My Willys 3A and 3B Community

3A, 3B, DJ Technical Knowledge Base => "Original"-- Technical Questions, Answers, Observations => Topic started by: CJJay on April 13, 2012, 12:38:23 AM

Title: no spark
Post by: CJJay on April 13, 2012, 12:38:23 AM
well the cj is done , the engine is ready to start but I don't seem to be getting any spark. I have juice at the + side of the coil, the points are set ant I static times it. has all new components frome the coil to the spark plugs. I'm thinking of by passing the resistor tomorrow to see if thats the problem.
Title: Re: no spark
Post by: F Bill on April 13, 2012, 10:00:26 AM
Use a test light with the points open to check for voltage all along the path between the coil and the actual points. You may find a bad connection or shorted wire somewhere, double check where the wire connects to the distributor body.
Title: Re: no spark
Post by: rocketeer on April 13, 2012, 10:02:49 PM
Remove the distributer cap and rotor, turn on the ignition, and crank the engine watching for spark across the points. It should snap and be blue-orange. If it is then the problem is the rotor, or the cap, or the plug wires. If the points are gapped correctly but there's no spark then the problem is either the coil or the hot lead to the coil. If the coil is weak then it needs to be replaced.
 
To test the coil, providing there's a good spark at the points, put the rotor and cap back on the dissy, remove the coil wire from the middle of the dissy cap and make sure the loose end is within a 1/2" of the block. Now turn on the ignition and crank the engine. That coil wire should snap and spark to ground. If not then either the coil is bad or the hot lead to the coil.
 
If the coil wire has good spark but there is none at the plugs then it's either the cap or the rotor. Most common problem with the cap is the center contact falls out unnoticed when people have the cap off to adjust/replace the points.
 
If you try these in order you will find the source of the problem.
 
Let us know what you find. �

Larry