2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

testing your coil?

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Old Feb 22, 2005 | 08:30 PM
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From: nanaimo ,BC ,canada
Arrow testing your coil?

im not gettin any spark from my leading spark plugs(4months old plugs), i tried replacing the wires and still nothing so im thinking the coil, but is there anything else it could be, or ways i can test the coil to see if its not messed?
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Old Feb 22, 2005 | 08:36 PM
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pull the wires when the coil is on, if you see electricity running through it they're still good. Mine weren't pulling any but i changed them and then it was.
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Old Feb 22, 2005 | 08:49 PM
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Originally Posted by andrewdruiz
pull the wires when the coil is on, if you see electricity running through it they're still good. Mine weren't pulling any but i changed them and then it was.
I once did this while holdin the hood open with my opposite arm.

It went something like this.

doo do doo do do... zap zap ahhhh slam studder studder fall
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Old Feb 22, 2005 | 09:08 PM
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From: nanaimo ,BC ,canada
Originally Posted by andrewdruiz
pull the wires when the coil is on, if you see electricity running through it they're still good. Mine weren't pulling any but i changed them and then it was.
so just pull out the prongs and see if theres electricity ummm theres gotta be a safer way than that wouldnt ya think, not lookin to die here, lol
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Old Feb 22, 2005 | 09:17 PM
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From: Rapid City, SD
Originally Posted by slimjim16
so just pull out the prongs and see if theres electricity ummm theres gotta be a safer way than that wouldnt ya think, not lookin to die here, lol
Actually this is one of the most ghetto and unsafe ways to do this IMO.

You can buy spark detectors at any auto store or walmart. They go inline with the sparkplug wire. When the plug fires, you'll see the spark inside a contained cylidner...

Out of curiosity, does the tach jump at all when you're cranking?
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Old Feb 22, 2005 | 09:25 PM
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dbl post.....

Last edited by slimjim16; Feb 22, 2005 at 09:34 PM.
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Old Feb 22, 2005 | 09:28 PM
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From: nanaimo ,BC ,canada
ive tried puttin a sparkplug in the boot and just resting it somewehre and cranked tryin to see sparks, on the leading both work on the trailing non work, so what im trying to figure out is if my coil is messed or ignitor i have no idea, i dont think the tach jumps i havent really payed attention to it. how can i test the coil and the ignitor
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Old Feb 22, 2005 | 09:30 PM
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Doesn't the tach run off the trailing coils?

And they make tools to check if the spark is present in the wires. One is a timing light.

Also, the Haynes manual and FSM should show you how to use a multimeter to check the coils and ignitors.
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Old Feb 22, 2005 | 09:34 PM
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From: nanaimo ,BC ,canada
yea i see that in the haynes to test the resistance im gonna do that ill be back with my reading.
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Old Feb 22, 2005 | 10:05 PM
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ok ive checked the resistance and it is the same as the leading coils in the .o3ohms region, and i just tried pulling of the plugs from the coil itself and cranked checking for a spark storm and got nothing, heres a pic of some wire i found by it and nothing connected does it have anything to do with it, or if im not gettin any spark from the coil does that mean its shot???
Attached Thumbnails testing your coil?-coil.jpg  
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Old Feb 22, 2005 | 10:15 PM
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If you can't get your hands on a timing light, get a flourescent bulb from the house, and hold it next to the applicable plug wire while cranking. If she's sparking, you'll see the bulb "pulsate" due to the EMF fields...

If no spark is verified, get to the ECU and check the CAS inputs while cranking. Should have 4 inputs (2 pairs). It's all in the FSM...
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Old Feb 22, 2005 | 10:19 PM
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there talking about pulling the plug off the coil with the engine running to check for spark..not the best way or the smartest.
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Old Feb 22, 2005 | 10:44 PM
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Originally Posted by slimjim16
so just pull out the prongs and see if theres electricity ummm theres gotta be a safer way than that wouldnt ya think, not lookin to die here, lol

Haha well this is the poor man's way to do it, i've been shocked by it before (being stupid of course) and it stings but i've been shocked by worse things.
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Old Feb 22, 2005 | 10:54 PM
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From: nanaimo ,BC ,canada
Originally Posted by WAYNE88N/A
If you can't get your hands on a timing light, get a flourescent bulb from the house, and hold it next to the applicable plug wire while cranking. If she's sparking, you'll see the bulb "pulsate" due to the EMF fields...

If no spark is verified, get to the ECU and check the CAS inputs while cranking. Should have 4 inputs (2 pairs). It's all in the FSM...

ok i know for a fact that im not gettin any action in the spark plug wire its self, how do i test the CAS inputs on the ECU?
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Old Feb 23, 2005 | 05:18 PM
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From: nanaimo ,BC ,canada
bump, ok ive tried hooking up a LED to the negative side of the coil and the negative on my battery and tried turning over the engine and seeing if the LED would blink to test if the coils getting power, and i didnt get anything so im guessin its the CAS or whatev, how do i test these and where abouts are they located on the ECU????
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Old Feb 23, 2005 | 05:50 PM
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From: nanaimo ,BC ,canada
ok i just got back from testin the 2 prong white plug that plugs into the 2 wires that go into the coil or ignitor and they were reading 12v with the key turned on, but when its plugged in and i test the two screws on the coil i get no power at all, which means the coil/ignitor has to be gettin power right?
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Old Feb 23, 2005 | 05:58 PM
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CAS = crank angle sensor. It is at the front of the engine and has a round black plasic plate on the top. Do you have the factory service manule? I highly reccomend getting it. There will be four wires that should have specific resistances in them, something like 0-110ohms and 110-220 ohms. I forget which wires though. BUt definitely get the FSM.
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