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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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,824 Wind Gap,Pa.
Sammy
OP
top fuel
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,824
Wind Gap,Pa.
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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. just checked and I have 13.6 at the battery.
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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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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,195 Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,195
Bend,OR USA
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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 The Petronix unit may be dropping it more than stock also
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
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Re: Weak to no Spark, all of a sudden
[Re: Cab_Burge]
#2716786
11/17/19 04:35 PM
11/17/19 04:35 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,824 Wind Gap,Pa.
Sammy
OP
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,824
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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 The Petronix unit may be dropping it more than stock also 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.
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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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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,824 Wind Gap,Pa.
Sammy
OP
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2012
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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. 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.
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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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Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,262 nowhere
Sniper
master
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master
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,262
nowhere
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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.
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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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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,157 Mass
DAYCLONA
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,157
Mass
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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
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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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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,824 Wind Gap,Pa.
Sammy
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,824
Wind Gap,Pa.
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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 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.
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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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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,824 Wind Gap,Pa.
Sammy
OP
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,824
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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.
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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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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,824 Wind Gap,Pa.
Sammy
OP
top fuel
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,824
Wind Gap,Pa.
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You did good troubleshooting it, next time you'll be more confident in you abilities. Couldnt have done it without you. Thanks
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