Resistance Wire to Coil

[Supergas990]

A couple of months ago I replaced a coil on my mom's 69 Camaro. It was old and I just figured it wore out. Now 45 days later (with little use) it's dead again.

Can the resistance wire to the coil just wear out? I'm planning to add a ballast resistor, new coil and do the Unilite conversion while I'm in there. Is there anything I'm overlooking?

Thanks for the help!

Blair

[earntaz]

Before you do that, check the voltage at the coil with the engine running -- if I remember right, the voltaage should drop to about 8 volts.

Experts -- correct if I am off base on this ... TAZ

[TDW]

I've never heard of a resistor wire just going bad. Can you get it started and do a voltage check at the coil? Curious as to why you want to go with the Unilite? A points type ignition is fine for a street engine. They will last for many miles. I have an aversion to the Unilite myself. The only time I had to have a roll-back ride was because my Unilite failed.

I was typing as he was posting!

[Supergas990]

The car cranks, but will not start, so I can't test voltage when running. We have fuel, but no spark. I won't be able to put a meter on the coil until Saturday (car is 4 hours from me), but I want to have all my parts ready for the repair.

I think that I can check the voltage at the + terminal of the coil with the key in the on position and it should be about 9V. Right?

I can't come up with anything other than the coil for a lack of spark. I've had Unilites in my cars for years without problems, but you're correct... They can fail and leave you stranded.

Blair

[earntaz]

Take a jumper wire with you w/gator clips both ends. While cranking you should get 12 volts from the start circuit ... run circuit should be 8-9 volts. If you are not getting any power while cranking -- run a hot wire from the battery positive to the + side of coil.

[Salvatore]

Can/did you check the dwell?

[Supergas990]

Well, I replaced the coil, resistance wire and added a ballast resistor. Still no spark. I didn't have time to install the Unilite, so I'm kind of feeling lost.

I have voltage on both sides of the resistor and from the starter at the coil. There's just no spark - Very strange.

Can points burn up or fail? I'm of the younger generation and don't have any real experience with points, setting dwell, etc...

Any technical help or suggestions are appreciated.

Blair

[John Brown]

Yes, points can burn bad enough that you don't get any spark. The plate that the points are mounted to can also lose ground and the points won't work if that plate isn't grounded. One more thing, make sure no one played a trick on you and put a piece of tape on the points. That was a favorite trick used in the Plymouth trouble shooting contest many moons ago.

To help you figure this out, the points should be open about 16 thousandths when they are on the point of the cam lobe. They should be closed when on the flats.

Condensers can go bad with no notice too.....

[TDW]

The resistance wire is used in place of the ballast resistor. You shouldn't be using both. Take a look at the distributor cap and the rotor. I've seen the rotor tang break off and the cap be so corroded up it will not work.