What's the best way to test for spark?, Got fuel running to the rail... Options

[beemie96]

Okay, got the fuel pump pumping gas to the rail... (thanks to all that piped in there). (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif)

Now, I don't know if I'm getting spark.

Basically, what is the checklist for a non-starting car? the basic stuff first, since I think the car ran a number of years ago, and it's still looks pretty un-messed with, BUT, it looks like the coil is new, and some wiring and vaccuum hosing is new / cleaned.

So, I'm going to check the wiring to the coil and the sensors, make sure they're clean and un-broken and wired properly... i'd have done it last night, but it was midnight when i got the fuel pump going.

otherwise, though, what's the easiest way to verify that the plug are getting spark? without pulling the plugs... don't want to do that if I don't have to, i've stripped those things before... and that makes for a bad day.

[lapuwali]

Take a spark plug and hook it to any of the plug wires, setting it on the engine someplace where it threaded portion is touching the cases. Have someone crank the engine with the key, and watch the plug. The spark should be fairly obvious. If this doesn't work, try using the wire from the coil to the distributor cap (a plug will usually fit there, too). If that works, but the first doesn't, it's the rotor or the cap (or that one plug wire). If the coil wire doesn't work, you need to check your coil, points, and condensor.

Checking and cleaning wiring connectors is one step. Electrical problems are nearly always at the connectors, and connectors can look OK but not be passing any current, because of dirt and corrosion, or because of a weak connection. More than once, someone has stated that a connection is fine, then they pull on it gently and the wire comes out of the connector.

Points are easy to check with a test light or meter. The coil and condensor, however, basically need to be swapped out. Fortunately, they're cheap.

If you get spark and you have fuel, the last things on a D-Jet car are: CHT sensor, the car won't start without one, and the wire to it often fails at the sensor; trigger points in the base of the distributor, which rarely fail, but eventually do need to be replaced; fuel pressure, if it's way too low, the car won't start. Make sure the MPS connectors are clean and well-seated. If the MPS fails mechanically (won't hold vacuum), I believe the car will start, but will run very poorly. However, the connections to and from it have to be good, or the injectors will never fire.

Finally, if you have spark and fuel and all the D-Jet wiring looks OK, check your ignition timing statically. If the timing is way off, the car won't start. It can usually be advanced too much and start fine, but it can't be retarded very much before it will fail to start.