Howdy all,

Been a while since Ive been here, but got my old Amazon back!

Cars been sitting fora while, and I had to hook up a new ignition switch to it.
So that’s where I am now, trying to I get it back ion the road.

I am not getting any spark to the points now.

What I’ve done:

New ignition switch.

Ive got power to the coil, connected to the positive. Terminal. and I’ve got power coming out of the coil, out of the negative post on the coil and down to the distributor.

Ive got power to the distributor and to the points. I have power to the tip of the points.

(By. The way, I am using a test light to check for power to the points. )

When I try to start the car, I am not getting any spark at the plugs, and not even a spark at the points.

Ive tested the coil, it’s good.

Ive switched around the wires on the ignition switch, still no spark.

It ran when it was parked two years ago, and the only thing that has changed is the ignition switch.

What. Do you all think I should try next?

Thanks all.
Im glad to be back
Kent

Hi,

Since this a point and condenser ignition system you could have a bad condenser.
The condenser is there to reduce arcing of the points. It works like a capacitor in that it charges up but if it shorted the power goes to ground. This would keep the coil from getting current to the primary winding.
A test light will light because it’s still a circuit.

When the point open this shuts off the current to the primary coil.
When this happens that coil will dump it’s magnetic field into the next winding and at the end of that winding is you spark plug. Bingo spark when that high voltage jumps to ground in the engine.

It isn’t a common things to have a bad condenser cause no spark as they are very reliable.
In your case the condenser or capacitor has gone funky. Age is the number one killer as it’s only turns of aluminum film that can corrode internally.

Make sure you have the wires on the points and condenser are correctly placed with insulator washers where they are supposed to be.
It’s very possible that they could cause the same problem of power going to ground and not THROUGH the ignition coil.

Hope this helps.

Phil

Hi Kent,

I found an early Volvo fault tracing manual that might help you get that Amazon running.
Put up your email address and I'll send it to you.

Bill

Hello ,
If the starter is bad . it could cause a voltage drop during cranking.
Good luck.


Steve