Lost Spark

[grouchytom]

car was running finally, up and quit now have no spark, Power to the distributor coil seems to test good per FSM have power at dizzy Anyone know how to isolate if it is the igniter?

[Mark]

There's a test in the FSM to check the igniter. It involves putting a 1.5v battery across the igniter leads and seeing that it cuts off voltage to the coil.

igniter test.jpg

I had this problem a couple of weeks ago. All the tests in the FSM with the coils and igniter showed that they were fine. I replaced the cap with one from another car and there was still no spark. I replaced the rotor and then everything worked fine again. So I assume the cap/rotor combo on mine stopped working. I think you can isolate the problem to see if it's the cap/rotor/wires/plugs by taking off the distributor cap, and holding a lead to the secondary coil contact and putting the other end next to the engine block or another ground. If you try and start the car and have spark between them, your distributor is probably ok and the problem is further down the line.

secondary coil.jpg

I assume no responsibility if this electrocutes you.

[Petros]

make sure the distributor is turning, could be broken timing belt or sheared off distributor gear pin. easy to miss when you find there is no spark and start thinking something is wrong with the distributor.

[grouchytom]

rotor turns when I turn starter over still no spark

[grouchytom]

can the condenser cause a no spark condition?

[grouchytom]

Anyone know if a 4afe distributor from a 90 corolla alltrak will interchange?

[Petros]

it will not fit, it is a completely different design, drive and mount is different. the 4ac distributor from a corolla will interchange.

The condenser must be installed and grounded properly or it will not run. check for corrosion and that connection is good.