No Spark

Bought a new coil from NAPA ,got one with an internal Ballast. Hooked it up,connected battery and turned key.Excited to hear the 1974 (April) fire up but no spark! Engine turns strong with compression which makes me happy. Could it be the Ignition Relay? Went to all the parts places no luck, no relay ,tried to sell me a Starter Relay. One sales person said take this Headlight relay, they are all basically the same,power in ,a gate and power out. I don't know about that Moss catalog shows to use a Ballasted Coil on cars built Sept.74-80. Iknow that's no big deal the ballast just helps from burning out the points at high RPM's. But I am a bit confused , when I place a test light on either - or + terminal of the Coil I get power there but not at the main wire from center of Coil going to Distributor. I thought I possibly installed the new points incorrectly by not insulating the points spring arm, (stock points)and maybe shorting points but I don't even have power coming out of the Coil to the points!Any suggestions would be great cause I've had this car for 2 years and would like to hear it come to life! Thanks, Don P.S. Sorry so random here my mind has been on testing and wires on my day off.

if it is cranking, it ain't a relay. and the counter jockeys are blowing smoke.

power does not flow to the coil from the HT lead.

put a test light on the low tension lead (the little wire) on the side of the distributor and crank. light should go on and off. if it doesn't, you've most likely gotten something wrong with the points.

Thanks for the quick reply, Mac.I put the test light on the Dist. low tension lead, turn Ignition on and test light stays on steady as I turn engine over. Maybe I shorted the points after all. I thought power came from battery, to Ign. switch, to Coil, then to Distributor?

Don,

Had this problem last week - turned out to be of all things, the condenser - new one fixed it right up. I wasn't gettting spark at the points or plugs.

Clark

Thanks Clark, I did consider the condensor can't remember if I installed a new one when I put new points in months ago. When I bought the car it had no Distributor , the P.O. gave me a 45D which is correct for the 74 and I should have studied it closely. I'm going out to double check the points ,as the test light stays on when key is on or engine turning over, which tells me possibly the points are staying open.Thanks again for help and I will post when I figure this out.

FWIW - and this probably doesn't help you - but there is nothing special about the ignition relay. A standard relay 30 to 40A automotive relay can be used - $4-5. (just search here for the proper mapping of terminal labels, though if you think about it, you can figure it out.

Not sure you should be using a ballasted coil or not, nor do I know whether using the wrong one would be a huge problem or not. Check the diagrams at www.advanceautowire.com to see how your car should be wired. And search here about the coil - you'll likely learn a lot.

Bob

Thanks Bob, I don't think using a Ballasted Coil will harm anything. Moss claims Un-Ballasted up to Sept. 74, (Catalog page 85) Ballasted 74-80. My 74 was built in April 74 so discovered I should run a Non-Ballasted Coil. No Big deal but I installed a new condensor and points several months ago they're cheapies from Autozone with the condensor wire attached to the points,can't seperate them. I'm going to order a set from Moss. Not sure but I think my Ignition Relay is fine. Not getting power out of the Coil. When I put a test light on either terminal of the Coil and turn engine to start the test light stays on. Should I have power at the negative side of Coil? As far as wiring from the harness to the Coil I believe I have it correct. I will do a search on the Coil tomorrow after work. Thanks again Bob.

your points are not set right.

they are not opening and closing.

Mac, I pulled the Distributor and reset the points at .015 I can't seperate the points from the condensor to try a different condensor because they are crimped together, so I will pick up a new set.Dist. is seated correctly rotor at 2:00 , marks on pulley at 15*BTDC. When I get new points & condensor I'll go at it again! Thanks for your help.