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ignition problems

To: <healeys@autox.team.net>
Subject: ignition problems
From: "Jim Parish" <jimp@parishpartners.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Sep 2006 20:07:56 -0700
I posted a problem ten days ago where my 1965 BJ8 just quit running on the
road. After letting it sit overnight it started in the morning, ran for 10
minutes, then quit again never to re-start. I pinged the list and got lots
of good suggestions, so I bought a new coil and distributor cap from Healey
Surgeons and points, rotor and condenser from Moss. Installed all but the
distributor cap today, and short story....no start. If you don't want to
read further, hit delete now. 

For those who will endure the step by step, the following are the tasks and
sequence performed today...
        1. Installed new coil
        2. Replaced connector on the distributor wire to coil and tested
lead
        3. Renewed the connector on the center lead from distributor cap to
coil center                             connection
        4. Replaced condenser and tested for ground
        5. Replaced rotor
        6. Replaced points and set to .015 gap (I hope)
        7. Tested low tension lead
        8. Removed all wires from ignition switch; cleaned connectors,
replaced connector on                   white wire
        9. Removed black/white wire from battery on/off switch and attempted
start.
        10. Performed "Ignition test" I got from the North Texas AHC. All
were OK until I got                     to the test between the coil
terminal (CB) which on my coil is (-), and the meter
showed no reading, indicating a bad coil. The coil was pretty warm by this
point,                  so I stopped. Could this coil be bad too? After all,
I just bought it! Or is                                 Pollyanna my new
name? 
 
I guess my questions are:        A. is there another test for a coil to
verify if it is good or bad, and 
                                  B. what have I forgotten? 

I got an email from a lister named Don with a sequence to test the coil, but
since I don't' know a primary stud from a coil wire lead, and don't have any
factory specs on the new coil, I won't know if the readings are within or
outside of the range. 

One thing I did notice is that I got no movement in the tach needle when the
engine was cranking. I have read that that indicated a bad white wire on the
ignition switch, but I checked that out. By the way, I tested for spark by
removing a plug and setting it against a grounded surface, and when I
cranked the engine I got no spark.

Kinda out of ideas. Any thoughts would be appreciated.  Sorry for the long
message. 

Jim Parish




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