I need you guys advice

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I need you guys advice
gatoy (chris) avatar
gatoy (chris)
+1y
I just replaced the head and distributor on my '89. I got everything back together and now the truck will turn over but its not starting. I checked and i'm not getting spark from the coil. I used a test light and its hot at both the positive and negative poles. I thought it was a bad coil. So I bought another one and i'm getting the same results. I'm stumped. Shouldn't only the positive side of the coil be hot?
sincitylocal avatar
sincitylocal
+1y
If you're getting positive at both sides, you have a good coil.
It's because the coil is conducting the positive signal all the way through.

The distributor provides the ground, and at the point spark is needed, the distributor opens the ground, and the coil discharges through the coil wire.

I heard somewhere that the 2200 had a distributor cap change at some point.
One cap is taller than the other, and if the tall one is used where the short one is required, the rotor won't make contact with the button in the cap.
axel breaker earl avatar
axel breaker earl
+1y
Yes! Good point SCL!

You can measure how far you rotor tip is above the surface where the cap meets the dist. base, then measure the inside of the dist. cap and you should get very close to the same measurement if the cap matches the rotor.
gatoy (chris) avatar
gatoy (chris)
+1y
Thanks, i'll check that out and get back with you.
Cusser avatar
Cusser
+1y
From what you did: really has to be either the "new" distributor, its timing, or the arrangement of the spark plug wires.
gatoy (chris) avatar
gatoy (chris)
+1y
Ends up i'm getting hot on each side of the coil but no spark out of the either the new or the old coil.
gatoy (chris) avatar
gatoy (chris)
+1y
Is there a relay or something?
Post was last edited on Apr 01, 2012 04:22. Edited 1 time.
gatoy (chris) avatar
gatoy (chris)
+1y
ooops
Post was last edited on Apr 01, 2012 04:22. Edited 1 time.
gatoy (chris) avatar
gatoy (chris)
+1y
I hit the button too many times.
newbiet avatar
newbiet
+1y
If you're getting power through the coil then it's got continuity. The ICM might not be providing the ground path or the pickup coil is open. You can pull the ICM (under the rotor, half moon piece with two wires connected to it. Pickup coil slides off shaft with it then pull them apart.) and get it tested at a parts house. You can test for continuity through the pickup coil as well. You can also check the resistance of the secondary and primary windings of the ignition coil. Check the condition of the trigger wheel while it's out also.