Quick dumb question of the day...
On an 88' lucas distributor. Is the 1 on the top of the cap where you start the firing order with the 1A plug? All the firing order pics online show 1A being almost straight left on the distributor... it's been a long day and I never labeled the wires https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...4b10f2b371.jpgso plug 1A should go right inline with the white vacuum nipple?
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I don't have my car or books close by at the moment to double check but it's a fair guess that 1A goes in the socket marked "1".
All the caps I've had are specifically marked with "1A" to avoid confusion Cheers DD |
Originally Posted by Doug
(Post 1715188)
I don't have my car or books close by at the moment to double check but it's a fair guess that 1A goes in the socket marked "1".
All the caps I've had are specifically marked with "1A" to avoid confusion Cheers DD |
the number 1 on the distributor is for the 1A spark plug, the arrow shows the rotation
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Originally Posted by daverb
(Post 1715256)
the number 1 on the distributor is for the 1A spark plug, the arrow shows the rotation
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I believe I see A1 attached to the no. 1 distributor outlet here
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...c235329e6c.jpg |
Originally Posted by 944xjs
(Post 1715183)
On an 88' lucas distributor. Is the 1 on the top of the cap where you start the firing order with the 1A plug? All the firing order pics online show 1A being almost straight left on the distributor... it's been a long day and I never labeled the wires
... so plug 1A should go right inline with the white vacuum nipple? |
Originally Posted by leo_denmark
(Post 1715279)
I believe I see A1 attached to the no. 1 distributor outlet here
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...c235329e6c.jpg
Originally Posted by JigJag
(Post 1715364)
I've never seen a cap with the vacuum port inline with 1A before.
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I'm sure it's just a design variation. The port could go anywhere. This position actually makes good sense as it aids in A1 location.
Do do you have spark into the cap? Is the coil / coils providing a good hot blue spark? I have had a rotor short to the shaft. Button and cap can also fail. Check them carefully for damage, corrosion, pitting or carbon traces in cap. |
Originally Posted by JigJag
(Post 1715416)
I'm sure it's just a design variation. The port could go anywhere. This position actually makes good sense as it aids in A1 location.
Do do you have spark into the cap? Is the coil / coils providing a good hot blue spark? I have had a rotor short to the shaft. Button and cap can also fail. Check them carefully for damage, corrosion, pitting or carbon traces in cap. |
You need to establish the "oomph" of the spark out of the coil.
If its a decent CRACK and Blue, you are on the right path. If its a piddly fizzy, ya got issues, and that list is loooooong. That rotor looks very ordinary to me. Also, please understand. The TIP of the rotor and the contacts inside the cap DO NOT make contact. There is a designed "air gap" that the spark "jumps". That is why you NEVER clean the tip of the rotor, you increase that air gap, and the spark oomph at the plug is crappy. Sooooo the stronger the spark out of the coil, the stronger it will be at the plug. It has a few "gaps" to navigate before the spark at the business end of things. |
Originally Posted by Grant Francis
(Post 1715809)
You need to establish the "oomph" of the spark out of the coil.
If its a decent CRACK and Blue, you are on the right path. If its a piddly fizzy, ya got issues, and that list is loooooong. That rotor looks very ordinary to me. Also, please understand. The TIP of the rotor and the contacts inside the cap DO NOT make contact. There is a designed "air gap" that the spark "jumps". That is why you NEVER clean the tip of the rotor, you increase that air gap, and the spark oomph at the plug is crappy. Sooooo the stronger the spark out of the coil, the stronger it will be at the plug. It has a few "gaps" to navigate before the spark at the business end of things. |
The voltage comes to the +ve from the Ignition switch, and via a relay on some year cars.
The Ignition module, INSIDE the Ignition AB14 amp switches the -ve terminal, just as contact points did in earlier systems, and that is when the spark out of the HT of the coil is generated. That module is fickle, and a simple "mis-wire" can fritz it, or it can simply die on its own. That condensor thingy inside also causes issues, and can be removed. It attaches to one of the +ve terminals of that module. Lousy wiring, mainly the small loom that travels from the distributor TO the amp being #1 on any list I write. Not the easiest to test, but test you must. |
Originally Posted by Grant Francis
(Post 1715845)
The voltage come to the +ve from the Ignition switch, and via a relay on some year cars.
The Ignition module, INSIDE the Ignition AB14 amp switched the -ve terminal, just as contact did in earlier systems, and that is when the spark out of the HT of the coil is generated. That module is fickle, and a simple "mis-wire" can fritz it, or it can simply die on its own. That condensor thingy inside also causes issues, and can be removed. It attaches to one of the +ve terminals of that module. Lousy wiring, mainly the small loom that travels from the distributor TO the amp being #1 on any list I write. Not the easiest to test, but test you must. |
1 Attachment(s)
Its a GM module. I dont know the number, but it in this section somewhere. Doug has mentioned it a few times.
The wires going thru the rubber bung of the distributor casing actually break INSIDE that bung. So, it is hard to trace. Disconnect that loom at the amp. Set your meter to Ohms, and probe the 2 wires at the now removed connector and note the reading. There will be resistance, and I dont remember the numbers, BUT, what you are looking for is continuity. With the probes in place, "wiggle/fiddle" the wires AT the bung, and watch the readings. If nothing odd occurs, all OK. You are in the States, and Echlin is still available I am told???. The Echlin part number is TP45 for that module. It may come up as TP45B, with the "B" being for the Blister pack it comes in, duh. At some stage you are going to need some of this. It goes well with JD. Attachment 149136 The smoke appears on here from time to time in small jars, and Norri has the applicator, or did a while back. |
Originally Posted by Grant Francis
(Post 1715939)
Its a GM module. I dont know the number, but it in this section somewhere. Doug has mentioned it a few times.
The wires going thru the rubber bung of the distributor casing actually break INSIDE that bung. So, it is hard to trace. Disconnect that loom at the amp. Set your meter to Ohms, and probe the 2 wires at the now removed connector and note the reading. There will be resistance, and I dont remember the numbers, BUT, what you are looking for is continuity. With the probes in place, "wiggle/fiddle" the wires AT the bung, and watch the readings. If nothing odd occurs, all OK. You are in the States, and Echlin is still available I am told???. The Echlin part number is TP45 for that module. It may come up as TP45B, with the "B" being for the Blister pack it comes in, duh. At some stage you are going to need some of this. It goes well with JD. Attachment 149136 The smoke appears on here from time to time in small jars, and Norri has the applicator, or did a while back. |
I'm going to grab one of the modules tomorrow and install it. Who wants to put a bet on it being the issue? If it isn't the issue then it's going to a local shop to be sorted or pushed into a lake 😂
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Originally Posted by 944xjs
(Post 1715822)
i don't believe I'm getting jack squat out of the coil! I've tried hooking a spark plug to the coil out and get nothing. I get no test light flash on the neg terminal. The coil itself is brand new. Why would I get voltage to the coil but nothing out of it? Does that point to the amp as being crap? Thank you
meter voltage on both coil v+ and v-. You should get 12v on both with ignition in position 2 "run". Plug a spark plug into the coil output lead and ground the plug. I prefer to use a big alligator clip jumper wire so that the plug gap can be easily seen. Put another alligator clip jumper wire on the chassis. Disconnect the wires from your coils v- terminal. Insulate them safely. You don't want a short. With ignition in "run" quickly tap and release the grounded jumper wire on the coil v- terminal repeatedly. Now you are acting as the pickup and amp. You should get a nice strong spark with each tap and release. If it is is good then I'd suspect the pickup or its wires before the amp module , but definately check those amp wires carefully as Grant suggests. The greese on the module is heat transfer paste. The module gets hot, particularly at idle, and needs a good thermal path to transfer this heat to the case. |
Originally Posted by JigJag
(Post 1716597)
Apologies if you've already done this, but just to be sure, I'd test your brand new coil as follows...
meter voltage on both coil v+ and v-. You should get 12v on both with ignition in position 2 "run". Plug a spark plug into the coil output lead and ground the plug. I prefer to use a big alligator clip jumper wire so that the plug gap can be easily seen. Put another alligator clip jumper wire on the chassis. Disconnect the wires from your coils v- terminal. Insulate them safely. You don't want a short. With ignition in "run" quickly tap and release the grounded jumper wire on the coil v- terminal repeatedly. Now you are acting as the pickup and amp. You should get a nice strong spark with each tap and release. If it is is good then I'd suspect the pickup or its wires before the amp module , but definately check those amp wires carefully as Grant suggests. The greese on the module is heat transfer paste. The module gets hot, particularly at idle, and needs a good thermal path to transfer this heat to the case. |
Either end grounding/breaking ground should work just the same.
If you have 12v to the coil v+ and this does not produce a spark the that coil is dead. New or not. Exchange it. |
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