The engine came out of something else I think, but it's a 460 with the large diameter distributor, electronic ignition. I was plowing snow, wide open throttle in 4WD low range and it just died. A few days ago it just died but I was able to get it restarted a few minutes later and it ran fine for a few miles.

Anyway, the coil has 12 volts on the plus terminal with the key on. OHMs are 10K secondary to primary, 10K plus terminal to secondary and 2 ohms plus terminal to primary.

Is the coil bad? any other ideas?

Thanks in advance.

 

Check for trigger signal to the coil.

 

Thanks!
I'm in over my head already. Is that something that can be done with an ordinary volt-ohm meter?

 

Yes, analog is easier to see, depending on the meter. A test light can be used.

 

Thanks! Do I test the plus terminal or the minus terminal? IIRC, the minus terminal is a couple hundred volts. I think I have an old analog VOM around here somewhere. I do have attest light but that's only good for 12 volts.

 

I'm not talking the kv side. That's easy. Hold the coil wire close to something metal and check for spark while someone cranks the engine.
Check across the power and ground connection at the coil. You should see a pulse. If pulse and no spark from the coil, the coil is bad. If no pulse, the problem is in the module, distributor, or wiring.

 

Thanks, I think I understand now. I already checked for spark at the coil secondary (middle) terminal while cranking with key on and remote start switch. There was none. I will check for pulse at the plus terminal. I assume that means a voltage drop. The inside of the distributor has surface rust, but I didn't see anything that would short it out.

 

Check for pulse on the negative side. The side not hot key on. .....

 

I'm not sure I understand. If the negative (primary) side has a couple hundred volts (I really don't know how much), wouldn't that fry a 12 volt test light ? I haven't found my analog voltmeter. I doubt a digital would tell me anything at that speed.

 

The only high voltage comes out of the coil wire. I'm talking about the two small wires. They are only 12 volts ( or battery voltage) .

 

OK thanks. I thought that the negative (primary) terminal had several hundred volts on it.

 

That's the coil wire. Several THOUSAND volts.

 

On older vehicles with points, the plus terminal is 12 volts, the minus terminal is a couple hundred volts and the large center terminal is several thousand.
I tried the test light on the minus terminal while cranking and it blinked with the beat, so I purchased a new coil. Will go down there and try it out later.

 

I don't know when the changed to tfi but both the early electronic ignition and tfi mounted on the distributor are problematic I think you probably have the one with the square module on the fender on drivers side probably that unless you blew the coil with twelve volts should be reduced.
roscoe

 

TFI is mid 85, completely by 86