Won’t start - Dumb question

[jwebb]

Drove car into garage 2 months ago, turns over, has fuel, looks like no spark! First place to check??

[Ted G]

Check inertia switch, clutch safety switch and/or neutral safety switch. Then check coil wires with volt meter.

[GTBradley]

Is your coil mounted to the engine? Just a guess base on memory of other posts. Vibration can kill a coil.

[emac]

Make sure it is No spark. Test for spark at a plug. If no spark move to coil wire at dizzy, then to the coil.

These are handy for a quick test of spark:

https://www.harborfreight.com/in-line-spark-checker-63590.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12144811130&campaignid=12144811130&utm_content=117789285598&adsetid=117789285598&product=63590&store=532&gclid=CjwKCAiAoL6eBhA3EiwAXDom5kNuJkEZYpmnqCJqoH8h k9tMKZw32vUQtWfwjjs9QZsJhqotyVFjvRoCcSMQAvD_BwE

[Norm B]

Is there a tach signal while cranking? If there is then your distributor is functioning correctly and providing the intermittent ground signal. If not check the distributor wiring and pull the cap to check for corrosion. Crank the engine while the cap is off and make sure the rotor turns.
Pull a spark plug. See if it is wet with fuel. Test for spark at the plug.(do this with a spare plug or as far away from the open spark plug hole as possible).
If no spark then, check for 12 volts at the + coil terminal with the ignition on. If no then trouble shoot wiring and ignition switch.

If yes and still no spark, try another coil.

Norm

[jwebb]

Other source for ignition switch? FFR out of stock. Had a switch problem when we first built the car. Thanks for the suggestions, will advise outcome!!

[jab351w]

Is there a tach signal while cranking? If there is then your distributor is functioning correctly and providing the intermittent ground signal. If not check the distributor wiring and pull the cap to check for corrosion. Crank the engine while the cap is off and make sure the rotor turns.
Pull a spark plug. See if it is wet with fuel. Test for spark at the plug.(do this with a spare plug or as far away from the open spark plug hole as possible).
If no spark then, check for 12 volts at the + coil terminal with the ignition on. If no then trouble shoot wiring and ignition switch.

If yes and still no spark, try another coil.

Norm

All good advice, just a couple of notes: If you're using the FF ignition switch the gauges won't get power when the key is in the cranking position, so you can't use the tach itself to check for a tach signal. In that case, you can use a meter with frequency counter or high-impedance (LED) test light connected to the tach wire to check for a tach signal. Also if you have an ignition box (MSD, Holley, etc.), there won't be +12V at the coil positive terminal, either with key on or while cranking. See "Checking for Spark" on page 9 for instructions appropriate instructions to test an MSD box. Most other boxes will have similar instructions:

https://static.summitracing.com/global/images/instructions/msd-6425.pdf

[weendoggy]

If you have fuel, that system is good, even the inertia switch if it's wired to run the pump. If you indeed have fuel pressure, you can run temporary jumper wires to power the coil on the engine side and use a remote starter button to control things while you check. If you need to check the coil, pull the coil lead from the distributor and hold it about 1/2" from the block while cranking the engine with the key. If you have spark, you have spark! Then it's just finding out where the drop out is. So many things to test without some details.

[Theshandman]

Other source for ignition switch? FFR out of stock.
Hope you don't need one and have to spend the $$, but I went with a Ron Francis (https://www.summitracing.com/parts/rfw-is07) Ignition sw from Summit to match the look of the other RF switches on my dash