 12-18-2005 04:06 PM
If you use a dental pick that has a sharp
needle point, the hole closes up by itself.
I know this method sounds "crude" but I used
to work in a shop with 4 other guys sharing
the scope.
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 46598
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 12-18-2005 05:07 PM
If you just unplug the spark plug wire you can perform the cylinder drop test without damaging the spark plug wire. Back when I was a tech I had a pair of insulated spark plug wire pliers just for that purpose.------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '70 Mustang Convertible - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 XL
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Jake11
Gearhead Posts: 207
From: Banning,Ca,USA
Registered: Oct 2005
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posted 12-18-2005 11:47 PM
Steve, you have a good point.
Problem is, most of the time the boots break
in half doing it that way. If the customer
is gonna buy a $100 or so set of wires, as
some now go for, hey no problem! The teeny
mark left by my method has never caused a
"COMEBACK" as we call it, in the field. I
know it sounds quick and dirty. It is!!
Just trying to share from my way. More to follow, stay tuned
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