Points Ignition Thoery Question

fuffl · 01-10-2010, 10:50 AM

Alrighty, I've got an old Chevy pickup with a small block and points ignition. Yesterday it decided not to start. The starter is working and the carb is giving it gas. This means it's the spark...

I replaced the coil, points, condenser, cap and rotor yesterday. Still not starting. I've tested power coming out of the coil, and it's there. My question is, what else in the distributor could be killing my spark? I did cause a spark with the feeler gauge on the points (connected the battery to use the starter and turn the motor for gapping. I know...I'm a dumbass) Could that have blown the condenser or anything else?

Thanks for any help that you can offer. You guys have been able to correctly diagnose every problem I've had so far!

2ndgenz28 · 01-10-2010, 02:36 PM

Since it cold as F, id give it a short of startin fluid and see what happens.

If it starts right up it might be fuel, to rich or lean to pop off on the cold.

If it won't atleast try on startin fluid, its spark.

fuffl · 01-10-2010, 03:26 PM

Not even a sputter with starting fluid. I tested the spark from the wire that goes coil to distributor. There was nothing there. The coil tests good though when I use an ohmmeter. I also checked that the 12V wire running into the coil has juice with the key on. It does. I'm stumped.

2ndgenz28 · 01-10-2010, 03:41 PM

It might be your ballest wire, its a special power wire for the coil, which steps the voltage down as a full 12volts will destroy a set of points quick. [member that if you ever upgrade, don't use stock wiring for anything but points.]

you can however wire it up yourself, run a test wire right from the battery post to coil, fine for a test to give it a full 12volts, points are cheap, car will keep running till that wire is removed.

Now if that works, you need to do some wiring, could even be just a faulty Ign key switch, as the coil power is keyed. But it will help cue ya in.

01-10-2010, 10:50 AM	#1
fuffl Drives: #3124!!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 130	Points Ignition Thoery Question Alrighty, I've got an old Chevy pickup with a small block and points ignition. Yesterday it decided not to start. The starter is working and the carb is giving it gas. This means it's the spark... I replaced the coil, points, condenser, cap and rotor yesterday. Still not starting. I've tested power coming out of the coil, and it's there. My question is, what else in the distributor could be killing my spark? I did cause a spark with the feeler gauge on the points (connected the battery to use the starter and turn the motor for gapping. I know...I'm a dumbass) Could that have blown the condenser or anything else? Thanks for any help that you can offer. You guys have been able to correctly diagnose every problem I've had so far!

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01-10-2010, 02:36 PM	#2
2ndgenz28 Thread Killer Drives: All Black Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: NWO Toledo Area Posts: 4,720	Since it cold as F, id give it a short of startin fluid and see what happens. If it starts right up it might be fuel, to rich or lean to pop off on the cold. If it won't atleast try on startin fluid, its spark.

01-10-2010, 03:26 PM	#3
fuffl Drives: #3124!!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 130	Not even a sputter with starting fluid. I tested the spark from the wire that goes coil to distributor. There was nothing there. The coil tests good though when I use an ohmmeter. I also checked that the 12V wire running into the coil has juice with the key on. It does. I'm stumped.

01-10-2010, 03:41 PM	#4
2ndgenz28 Thread Killer Drives: All Black Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: NWO Toledo Area Posts: 4,720	It might be your ballest wire, its a special power wire for the coil, which steps the voltage down as a full 12volts will destroy a set of points quick. [member that if you ever upgrade, don't use stock wiring for anything but points.] you can however wire it up yourself, run a test wire right from the battery post to coil, fine for a test to give it a full 12volts, points are cheap, car will keep running till that wire is removed. Now if that works, you need to do some wiring, could even be just a faulty Ign key switch, as the coil power is keyed. But it will help cue ya in.