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.

[Thorshammer]

This is interesting. and some of your answers are very helpful, but here goes.


As far as spark, there are two things you must know. Does it have spark and IS there enough spark energy to fire the mixture. So this is what you need to do:

Go down to the local auto parts store and BUY a spark checker, They cost almost nothing (5.00). Buy the one that has a ground clip and adjustable electrodes. Attach the electrodes to the wire and open the electrode gap on the tester to 8mm. Why so large you ask. You need to verify that under the pressure of combustion that there is anough available spark energy to fire the plug. You see, as the compression pressure goes up, the required spark energy also increases. As mixture becomes richer, more spark energy is needed to jump the spark plug gap as well. This 8mm gap is simulating the required spark energy to fire the plug under any conditions. This is how you test spark. It's cheap and easy to do it right.

Erik Madsen