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I'm running a MEl's distributor in my 2300. The truck ran fine in Saturday's race, loaded up and drove home. Sunday the truck cranked fine but would not start. Checked the plug wires and got no spark. Checked the coil wire at the distributor and got no spark. Checked the coil with the ignition on (motor not running) and was reading 9.7 volts on each of the plus and minus terminals. The coil was too hot to touch and when I removed it I could feel something rattling around inside it. I replaced the coil with a spare MSD just like the one I was running and the truck started and ran fine. Checked the voltage and still have 9.7 on each coil terminal with ignition on and motor not running. if I leave it like that for a few minutes the coil gets hot again. Two questions - did I just have a coil go bad, and should I be reading voltage on each coil terminal with the igniton on but motor not running? I would expect the plus terminal to read voltage, but not the minus. The only connection on the minus side is the tach wire and the wire to the Mel's unit.
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If the ignition coils you're using are oil-filled, do NOT mount them horizontally. The internal oil, if mounted horizontally, will not sufficiently cover the secondary windings & the coil will ultimately fail. Particularly with a 'hot' ignition system. Mount oil-filled coils vertically. -Dave- -
Yes you had a coil go bad,the voltage on the - side will read battery voltage till the ignition module grounds the system then the voltage should drop to zero.9.7 volts seems low unless you are running a ballast resistor.Low battery voltage will cause high amperage loads inside the coil resulting in higher operating temps and potential premature failure.Dave is absolutely right,always mount an oil filled coil verticaly.Check out this site for more ignition info. http://www.aa1car.com/library/ignition_coils.htmComment
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Distributor help
Thanks guys. the coil is mounted vetically so that isn't an issue. the voltage was probably reading low because i don't run an alternator and i's run the battery down some trying to crank it. I appreciate the advice, as always this board is great at providing help.Comment
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