No spark problem, 86 4kq

[Ameer Antar]

I don't think you can test spark by measuring current. There's not much current at all... mostly just very high voltage. It's ok for the coil to be slightly out of range... You may want to make sure all the low voltage wires going to the coil are clean and snug. The connections tend to corrode and can stall the engine at times if left unattended to. In fact, I'd try jiggling and cleaning all the wires around there and check for any corrosion.

The best way to check for spark is to get a little ignition tester gadget from the parts store for $5 or so. It connects at one end to the spark plug end of one of the ign wires and the other end has an alligator clip to be grounded to some well grounded metal. It has a threaded rod in the middle that can be adjusted to find out the appropriate gap that the spark can jump across. This way you can be sure about the ignition system. Another trick is to get an extra spark plug, remove one ign wire and attach it to the extra plug. Then get a wire w/ alligator clips and ground the casing of the spark plug. Crank the motor and see if it sparks. Be very careful that the wire doesn't slip off (you'll hear why later). If you don't have the wire, you can hold the plug's outer casing to some grounded metal using insulated pliers. Be extremely careful though and have another person inside the car to kill the ignition for you.  If you lift the spark plug away from the metal, the spark will try to jump through you and really cause some damage. That's why you need someone else to turn off the ignition. Also, keep away from gas fumes if there are any. good luck.

-Ameer

----Original Message----
Date: Tue, 4 May 2004 20:59:38 EDT
From: Shaggs1996 at aol.com
Subject: No spark problem, 86 4kq
To: quattro at audifans.com
Message-ID: <d4.bc3d78b.2dc9967a at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

I had posted last week about a no start problem after O2 sensor replacement.
Having thought it was fuel, and my friend saying I had spark, I tore the CIS 
apart, cleaned it and reinstalled it. 
With my fathers help today, we figured out there is NO spark.  Used a timing 
light (it works), and checked for current from the cap to cylinder number one, 
nothing.  Then we checked for current from the coil to the cap, nothing 
there!  We then checked the continuity of the coil itself via the bentley manual 
specs, specs are a tad off.  We then toss in another Audi distributor (we tried 
2, actually, both checked out fine), and neither solved the problem.
It appears there is something before the coil thats the problem, but what is 
it?  Control module perhaps?  How to check it?  What would you guys check 
next?  Ignition switch is a month or so old, rotor is a few months old, cap/wires 
are a little over a year old, and plugs are maybe 7 months old.
Thanks for your time and input!

Mike in Indiana, 86 4kq


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