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Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Sniper] #2716701
11/17/19 01:11 PM
11/17/19 01:11 PM
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Sammy Offline OP
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Ballast resistor has 11.8 on the single wire blue and 5.5 on the double wire.
coil + has 5.5 at it.

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Sammy] #2716702
11/17/19 01:14 PM
11/17/19 01:14 PM
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11.8 is low, really low. What is the voltage at the battery terminals. Should be 12.6 or better.

You could try running a jumper from the batter + to the side of the ballast that reads 11.8 right now and try to start it. If it runs remember that you won't be able to shut it off till you pull the jumper. and it will narrow theisue down to before the ballast.

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Sniper] #2716714
11/17/19 01:30 PM
11/17/19 01:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Sniper
11.8 is low, really low. What is the voltage at the battery terminals. Should be 12.6 or better.

You could try running a jumper from the batter + to the side of the ballast that reads 11.8 right now and try to start it. If it runs remember that you won't be able to shut it off till you pull the jumper. and it will narrow theisue down to before the ballast.




just checked and I have 13.6 at the battery.

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Sammy] #2716722
11/17/19 01:49 PM
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Put the jumper wire on the ballast resistor side where there was 11.8 from the positive side of the battery. Nothing.
Pulled a plug and I get one spark then nothing. And its a weak spark.


Curious still 5.5 at the + side of the coil when in the on position. Why would this be? What would the distributor have to do with this?

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Sammy] #2716724
11/17/19 01:51 PM
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Ok, so you are losing almost 2 volts between the battery and the ballast. Might be the ignition switch, or the bulkhead connections. Can you measure the voltage at the battery side of the ignition switch connector?

If it's close to 13.6, put the switch in run and measure the output of the switch.
If the input to the switch is close to 11.8 instead it's time to clean you bulkhead connector.

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Sammy] #2716764
11/17/19 03:15 PM
11/17/19 03:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Sammy



Curious still 5.5 at the + side of the coil when in the on position. Why would this be? What would the distributor have to do with this?

The ballast resistor is dropping the voltage to the coil like it was designed to do up
The Petronix unit may be dropping it more than stock also scope


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Cab_Burge] #2716786
11/17/19 04:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Cab_Burge
Originally Posted by Sammy



Curious still 5.5 at the + side of the coil when in the on position. Why would this be? What would the distributor have to do with this?

The ballast resistor is dropping the voltage to the coil like it was designed to do up
The Petronix unit may be dropping it more than stock also scope



I'm going to call Pertronix tomorrow and see what they say.
Could the coil be bad? Or the voltage regulator?
Seems that the voltage regulator was an issue years ago on my cruiser.
That's why I was always carrying an extra voltage regulator.

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Sammy] #2717243
11/18/19 04:52 PM
11/18/19 04:52 PM
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So an update*****
Bought a new attery and have 12.0 at the single blue wire to ballast resistor.
Double wire from Ballast resistor has 12.0.
Tested Coil at Positive 5.5.
Pulled all wires off of coil and tested blue wire and it has 12.0 volts. Put back blue wire and radio suppressor to coil and still have 12.0 volts.
Put back the red PerTronix wire back on the positive terminal of coil and everything goes back to 5.5 and a very very weak spark and then nothing.
So I isolated the problem to the PerTronix system.

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Sammy] #2717911
11/20/19 07:43 PM
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Well, after replacing the PERTRONIX IGNITOR with a NEW one.
Full spark and it starts right up.
Sending old one back..
It has only 125 miles on the setup.

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Sammy] #2718243
11/21/19 09:56 PM
11/21/19 09:56 PM
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Phoenix, AZ
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Thank you for updating the forum. That is very considerate.
Jeff

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Jjs72D] #2718247
11/21/19 10:07 PM
11/21/19 10:07 PM
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Install a used, original 50 year old coil & send the 'new' Petronix one back also while you are at it to save on shipping. twocents

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Alaskan_TA] #2718307
11/22/19 08:31 AM
11/22/19 08:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Alaskan_TA
Install a used, original 50 year old coil & send the 'new' Petronix one back also while you are at it to save on shipping. twocents


My OE coil is fine.
It was just the Pertronix ignitor inside the distributor that went bad.
Rotor was also ok. Knew something was wrong when I watched the spark on a sparkplug go from 1 weak one to no spark at all. Have 12.0 volts from the blue wire to the positive side of the coil.
Weird but when you hook up the ignitor positive wire to it, it goes to 5.6 volts.
Even the new one but have a good spark now.
Dont know why it went bad. Only 125 miles on it.

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Sammy] #2718309
11/22/19 08:57 AM
11/22/19 08:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Sammy
Have 12.0 volts from the blue wire to the positive side of the coil.
Weird but when you hook up the ignitor positive wire to it, it goes to 5.6 volts.


That's because without the ignitor hooked up you have an open circuit and you will read battery voltage at the coil +. That's the nature of an open circuit.

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Sammy] #2718431
11/22/19 05:44 PM
11/22/19 05:44 PM
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Kinda late to the party... glad you solved your issue though


I read thru the thread, and I'll just mention that I've been using Pertronix conversions on my personal/customers vehicles/equipment/marine applications as well for about 30 years now without a single failure/issue to date....

I've found thru the years that most failures that others experience are from mismatched components, or improper installation, or not knowing some of the peculiarities of the various Pertronix systems...

You should eliminate the ballast resistor (I understand your need for an OEM look) to have a true 12 volts to the HallCell, just gut out the stock ballast resistor, and solder in an insulated piece of copper #10 or #12 wire between the 2 terminals, connect the harness terminals on the resistor as you normally would, the system will run so much better, and you will have eliminated a weak link in the system as well... for no resistor in the system connect the black Pertronix lead to the NEGATIVE terminal on the coil, and the RED Pertronix lead to the POSITIVE terminal on the coil, your BLUE/DARK BLUE ignition lead from the vehicles bulkhead will go on the POSITIVE terminal of the coil

Your running the Pertronix I, it has no internal safeguard to protect the HallCell if the key is left in the "run" position for more than 30 seconds without the engine running, if you must troubleshoot the electrical system in the future with the key in the "run" position for long periods of time, disconnect the RED Pertronix lead from the coil...

I'd recommend using the Pertronix Flame Thrower coil/epoxy filled, but if you insist on the OEM coil, make sure it's rated for 1.5 ohms for the Pertronix I on a V8 application

Run a copper terminal cap, avoid an aluminum terminal cap, no solid core plug wires ...

Just some tips to help you avoid any issues with your new Pertronix install




Mike

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: DAYCLONA] #2718487
11/22/19 10:01 PM
11/22/19 10:01 PM
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Originally Posted by DAYCLONA
Kinda late to the party... glad you solved your issue though


I read thru the thread, and I'll just mention that I've been using Pertronix conversions on my personal/customers vehicles/equipment/marine applications as well for about 30 years now without a single failure/issue to date....

I've found thru the years that most failures that others experience are from mismatched components, or improper installation, or not knowing some of the peculiarities of the various Pertronix systems...

You should eliminate the ballast resistor (I understand your need for an OEM look) to have a true 12 volts to the HallCell, just gut out the stock ballast resistor, and solder in an insulated piece of copper #10 or #12 wire between the 2 terminals, connect the harness terminals on the resistor as you normally would, the system will run so much better, and you will have eliminated a weak link in the system as well... for no resistor in the system connect the black Pertronix lead to the NEGATIVE terminal on the coil, and the RED Pertronix lead to the POSITIVE terminal on the coil, your BLUE/DARK BLUE ignition lead from the vehicles bulkhead will go on the POSITIVE terminal of the coil

Your running the Pertronix I, it has no internal safeguard to protect the HallCell if the key is left in the "run" position for more than 30 seconds without the engine running, if you must troubleshoot the electrical system in the future with the key in the "run" position for long periods of time, disconnect the RED Pertronix lead from the coil...

I'd recommend using the Pertronix Flame Thrower coil/epoxy filled, but if you insist on the OEM coil, make sure it's rated for 1.5 ohms for the Pertronix I on a V8 application

Run a copper terminal cap, avoid an aluminum terminal cap, no solid core plug wires ...

Just some tips to help you avoid any issues with your new Pertronix install




Mike



Thanks for taking the time to explain everything to me like that.
Just not sure why it happened in the 1st place. It's a show car and driven very little.
Pertronix was going to give me a warranty but I couldnt find the original receipt
As soon as I hooked up both wires and installed it in the distributor, it started right up with a nice strong spark.

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Sniper] #2718490
11/22/19 10:03 PM
11/22/19 10:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Sniper
Originally Posted by Sammy
Have 12.0 volts from the blue wire to the positive side of the coil.
Weird but when you hook up the ignitor positive wire to it, it goes to 5.6 volts.


That's because without the ignitor hooked up you have an open circuit and you will read battery voltage at the coil +. That's the nature of an open circuit.


You had to see my face when I hooked up the new ignitor and saw 5.5 volts again. But when I cranked over the engine with an exposed spark plug and saw a strong spark, I knew it was going to fire right up.

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Sammy] #2718494
11/22/19 10:08 PM
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You did good troubleshooting it, next time you'll be more confident in you abilities.

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Sniper] #2718557
11/23/19 08:17 AM
11/23/19 08:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Sniper
You did good troubleshooting it, next time you'll be more confident in you abilities.



Couldnt have done it without you. Thanks

Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden [Re: Sammy] #2718684
11/23/19 04:15 PM
11/23/19 04:15 PM
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Do be aware that the petronix units do not like to have power to them without the engine running. It will overheat the module and cause it to fail.
I'm not 100% sure if that applies ti the Ignitior 2 and 3 modules but it definitely does on the regular Ignitor. beer

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