Component Tests and General Diagnostics

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

1. Remove the coil wire from one of the distributor caps and ground it (to prevent the engine from starting during spark test).
2. Remove the coil wire from the other ignition coil and distributor cap. Connect a 1,000 Ohm suppressor resistor at each end of the coil wire.
3. Re-install one end of the wire in the ignition coil and hold the other end near a clean, unpainted, grounding surface.
4. Crank the engine and check for spark. Sparks should jump at least 3/8 of an inch and be blue in color.
5. Repeat procedure for other ignition coil.

^ 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.