Is that what it is?

I pulled my plugs today to put in the new ones. Trailing plugs are fouled, black, ick. Leading plugs are white, hot?, ick.

I had been fiddling with replacing ignitors, and finally have 2 good ignitors.

But I pulled the wire, and got no spark. No spark at the distributor. Shouldn't there be spark? Engine doesn't change sound at all when I pull the trailing wires.

SO, I guess I need a new coil? The part that bolts onto the driver's side fender:

 

That is the coil, but doesnt mean the coil is bad.

Sounds like trailing igniter bad?

Coils usually will work until warmed up then go out and will work again until warmed up again, thne go out.

Trailing igniter is the one you have to take the dist out to get to, in between alt and dist.

 

While playing with you ignition you should swith over to Direct Fire Ignition! It runs smoother ! ! !

 

Don't need to remove the distributor to get the trailing ignitor out.

Just raise the alternator, and unscrew the ignitor. I have 2 good ignitors on the car.

 

What if the connection the ignitor goes on, is bad? Like a wire or something?

 

its easier to remove a 10mm nut and raise the dist.

 

I was having a problem with that when i first got my fb do u have spark at all? check it for a little bit. from what I am told the trailing plugs are used mostly for emmissions purposes. You will not show a difference is the way the engine runs when u take the trailing plugs off. PM me if u have some problems and I will give you a call to see if i can help.
Tony

 

Well, I assumed it would be enough to jump from the wire to the distributor if there was any spark.

How would I check for a little spark? Do it in the dark?

Well if it's mainly for emissions, I still need it...you should see the right wheel well in the morning...very little makes it back to the muffler, most comes out the front right tire area. Guess my exhaust is leaking, eh.

 

Take the plug wire off put a plug in the wire and lay the plug on the side of the engine compartment makeing sure the head of the plug is grounded to the car then turn over the engine. Make sure you unplugged all plugs, so the car doesnt start. you will see the spark if it is there. I wouldnt think the ingniter connection is bad, I would blame the igniter they go out easily, especially since they are old as hell.

If I was you, I would convert to Direct Fire and after you converted if the problem still exist then start to worry about it again. you can use stock 2nd gen coil and igniter, then theoretically you will have an extra igniter, but I think your trailing igniter is gone. If you convert to direct fire, you run one coil per plug on your leading plugs and the plug wire goes straight from the coil to the plug, bypassing the shitty dist ! ! ! Doesnt that sound better to you?

 

I have good coils and ignitors I have to find them they are in a box somewhere. If you can make it to lutz I can try to help ya out Rotary7 is out here almost every other day too PM me and let me know if you want us to take a look at it for you. I can hook up one of my extra coils to see if that helps you at all and if it does I'll give it to you for like 5 or 10 bux
Tony