O.K., after fighting and probably losing the battle with the fuel system in my still non starting 1981 245, I find that after all the fresh fuel fumes have cleared, I now do not seem to be getting any spark. However, I am not sure I am checking for it properly.

I have looked in my Bentley's and other manuals, and what I have been done is pulled the number one plug and layed it with it's plug wire attached, in various places on the engine where I hoped it would ground and spark when the engine was turned over. I am not getting anything, and am wondering if I am doing something wrong.

If I am doing things correctly and I indeed have no spark, then where I should start looking for the cause. The car has a new cap and rotor, decent plug wires, and near new plugs. I have also swapped out the fuel pump relay.

I would like to be sure the lack of spark is not my problem before I attempt to tear apart the rest of my fuel distribution system.

Thanks!

Cory

81 244 & 245, 83 244T, 89 765, 93 245....and a wife thinks I have way too many cars!

I have a carbed car that recently cut out on me. Found occasional spark. Was stumped. Then I checked the wire from the coil to the condensor on the distributor - bad connection.

So if you have a similar wire (not ign cable) from coil to distributor, check it.

Btw, how do people check for spark, if you're stranded with nobody to turn the ign key for you? Sven's Maintainer's method?
--
1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans in Brampton, Ont.

I always do that with the hood hinge, even if I've got a second pair of hands. It's just a convenient spot to stick the end of the wire with its rubber boot. It'll stay put there and no one has to hold it.
--
Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 87 244DL- 249K, B230F/M47, Turbo sways, Bilsteins, GT braces, Virgos, Turbo exhaust, Gislaveds for winter!

You are doing it right... the car is doing it wrong.

Now that you have confirmed that there is no spark at the plugs, you move back and repeat the test at the hi-voltage wire coming from the coil. Just lay it so its end is 1/4 to 3/8 inch from engine or body and have somebody crank the engine while you look for spark.

If it's there, the trouble is isolated to the distributor cap & rotor. If it's missing, first check to see whether the distirbutor is even turning (I'm hinting at a broken timing belt). If the dizzy turns, you have a bad pickup unit or ignition module or similar primary ignition failure.

"You are doing it right... the car is doing it wrong" I like that one!

I'll try some more spark testing once it gets a bit darker.

Thanks!

Cory

Detach the coil wire at the distributor cap.
Tuck the wire end into the hood hinge area at driver's side.
So that the spark can ground to the hinge and body.
You should be able to see the spark when cranking the motor from the driver's seat.

Can't swear to it, but I think it will even work in daylight.


--
Sven: '89 245, IPD sways, electric rad. fan conversion, e-codes, 28+ mpg - auto tranny. 850 mi/week commute. '89 245 #2 (wifemobile). '90 244 (spare, runs).

O.K., after some fiddling around, and mostly getting nothing, I got a very weak little orange spark from grounding the coil wire. It seems to me that this should be much brighter and even blue, so I am going to try swapping in another coil tomorrow and see what happens.

Thanks!

Cory

Coil is usually the first thing replaced and the last to actually fix things (not to say that coils don't go bad). If that weak spark is there 2-3 times per second, then distributor and pickup are good.

Do you have the Chrysler ignition with the white distributor cap? These sytems have a whole group of issues unto themselves. I think your earlier post mentioned it being a 1981.

You are definitely on the right track.

A weak orange spark will not run an engine. You are looking for strong blue spark.

Replacing the coil might help simply because it will freshen the electrical connections on the coil. I would unplug and clean all the conections I can find on the primary side of the ignition before bothering to try another coil.

I already tried cleaning all of the connections and checking all of the wires I could find for breaks. The wiring harness and wires in general look very sound. I have a "spare" running 1983 244T, soon to be parts car, so it's coil can be easily moved over for more testing.

Also, my 1981 245 has the Bosch red cap ignition system.

Thanks!

Cory