Checking Ignition Wiring
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 32
From: Mississippi
Checking Ignition Wiring
My 1969 Mustang will not start. I swapped my coil today, and checked the wires leading to the coil for proper voltage. My question is: How does one check wires leading to the distributor for power? I can't check till morning to see if my plugs are getting spark. My battery is dead from cranking, and it is charging right now. I just want to know before hand if there is a way to check to see if power is getting from the coil to the distributor. Thank you for you help. EDIT: Also, how do I know if I have/need a dual or single vacuum distributor?
Last edited by Mesomorphman; Jul 29, 2009 at 12:58 AM.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,469
From: AR
Dual or single IDK,,,
If you still have a points distributor, you can take the cap off the distributor, and with the KEY ON, and POINTS OPEN, (you can open them with your fingers), probe the wire that connects to the points with a test light or voltmeter... you should get a somewhat dim light on a test light and/or about 8 volts with a volt meter.
This will test the circuit all the way to the points.... which is about as far as it goes...
ADDITIONALLY,,,, besides power... the points will NEED TO completely OPEN and to TOTALLY CLOSE when you turn the engine over. if EITHER they don't open, or if they don't close, the ignition will not fire.
If you still have a points distributor, you can take the cap off the distributor, and with the KEY ON, and POINTS OPEN, (you can open them with your fingers), probe the wire that connects to the points with a test light or voltmeter... you should get a somewhat dim light on a test light and/or about 8 volts with a volt meter.
This will test the circuit all the way to the points.... which is about as far as it goes...
ADDITIONALLY,,,, besides power... the points will NEED TO completely OPEN and to TOTALLY CLOSE when you turn the engine over. if EITHER they don't open, or if they don't close, the ignition will not fire.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,417
From: Cork, Ireland
single or dual vacuum is easy identify. you can only plug one vacuum hose to your distributor. If you have a 2nd connection on the canister it's dual.
as for the wires: the one connected to coil+ is coming from your ignition key. so with ignition on you should have 12V+ (or 8V) on coil+ measured against ground.
as for the coil minus wire see what JMD had to say. basically the connection from coil+ goes to coil- which when the points are closed is connected to engine ground.
That brings me to the next thing, mnake sure the engine is grounded. otherwise nothing will work. But I assume that's a given since your starter is turning
to check if you are actually getting spark, there should be plenty of posts already
as for the wires: the one connected to coil+ is coming from your ignition key. so with ignition on you should have 12V+ (or 8V) on coil+ measured against ground.
as for the coil minus wire see what JMD had to say. basically the connection from coil+ goes to coil- which when the points are closed is connected to engine ground.
That brings me to the next thing, mnake sure the engine is grounded. otherwise nothing will work. But I assume that's a given since your starter is turning
to check if you are actually getting spark, there should be plenty of posts already
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