pmc_3
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| posted on 27/1/05 at 05:52 PM |
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Pinto wont start *update*
I went down to the garage armed with a multimeter and it would appear the coil is ok. I checked the points were sparking which they were and then I
checked the king lead was sparking which is was. I put it all back together and it wouldnt start  So I checked for a spark out the king lead again,
and it was now only sparking occasionally, not regularly. So, I presume I must have a bad connection somewhere?
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Peteff
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| posted on 27/1/05 at 06:16 PM |
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That sounds more and more like a duff coil. Next door had a problem with his Rover a couple of months ago and it was like that. It would spark 3 or 4
times each turn of the key, just enough to make you think it was trying to start. Get somebody to try starting it in the dark while you are watching
the coil area, see if it's tracking to earth anywhere.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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stevebubs
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| posted on 27/1/05 at 09:59 PM |
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If not running electronic ignition, could be points gap or dodgy capacitor.
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 27/1/05 at 10:09 PM |
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Try disconnecting the -ive side on the coil, put an old spark plug in the end of the king lead and rest this on a good earth, run a piece of wire to
the -ive on the coil and tap this on another good earth.
You should get a big spark everytime you tap out the wire to earth, if not ditch the coil
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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pmc_3
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| posted on 28/1/05 at 10:15 AM |
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I'll give what Mark said a go and if it still is only sparking some times i'll try buy a new coil and see if that fixes it. Cheers for the
input guys 
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pmc_3
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| posted on 28/1/05 at 08:22 PM |
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Right, i'm a bit confused now. I disconnected the coil and put a light between the connectors that go the + and - on the coil and turned the
engine over, the bulb flashed showing that the points are opening and closing.
I connected it back up and tried what Mark suggested. I disconnected the - on the coil and connected a piece of wire to it. I had a plug in a lead
connected. If I earthed the wire from the - every couple of seconds it sparked every time. If I touched more often, every second or a bit quicker, it
would only spark maybe 2 out of 5 times?
Is the coil not charging up properly? I'll buy one tomorrow if someone agrees, I just dont want to buy something and then find thats not causing
it.
Cheers for the input
[Edited on 28/1/05 by pmc_3]
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 28/1/05 at 08:36 PM |
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Coils are generally a bit like lamp bulbs either they are working perfectly, or they are totally bolxd. Have you changed the condensor? Is it the
right rating? I seem to remember from the dim and distant past something about different dizzys having different points gaps (Formoco vs Bosch).
The intermittent spark is a bit of a puzzler. I used to use the test setup as described to do DIY spark errosion. Use a 12v door bell buzzer to act as
points and connect the king lead to a turned piece of copper clamped 1mm off the stud to be removed. Adjust the gap every 20 mins or so as it eats
into the stud. Pay to have stuff done, not if I can help it.
Ah yes, back to the topic - I bought a new coil for my injection pinto, just because I wanted a new one, £11.50 +VAT
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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pmc_3
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| posted on 28/1/05 at 11:11 PM |
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In that case i'll get one and see if it fixes it 
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 28/1/05 at 11:23 PM |
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If you intend keeping the car for a while, why not get the lot. Dizz cap, rotor arm, points, condensor, coil, the whole lot should not cost more than
£25. Fit them one at a time to identify the problem just for piece of mind
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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britishtrident
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| posted on 28/1/05 at 11:48 PM |
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A Ford with points gnition won't cold start unless the ignition ballast ressistor by pass circuit is working, if it isn't you will only
get a very weak spark -- you should also check the coil is the correct type --- not a normal 12volt coil or one for electronic ignition.
Ford coils of this era are also very prone to dampess causing loss of spark. If the car has a Ford/Aulolite/Motorcraft distributer check thed points
carefully the gap closes up after initial running -- with this type of distributer the points gap is very wide 0.023-0.027" but will close up
as soon as the engines is run so should be reset to the nominal 0.025" after inital run
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pmc_3
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| posted on 29/1/05 at 09:23 AM |
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Right, i'm gonna go get the coil in a little while. Because I have a direct 12v feed, I take it I need a 12v non ballasted coil?
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Stu16v
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| posted on 29/1/05 at 12:10 PM |
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Correct.
You have tried flashing the 'earth' wire on the coil with a different king lead first though?
Dont just build it.....make it!
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pmc_3
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| posted on 29/1/05 at 07:31 PM |
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I got a new coil and it made no difference But I changed the condensor and points and I now have a nice healthy spark everywhere. Just need to sort
the ignition timing 
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