Component Tests and General Diagnostics

NOTE: This test is performed if the engine will not start.

1. Remove coil wire from ignition coil and distributor cap. Connect a 1,000 Ohm suppressor resistor at each end of the wire.
2. Re-install one end of the wire in the ignition coil and hold the other end near a clean, unpainted, grounding surface.
3. Crank the engine and check for spark. Sparks should jump at least 3/8 of an inch and be blue in color.

^ If the spark is adequate, ignition components (except possibly the secondary ignition wires and spark plugs) are OK.

^ If there is no spark, check ignition components covered in this section and check ignition signal from control unit, refer to Computers and Control Systems.

^ If there is a spark, but the spark is weak (yellow color) and only jumps a very small gap, check ignition coil and power output stage.