My car stranded me today, no spark --UPDATE--

[1BAD68]

First time since I've owned it, ran fine and then when I went to start it, it fired up for two seconds and died and would not fire up.
I checked for spark at #1 spark wire and didn't have spark. Then I checked coil spark wire and found no spark. Checked for voltage at coil with key in run and found 11volts, key in start I found 10.4volts.
Swapped the coil and found same results and no spark. Three days ago I installed a Pertronix Ignitor and its been running better than ever until today.
I'm not sure how to test the Ignitor so I tried bench testing the coil, all the ohm readings matched what my repair manual says so I tried hooking 12 volts to the positive side of coil and momentarily grounded the negative side, held the spark lead near a ground and got the slightest if any spark. So I tried the same thing with the other coil and got the same results.

Does any one know how to bench test a coil besides ohm reading?
And does anyone know a way to test a Pertronix Ignitor to see if its bad?

I just installed a brand new battery and still no sparky

[Blakcharger440]

Interesting....i am having the same problem with the 440 in my 70 Charger RT. I am getting power to the coil but I am not getting spark from the coil to the distributor or plugs...I have the MP ignition kit with orange box.



I am waiting for someone to answer your question as it may hold the answer to mine as well.

[2Gunz]

Blakcharger440 -

I just ran into the same sort of thing and it turn out to be the electronic ign.

Kinda ran when it wanted to and other times not at all.


1Bad68-

Just some links that might or might not help.

These are not a mopar thing just general coil stuff.

http://www.mymopar.com/coiltest.htm

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/aa062902b.htm

[BMOTOXSTAR]

Exact same thing happened to me a few weeks ago, check the pick-up coil in the dist.

[resq302]

Similar thing happened to me a couple years ago.  Was running fine, then died when it got hot.  Let it sit for a while, then fired up fine to it warmed up again.  Turned out it was the pick up inside the distributor.

[1BAD68]

I'm running the Pertronix ignitor so I'd have to buy another, I'd rather just test it to make sure its bad or not but cant find any info on how to check it.

[1BAD68]

just installed points back in car and it fired right up. I guess the Ignitor went bad but why?
I still want to run one but want to know what fried it.

Update:
I put the Ignotor back in, I figured everything else was good because it fires right up with ponts installed.
This time it fired up and worked good, the only conclusion I can come up with is that I had a bad ground for the ignitor. It needs to be bolted down very tight to the distributor.
So for anyone having trouble with the Pertronix Ignitor, doublecheck your ground.