Should a coil have 12V on both sides?
It is a coil which is nothing more than a very long wire,so you will see 12 volts on both sides if you refrence your meter to ground. Check and make sure the distributor is turning. If you have 12 Vdc at the coil and no spark at the plug then it has to be either the distributor or a bad wire.
What is the purpose of a 30 kV ignition coil test?
The purpose of this test is to evaluate the peak firing voltage of the ignition coil via a 30 kV test adapter under engine run conditions. Uninsulated HT pickups are designed to clip around double-insulated HT leads only – they are not designed for direct connection to a hazardous live voltage.
Where can I test the ignition coils in my car?
It’s easy enough to test your vehicle’s ignition coils yourself with a few tools from your local AutoZone. Even if you get a normal reading, ruling them out as the problem can help you narrow the issue with the ignition system.
Can a 12 volt ignition coil still work?
While ignition coils will generally last for the life of a vehicle, faulty spark plugs or spark plug wires can send irregular voltage surges through the ignition coil, causing the coil to burn out. You can test a 12-volt ignition coil for effectiveness by checking the resistance of its wire windings with a multimeter.
What should the meter read on a ignition coil?
The meter should read between approximately 0.4 and 2 ohms. If it does not, the coil’s primary winding is faulty. If the coil checks out test the main coil wire, that was removed from the distributor, for shorts.
The purpose of this test is to evaluate the peak firing voltage of the ignition coil via a 30 kV test adapter under engine run conditions. Uninsulated HT pickups are designed to clip around double-insulated HT leads only – they are not designed for direct connection to a hazardous live voltage.
How much current does an ignition coil need?
Current Ramp Testing Ignition Coils with an Oscilloscope. Modern E-core and COP (coil-over-plug) ignitions require as much as 7 amperes of primary current in order to produce 30,000-60,000 volts of spark output. The end result is the coil producing enough voltage to arc across a spark plug gap of 0.035 in. to 0.060 in.
Why do some ignition coils fail resistance tests?
Many defective ignition coils, for example, will pass a resistance test but fail a current ramp test. When testing multiple coil systems, the current ramp gives an excellent comparison of current flow through each coil in the ignition system and usually helps the technician arrive at a more accurate diagnostic conclusion.
How do you test the ignition coil on a car?
You may test the ignition coil while still mounted on the vehicle, if you have good access to it; otherwise, remove it. Unplug the electrical connector and the high voltage wire that connects the coil to the distributor. Unscrew the mounting bolts to remove the ignition coil from the vehicle.