C2 no spark

[jerry scudder]

I have been having tuning problems. It runs good one day bad the next. I have electronic ignition and someone suggested that the module may be going bad so I bought a new one (pertronix) this is what i had, so all i did was swap it out with the new one, reset it with feeler gage, put everything back the way it was. CAR WON`T START! no spark from the coil, tried another coil, no spark.
SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME jerry #40900

[Steven C.]

Re: C2 no spark

You might have a bad ignition switch. Also, it sounds like you've converted a points-type ignition to electronic, I think maybe you need to evaluate your 12v source wire to your coil -- it might need to be a straight 12v, not a resistance wire or ballast resistor.

Check for 12v coming to your coil, with ignition switch on.

Steve

[jerry scudder]

Re: C2 no spark

pertronix says to still use my ballast resistor and original coil. The car was running before setup this way, I was has a interment miss under power load and someone suggested it might be my module was bad. so i hooked up the new one the same way and now have no spark coming from the coil. All other electrics work when the ignition swith is turned on. Jerry #40900

[Steven C.]

Re: C2 no spark

I still think you need to check the "low-tension" leads to and from the coil...should be around 6v (I think) coming in, and around 12v coming out with your ground on the distributor plate.

Ballast resistors fail, as do coils...you might not be getting power to the coil, and if you are, you might not be getting it to the electronic "points".

Spark from the hi-tension lead of the coil is only available if it is getting the right voltage in on the low-voltage side.

The intermittent nature of your previous problem brings me back to the ballast resistor...when they get hot, if they are compromised, they will act goofy. And, if your ballast resistor has failed, you'll never get spark until it is fixed.

Also, something I mentioned the other day...I've had good results on a '59 Pontiac by providing clean, ignition-switched 12v to an internally-resisted coil (gasp, Ford).

Get a cheap multimeter and check voltages to/from the coil...looking for spark from the coil is a couple of steps farther down the line.

Steve

[John H.]

Re: C2 no spark

Make sure you have it wired correctly - the Pertronix module needs a full 12 volts for proper operation, but the stock-type coil needs resistance-reduced voltage; some aftermarket coils need a full 12 volts, and some require resistance-reduced voltage (check with the manufacturer). The correct wiring scheme for both situations is shown below.

[jerry scudder]

Re: C2 no spark

Thank you John. Like I said I`m not much of a mechanic but I finally found a guy that knows his stuff. He wasn`t 10 minutes on my car and found the problem. Aparently when my car was restored my restorer attached the wire from my electric choke ( I know 64`s didn`t have electric chokes) to the positive side of the coil. Supposedly this in turn drew voltage from the coil which heated up the ballast resistor and eventually burned them both out. Replaced the coil and ballast resistor, put choke wire to ign. switch and the car started right up and runs great.
Thanks for all the help, I`m glad I`m a member for this reason alone.
Jerry Scudder 40900

[Richard S.]

Re: C2 no spark

John,

Now that is one hell of a great informative post!!!! Thanks very much from all of us with ignition upgrades.