Coil and gauges

sidewayzisbest said:

Had a few questions now my car is ready to be started

First, My car is getting absolutly no spark. I took the coil plug and put it around the block no spark, tried poking a screw driver in there and bridge and still no spark. Im thinking its the coil, but the 2 wires that go to that does that give it power or is that just strictly tach? Or does this sound like a computer/relay problem.

Second i have the phantom water temp/ oil psi gauge. I spliced the 2 for the ground and power from the fuse is that ok? I was asking since when i unhooked the dist since the motor just now ready to fire up and make sure it was building oil psi. But when i turn ignition on it goes to 0 and when i try to crank it , it looks like its going under 0 like it doesn't have enough power to show the psi while cranking(is that normal).


thanks

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i might check Jrichker's no-start checklist for all the possibilities.

ok. do you have a spare spark plug? if so, stick it in the coil or plug wire and ground the threads. this is a good reliable way to check. i have had bad results because the air gap between the nail (what i used instead of a screwdriver) and intake was a smidge too much.
now check for spark with the spark plug.

the two wires on the coil. one should show 12 volts with the key on, IIRC. the other is the ground (IIRC), but if you use a test light on it with the car running, it strobes very quickly.

there is a fusible link for the ignition. i might check it if you dont have 12 volts to the coil positive wire. you can also check the coil primary and secondary resistances.

from there i would follow JR's nice list.

i dont follow about the gauges and fuse. if you used a key on fuse that is not overburdened, you should be alright.

my elec gauges also peg below zero (like negative) when cranking. the gauge is not part of the ignition interlock devices (like the stereo - you know how it goes off when you crank), so the gauges peg low. my experience anyhow.

good luck.