How can you tell if a coil is positive or negative?
Crank the engine over (do not start it) and the needle of the voltmeter should show an upward swing to the plus or positive side (do not worry about taking a reading). If volt the needle swings down to the negative side and gives a negative reading, your coil is hooked up backwards.
Can you hook up an ignition coil backwards?
To answer the original question, yes it will work if connected backwards but it will not work correctly. The design is for the current to flow in 1 direction and for the circuit break to be on the negative side of the coil. If wired backwards in a points type ignition it will almost act like a flaky condenser.
What is the negative side of an ignition coil?
When you hold the coil so the plug wires are to the left (like standard shovel or evo mounting, mounting holes at the rear), the negative side is on the top and the positive is on the bottom.
How do you hook up a ignition coil?
How to Hook Up an Ignition Coil
- Disconnect the battery negative (-) lead using a socket and ratchet. Locate the vehicle coil.
- Locate the coil wire leads and mark them positive (+) and negative (-).
- Connect the positive (+) coil lead wire to the positive (+) terminal of the coil using a small combination wrench.
Where is the positive coil on an engine?
The two primary terminals are usually labeled positive and negative. Check the engine repair manual for your make and model car before beginning work. Locate the positive coil wire, which runs from the ignition switch to the positive terminal of the ignition coil.
What do you need to know about later issue ignition coils?
Later issue ignition coils are marked “+” and “-” on the primary terminals. These are more no-brainers, as you only need to match the terminal markings to the battery posts. For positive ground the “+” terminal goes to the distributor (to be grounded on the engine block).
How can you tell the polarity of an ignition coil?
Hook up a voltmeter with the negative lead to the plug terminal and the positive lead to the block. Set the meter on the highest volt range. Crank the engine over (no need to start it), and you should see an upward swing of the voltmeter needle (don’t be concerned with taking a reading).
Where is the negative coil wire on a car?
Locate the negative coil wire. On most cars made before 1980, this wire connects to the points switch, which is located on the distributor. The distributor connects all of the spark plug wires. Most newer cars do not have a points switch, so that terminal is connected to ground or the negative terminal of the battery.