So i just fixed my motor mount and i was taking the car for a drive around the block to check that the motor mount was good now. and in the middle of the drive at 40mph or so the engine just stalled and shut off as if i turned the key off. i pulled over and tried starting it back up and the starter was engaging and cranking the engine but i was getting no spark.

i checked my coil and its good
wires are new
checked the distributor cap and rotor inside

what else could be causing my engine to not get spark

 

How do you know it's not getting spark? That's not something you can hear. Also, how did you check your coil?

 

well yeah its not something i can hear
i pulled my plugs out to check and wasnt getting any spark

i have a coil in my garage that used to be on my car before i upgraded the ignition. so i just plugged in the old coil to see if that would get it going. didnt work so i know its not the coil

 

Did you ground the spark plugs while you were cranking? No offense, I just want to make sure it actually is a no-spark issue, and as a tech you have to start from square 1. A lot of people will say "I'm getting no spark" just because the engine turns but doesn't start.

Are you running points or electronic ignition?

Assuming you're getting no spark, you need to check voltage at the coil+ terminal with the key on. If not, something's wrong with your wiring to the coil. If you do have voltage there, check your distributor innards (points or electronic) and make sure everything's grounded properly.

 

yeah i grounded it to the block when cranking the engine from the solenoid. its ok i didnt provide much info to saying im getting no spark. its electronic ignition and i tried using my voltage meeter but the batteries corroded over and i gotta clean it up

 

Sounds like an ignition wiring issue somewhere. There's an open connection, loose ground, bad terminal....something. Trace out all your wiring and use a voltmeter to run a continuity check on all the wiring and terminals.

 

if you have a voltmeter check if you have 8V (12V) on coil+ against battery minus when key is in ignition position. If not then that is your problem.
if not check if the cables are properly attached to ignition module and coil.
If you have pertronix ignition check if the vacuum canister rattles (if you can move it). If it does then this is your problem as the ignition module uses the ground of the screw that holds the canister. In my pertronix this came loose-> no ground->no spark

since you haven't changed anything you can always try to run a cable from battery+ directly to coil+ and see if the car starts. If it does switch off and remove cable immediately. Do NOT run the car that way. it's just a troubleshooting step

Kalli

 

i fixed my voltmeter and check to see if i had power to the coil, which i didnt so i traced the engine gauge feed harness and it was frayed behind the head cover.

picked a new one up and im good to go, its always something dumb with my wiring

 

Glad you figured it out Bet you're happy you have a working voltmeter now, aren't you?

 

yeah thats helped me countless times, i always over look the little things and think its something worse