No Spark

bigred90gt · 09-30-2002, 02:54 PM

I have figured out that I am not getting any spark through my distributor. I pulled the #1 plug wire and put a plug in it. When turned the engine over, I was getting no spark in the plug. I have removed the TFI module and taken it to O'Riley and had it tested. All parts of the test have passed. What direction should I take now? What should the resistance in a stock coil and a MSD Blaster TFI coil be? Are there any wires before the coil that have a history of problems on these cars? Any other ignition components? I have to do something soon, My neighborhood was on the front page of the local paper for people with immoble vehicles and un-mowed yards. Having it towed is the last thing I need now. Thanks in advance for the help.
Caymon

FiveORookie · 09-30-2002, 03:40 PM

I had the same exact problem on my stock setup. I changed the wires, plugs, cap, rotors, ignition module, and coil. And still HAD NO DARN SPARK....... After much trial and tribulation I took out my distributor and took it apart and replace the pick-up coil (AKA stator coil) seeing that i work at Autozone I returned all of the stuf that I used but wasn't supposed to return. Chances are its your pick up coil. If everything else is checking out ok try that. This isn't the first time I've heard of it going on mustangs. Good luck and be gentle banging out the pins. I also lightly sanded everything when I was putting back together to make it easier by taking off 143,000 miles worth of oil vapor build up.

Vic

bigred90gt · 09-30-2002, 05:14 PM

About how much did the stato coil cost? I'm on a limited budget. How can I test the stator coil, so I don't have to buy one if that isn't the problem? Thanks.
Caymon

Tom S. · 09-30-2002, 07:03 PM

"I pulled the #1 plug wire and put a plug in it. When turned the engine over, I was getting no spark in the plug."

You're not going to get any spark in the plug unless you complete the circuit -- in other words, ground the plug. If you sit there and hold it, you won't see any spark jump in the gap, even if your coil works. Did you ground the plug? I'm just asking because I was in the same situation once... sat there and held the plug, not seeing any spark and thinking my coil was bad. Took a trip to the auto parts store where the people actually know what they're talking about to clue me in.

87gt17815 · 09-30-2002, 10:07 PM

I think that your problem is your pick-up coil. Because that is the component that tells you coil to fire. Whenever i test for spark insted of using the no. 1 wire and a plug, use the coil wire and a screw driver with an insulated handle and hold it about an 1\8 inch away from a ground after putting the srew driver in the end of the wire.

bigred90gt · 10-01-2002, 09:23 AM

I think I'm just going to nut up and buy a new distributor. Do the MSD distributor's come with a TFI module? How hard would it be to swap from EFI to carb, in hopes of doing away with the electronics? I know it won't pass emissions, but that is not a concern. How about the resistance values for the two coils? Also, how do you check them, pos to neg, pos to where the dist wire plugs up, ect?

Also, if I do buy a new distributor, how far do I have to turn the rotor past the #1 plug wire to get it to fall into place when the gears line up?
Thanks
Caymon

PKRWUD · 10-01-2002, 12:39 PM

Are you getting power to the positive side of the coil when the key is "on"?

FiveORookie · 10-01-2002, 02:26 PM

a pick up coil is about 15-20 bucks. Please change it. it doesn't justify buying a new distributor. I wouldn't recommend converting to carb either. The 5.0 EFI is a very capable system. A stock mass airflow can compensate for a lot of things. In order to tune a you have to change the jets for the right mixture and not to mention the mileage. The only time I would change to carb is if you have throttle b**lsh*T injection. As for the distributor question. BEFORE YOU PULL IT OUT MARK EVERYTHING!!!!!!! it will make it a lot easier. Mark where the base of the distributor lines up with the engine block and remember which way the rotor is facing the #1 wire on the COMPRESSION stroke. That is the only way of setting initial spark timing.if you just have to keep playing with it

Kamaro Killer · 10-01-2002, 06:57 PM

I'm having a problem similiar to this right now. If you figure it out, let us know! Take care, Keith

bigred90gt · 10-02-2002, 06:24 PM

I bought a new pick-up coil and was going to change it. I didn't have a press to get the gear off the shaft, so I took the pickup coil back bought a remanufactured distributor. I have a friend that works at O'Rileys, so I got the distributor for $50. I put it in, jump started it, and it cranked. Talk about a feeling of joy, I felt like a kid with a new toy. So me and a friend of mine were out testing it out, and after about 10 minutes of driving it, it died. Tried cranking it and all it would do was turn the starter. Finally after trying for a few minutes, the battery went dead again. We walked back to the house and got the truck, jumped it and it cranked fine. Drove it home and pulled the codes. I got KOEO-22. CM-22, 96. KOER-12. Any insight to this problems and these codes would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Caymon

bigred90gt · 10-03-2002, 11:28 AM

Any Ideas?????

bigred90gt · 10-05-2002, 12:51 AM

Anybody? Even an educated guess???

09-30-2002, 03:40 PM	#2
FiveORookie Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 26	Know what you mean I had the same exact problem on my stock setup. I changed the wires, plugs, cap, rotors, ignition module, and coil. And still HAD NO DARN SPARK....... After much trial and tribulation I took out my distributor and took it apart and replace the pick-up coil (AKA stator coil) seeing that i work at Autozone I returned all of the stuf that I used but wasn't supposed to return. Chances are its your pick up coil. If everything else is checking out ok try that. This isn't the first time I've heard of it going on mustangs. Good luck and be gentle banging out the pins. I also lightly sanded everything when I was putting back together to make it easier by taking off 143,000 miles worth of oil vapor build up. Vic

09-30-2002, 05:14 PM	#3
bigred90gt 2 Stangs in the Stable Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Baytown, TX Posts: 1,209	About how much did the stato coil cost? I'm on a limited budget. How can I test the stator coil, so I don't have to buy one if that isn't the problem? Thanks. Caymon __________________ '90 GT Under construction Best E.T. = Fast @ High Speeds - OK So I Lie. So What!!! 04 F-150 STX 4.2L 5 spd Rice Haters Club Member #128

10-01-2002, 09:23 AM	#6
bigred90gt 2 Stangs in the Stable Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Baytown, TX Posts: 1,209	I think I'm just going to nut up and buy a new distributor. Do the MSD distributor's come with a TFI module? How hard would it be to swap from EFI to carb, in hopes of doing away with the electronics? I know it won't pass emissions, but that is not a concern. How about the resistance values for the two coils? Also, how do you check them, pos to neg, pos to where the dist wire plugs up, ect? Also, if I do buy a new distributor, how far do I have to turn the rotor past the #1 plug wire to get it to fall into place when the gears line up? Thanks Caymon __________________ '90 GT Under construction Best E.T. = Fast @ High Speeds - OK So I Lie. So What!!! 04 F-150 STX 4.2L 5 spd Rice Haters Club Member #128

10-01-2002, 12:39 PM	#7
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Are you getting power to the positive side of the coil when the key is "on"? __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

10-01-2002, 06:57 PM	#9
Kamaro Killer Mustang Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 528	Sound familiar Chris? I'm having a problem similiar to this right now. If you figure it out, let us know! Take care, Keith __________________ 1993 GT 5.0-My Stang Rice Hater's Club Member 22

09-30-2002, 02:54 PM	#1
bigred90gt 2 Stangs in the Stable Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Baytown, TX Posts: 1,209	No Spark I have figured out that I am not getting any spark through my distributor. I pulled the #1 plug wire and put a plug in it. When turned the engine over, I was getting no spark in the plug. I have removed the TFI module and taken it to O'Riley and had it tested. All parts of the test have passed. What direction should I take now? What should the resistance in a stock coil and a MSD Blaster TFI coil be? Are there any wires before the coil that have a history of problems on these cars? Any other ignition components? I have to do something soon, My neighborhood was on the front page of the local paper for people with immoble vehicles and un-mowed yards. Having it towed is the last thing I need now. Thanks in advance for the help. Caymon __________________ '90 GT Under construction Best E.T. = Fast @ High Speeds - OK So I Lie. So What!!! 04 F-150 STX 4.2L 5 spd Rice Haters Club Member #128

09-30-2002, 07:03 PM	#4
Tom S. Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 14	"I pulled the #1 plug wire and put a plug in it. When turned the engine over, I was getting no spark in the plug." You're not going to get any spark in the plug unless you complete the circuit -- in other words, ground the plug. If you sit there and hold it, you won't see any spark jump in the gap, even if your coil works. Did you ground the plug? I'm just asking because I was in the same situation once... sat there and held the plug, not seeing any spark and thinking my coil was bad. Took a trip to the auto parts store where the people actually know what they're talking about to clue me in.

09-30-2002, 10:07 PM	#5
87gt17815 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bloomsburg,PA Posts: 34	I think that your problem is your pick-up coil. Because that is the component that tells you coil to fire. Whenever i test for spark insted of using the no. 1 wire and a plug, use the coil wire and a screw driver with an insulated handle and hold it about an 1\8 inch away from a ground after putting the srew driver in the end of the wire.

10-01-2002, 02:26 PM	#8
FiveORookie Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 26	a pick up coil is about 15-20 bucks. Please change it. it doesn't justify buying a new distributor. I wouldn't recommend converting to carb either. The 5.0 EFI is a very capable system. A stock mass airflow can compensate for a lot of things. In order to tune a you have to change the jets for the right mixture and not to mention the mileage. The only time I would change to carb is if you have throttle b*lshT injection. As for the distributor question. BEFORE YOU PULL IT OUT MARK EVERYTHING!!!!!!! it will make it a lot easier. Mark where the base of the distributor lines up with the engine block and remember which way the rotor is facing the #1 wire on the COMPRESSION stroke. That is the only way of setting initial spark timing.if you just have to keep playing with it

10-02-2002, 06:24 PM	#10
bigred90gt 2 Stangs in the Stable Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Baytown, TX Posts: 1,209	I fixed it!!!!! I bought a new pick-up coil and was going to change it. I didn't have a press to get the gear off the shaft, so I took the pickup coil back bought a remanufactured distributor. I have a friend that works at O'Rileys, so I got the distributor for $50. I put it in, jump started it, and it cranked. Talk about a feeling of joy, I felt like a kid with a new toy. So me and a friend of mine were out testing it out, and after about 10 minutes of driving it, it died. Tried cranking it and all it would do was turn the starter. Finally after trying for a few minutes, the battery went dead again. We walked back to the house and got the truck, jumped it and it cranked fine. Drove it home and pulled the codes. I got KOEO-22. CM-22, 96. KOER-12. Any insight to this problems and these codes would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Caymon __________________ '90 GT Under construction Best E.T. = Fast @ High Speeds - OK So I Lie. So What!!! 04 F-150 STX 4.2L 5 spd Rice Haters Club Member #128

10-03-2002, 11:28 AM	#11
bigred90gt 2 Stangs in the Stable Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Baytown, TX Posts: 1,209	Any Ideas????? __________________ '90 GT Under construction Best E.T. = Fast @ High Speeds - OK So I Lie. So What!!! 04 F-150 STX 4.2L 5 spd Rice Haters Club Member #128

10-05-2002, 12:51 AM	#12
bigred90gt 2 Stangs in the Stable Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Baytown, TX Posts: 1,209	Anybody? Even an educated guess??? __________________ '90 GT Under construction Best E.T. = Fast @ High Speeds - OK So I Lie. So What!!! 04 F-150 STX 4.2L 5 spd Rice Haters Club Member #128

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