Installing Ignition module and prestolite distributor

[popeye44]

My previous post mentioned duraspark I was mistaken "my bad :( " anyway I have a prestolite distributor and a new "very slightly used" ignition module. I am replacing my current distributor which is a points type. My problem is this. When wired as my haynes manual tells me I have no spark coming from the COIL. "50K volt accel" If anyone cares to look up the wiring for the module. It shows in my haynes manual that

Green goes to Ground post on coil.
Yellow goes to Positive post on coil.
The other two wires are both white I assume it doesn't matter which is connected to which since they both connect to black wires on the distributor. I've even tried swapping them to see if it makes a diff.

Any Ideas?

[35sNoLift]

Do you have voltage at the coil +? I don't have the manual handy but I think the yellow wire needs voltage from ignition run, and the coil + needs voltage from ignition run. The green does go to coil - and the white should go to distributor (doesn't matter which is which)

[popeye44]

Yes 12 volt at positive post on coil from ignition. everything seems like it should work.. thought maybe I'm missing something.

[Joe Guilbeau]

Measure from the Green Wire at the coil negative terminal to ground with a Voltmeter set to 20Vdc.

As you turn the ignition to the "On" position, but not start, you should see a voltage there.

When the engine is bumped, this voltage will go from full battery voltage to something less than 2Vdc.

If this does not happen, the dist wiring or the electronic module should be looked at.

The coil is controlled by the Negative terminal being grounded and then opened up, this is what the secondary of the coil sees as the induced EMF that is sent to the dist coil wire terminal.

[popeye44]

Thanks Joe, I did notice voltage at the green with key on.. But I haven't tried measuring when cranking.

[OldGrayGhost]

Mine came with the set-up you are installing (BID ignition system). It ran okay then my luck ran out. I replaced everything and still it doesn't work. I am upgrading to the Chevy HEI, much better spark, 30 amp spark vs 20 amp spark with BID and so much simpler. It is a 1 wire ignition system.

[Jeep Jeep]

Don't get rid of your points distributor. You can install a Petronics ignition, which replaces the pionts. Only two wires that go to the coil. No module to worry about.

[Joe Guilbeau]

Originally posted by popeye44:
Thanks Joe, I did notice voltage at the green with key on.. But I haven't tried measuring when cranking.Don't measure while cranking, measure as either you or someone else "bumps" the starter over to turn the distributor.

This will eventually trigger and open up the primary coil circuit, and as the distributor gets bumped around, it will provide a path to ground again.

What you want to do is measure the voltage differential between the coild being grounded on the negative side and the coil being open on the negative side (the system grounds/opens the Green Wire).

This will help you diagnose the health of the Ignition Module and the wiring associated with the system.

[popeye44]

Thanks again Joe, that'll help.

I may end up with pertronix on that with the accel coil. I was hoping to go tfi or hei but seems pretty expensive considering I paid 660.00 for the whole jeep.

[Joe Guilbeau]

Originally posted by popeye44:
Thanks again Joe, that'll help.

I may end up with pertronix on that with the accel coil. I was hoping to go tfi or hei but seems pretty expensive considering I paid 660.00 for the whole jeep.Thry out this web URL for some info on the Pertronix.

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2000/02/pertronix/index.shtml