Ignition problem, no spark to the distributor cap?

GOT 'IM RAZ!

I STAY ON HERE DAY AND NIGHT WAITING FOR A CJ....RUN AND GRAB A BITE.......BOO-YOW!....ONE POPS UP!

NEVER CAN BE FIRST.

DO YOU HAVE A VOLTMETER? KNOW HOW TO USE IT?

I CAN TELL YOU HOW TO TEST WHAT RAZ IS TALKING ABOUT

BUT FIRST, LET'S SEE WHAT YOUR VOLTAGE IS--"KEY ON" ON POSITIVE SIDE OF COIL.

I HAVE A HOMEMADE PICTURE

PRESENTLY HELPING WITH THE MOST RECENT CJ 7 IN THE CJ 7 FORUM, OUR THREAD WAS 81 ANSWERS STRONG, LAST I REMEMBER!

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU GOT---ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS I ASK, IF YOU WILL TRY NOT TO JUMPY AHEAD!

WANT TO GO IN A SYSTEMATIC ORDER TO GET THIS FIGURED OUT EFFICIENTLY.

HERE'S THE TEST PICK FOR COIL VOLTAGE (I HAVE LOTS OF PICS)---AND PICTURES OF MY PRESENT TWO

ALSO CAREFULLY READ THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THIS POST---STARTING AT "FEB 4". PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO SOLENOID, COIL, FUSIBLE LINKS

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1986-jeep-cj7-help-needed

I WILL HANG WITH YOU FOR THIS AND AND ANY OTHER CJ ISSUE YOU MIGHT HAVE...KEEP THROWING OUT THE QUESTIONS AND INFORMATION.

YOU WILL BE GOOD TO GO SOON!

THE MEDIC

I'LL READ THE BYPASS THING!---LIKE TO LEARN TOO!

SINCE YOU SAY YOU AND MR. VOLTMETER ARE "ONE"---I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER TEST TO PERFORM, WHILE YOU'RE AT IT

MY STUFF MAY BE KINDA CRUDE, BUT BEAR WITH ME!

IF WE FIND THAT THE DISTRIBUTOR PICK-UP IS BAD---I'LL TALK YOU THRU THE EZ WAY TO CHANGE IT OUT (WITHOUT HAVING TO FIND "TDC")

THING IS YOU DO NOT WANT TO SNATCH IT OUT OR EVEN LOOSEN AND TURN IT. UNTIL I TELL YOU HOW (UNLESS YOU ALREADY KNOW ALL OF THIS CRAP!)

1ST THING I WILL EXPLAIN IS THE "FORD TYPE" CONNECTORS TO YOUR MODULE AND DISTRIBUTOR

NO USE-EE SCREWDRIVER ON 'EM---YOU WILL BREAK THE LOCKING TABS OFF!

THIS IS EZ, BUT SOUNDS LIKE IT BREAKS THE LAWS OF LOGIC

GRASP THE WIRES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BIG CONNECTOR, GRAB 'EM TIGHT, AND JUST PULL HARD (NO JERKING!) THEY WILL COME RIGHT APART.

AS YOU BEGIN CONNECTIONS--YOURS ARE 29 YEARS OLD--AS YOU "DO CONNECTIONS" OF ANY SORT, LET'S BUY A TUBE OF "DIELECTRIC GREASE" AND SMEAR SOME ON ALL OF YOUR CONTACTS, WHEN YOU REASSEMBLE. THIS WILL SAVE FUTURE HEARTACHE!

WHILE YOU ARE AT IT, AND I DO NOT FORGET---LET'S HIT THE DIMMER SWITCH CONNECTOR WITH THE DIELECTRIC GREASE TOO----YOU WILL THANK ME! IF NOT, ONE NIGHT YOUR LIGHTS WILL FLASH OFF AND ON AT REALLY BAD TIMES, THEN GO OUT COMPLETELY, CONNECTOR WILL MELT, CONTACTS WILL SLIDE REARWARD IN THE HOLDER (SO GREASE IT UP NOW!)

DO YOU HAVE TUNE-UP STUFF-LIKE: A TACH/ DWELL METER--A PLAIN JANE TIMING LIGHT (NOTHING FANCY W/ K. NOBS AND DIALS)

I LIKE PICS--SEND ME A FEW--JEEP--UNDER HOOD--IN FOCUS-3 TO 4 FEET OUT

HOW HAS THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT GOT THRU THE LAST 29 YEARS?

MODIFICATIONS?

STUFF PULLED LOOSE, EXTRA WIRING, DANGLING STUFF?

IS THIS RIG GONNA HAVE TO PASS EMISSIONS TESTING?

WHEN DID IT RUN LAST, WERE YOUR THERE, HOW DID IT RUN?

DID YOU READ ABOUT THE COIL AND RESISTANCE WIRE?---IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU INSTALLED THE COIL THAT SAYS: "FOR USE W/ EXTERNAL RESISTOR"

$300?----LETS SEE A LOT OF PICS!

I HAVE OWNED NOTHING BUT REAL JEEPS SINCE 1981 FOR DAILY DRIVERS---I PICKED UP MOST OF MY KNOWLEDGE FROM MINE, AND HELPING OTHER PEOPLE W/ THEIRS. I PRESENTLY HAVE #6 CJ 5 258 w/ 4BBL HOLLEY 390("MR. JEEP") AND #7 1946 WILLYS L-134 FLATHEAD("WILLY"). BOTH HAVE BEEN REBUILT AND IMPROVED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS."WILLY" FROM NOTHINGNESS!

OK HERE'S YOUR NEXT TEST--ACTUALLY 2---TEST GROUND AND TEST P/U WITH CONTINUITY

THE MEDIC

I AM A VERY SLOW HUNT AND PECKER!

I WAS WRITING YOUR LAST NOVEL WHEN YOU POSTED ABOVE ME

THE COIL. WE WILL KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT ONE WHEN YOU SEND BACK YOUR VOLTAGE FROM THE 1ST TEST

I HAVE MANY MORE TRICKS, SO KEEP INFO FLOWING SO I KNOW WHICH WAY TO SET MY AZIMUTH, TO KEEP ON NAVIGATING THRU YOUR PROBLEM

I'M NOT "MR. TECHNICAL"---JUST A RURAL ROUTE COUNTRY BOY---WHOSE JEEPS HAVE NOT BEEN TO A "REAL MECHANIC'S SHOP" SINCE 1987

THINGS HAVE STUMPED ME---I HAVE MANY MANUALS---I KNOW SOME REALLY GOOD RESOURCES--TRICKS--WALMART SHARE ALBUMS W/ USER FRIENDLY MODS W/ EXPLANATIONS FOR SOME OF THE STUFF I HAVE DONE.'87 LAST TIME!--1ST WIFE TOOK IT THERE WHEN I WAS DEPLOYED

FROM '79 ON BACK, I HAVE DONE IT ALL---'80 FWD QUITE A BIT FOR OTHERS, USUALLY MODIFYING THEM BACK IN TIME, AND GETTING RID OF THE PESKY STUFF, SO WE CAN MAKE THE BEST OUT OF A SIMPLIFIED ENGINE-NO INSPECTIONS HERE

ON MY '77 IS MANUAL EVERYTHING THERE ARE 3 VACUUM LINES---PCV--VACUUM ADVANCE FOR THE DISTRIBUTOR--LAST ONE IS FOR THE VACUUM GAUGE ON MY DASH----AIN'T NO MORE NEEDED!

I WILL TRY TO KEEP YOUR COSTS LOW--BUT SOMETHINGS REALLY SHOULD BE REPLACED, AS YOU DO NOT KNOW THE HISTORY, IT'S WEAR, AND HOW MUCH MORE EFFICIENT IT MIGHT BE

LIKE THE DIST.--IF IT IS BAD, REPLACING THE P/U IN IT IS TIME CONSUMING, A PAIN, AND YOU STILL HAVE THE SAME THING!----ON THE OTHER HAND A RE-MANUFACTURED FROM A POPULAR AUTO PARTS STORE IS RIGHT AT $50--NEW GUTS, NEW BEARINGS/ BUSHINGS, AND A LIFETIME WARRANTY (EVERYTHING ON MY '77 IS JUST ABOUT A LIFETIME WARRANTY AND I KEEP A BOOK WITH ALL OF THE ORIGINALS AND OTHER STUFF TOO. IF THIS IS GONNA BE A KEEPER, DO IT RIGHT.

JUST SOME EXAMPLES BELOW

THE MEDIC

OK CONNECTOR IS THE ONE ON THE DISTRIBUTOR!--WELL ACTUALLY RIGHT THERE AT THE DIST WHERE THE WIRES GO INTO IT

THE TEST IN THE PIC IS FOR THE PICK-UP COIL..... CONTINUITY FOR 3 WIRES GOING INTO IT----ONE IS TO GROUND---OTHER TWO ARE CONTINUITY TO EACH OTHER (LATTER BEING THE PICK-UP ITSELF)

JEEP LOOKS TO BE DECENT--MAY BE YOUR FRIEND FOREVER, AS MINE ARE

FRED FLINTSTONE FLOORBOARDS NEED SOME ATTENTION!!!!

READ THIS ONE---KICKED MY BUTT FOR DAYS!---NEVER "ASSUME"

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1990-ford-ranger-cranks-wont-start

NEXT PICS, REMOVE AIR CLEANER--BOTH SIDES OF ENGINE---MAYBE A FOOT OR SO CLOSER (NOT A CLOSE UP, MOST OF THE ENGINE'S SIDES AND CARB) GET THE SOLENOID TOO!

TIMING LIGHT AND METER---PAWN SHOP MAY BE A GOOD PLACE--CALL AROUND.....FANCY IS UNNECESSARY!

THIS IS MY BUDDY'S SET--LESS THAN $40 AT 'HARBOR FREIGHT'--IT'S GOT 5 ITEMS, NICE "GET BY SET"---ALL IN ONE SMALL CASE (MY STUFF IS ANCIENT, BIG AND BULKY, BUT I HAVE TE SAME ITEMS!)

JUST FOR GIGGLES---POUR 2-3 EATIN' SPOON-FULS OF FUEL DOWN THE CARBTRY IT (MAYBE CHOKE IT)WHAT'S IT'S REACTION? DIFFERENT? ALMOST? FOR A SECOND? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING?

'NOTHER GOOD QUESTION---STILL GOT ORIGINAL CHOKE SET-UP? OR IS IT MANUAL?

SEE DIS?--I HAVE 2 (ONE TO INSURE THE OTHER IS NOT BURNED OUT!)---NO YOU CAN'T HAVE MY SPARE! LOL!

VERY GOOD THING TO KEEP WITH YOU---QUICK AND EZ----SOON I WILL CLUE YOU IN ON THE SECRETS OF HAVING IT ALL--WHEN YOU AIN'T AT HOME!

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/OEM-In-line-ignition-spark-tester/_/N-268s?counter=1&filterByKeyWord=SPARK+TESTER&fromString=search&itemIdentifier=900800_0_0_

SENDING YOU A MESSAGE--- HOME--CLICK YOUR NAME--LOOK LEFT FOR MESSAGE CENTER

YOUR TURN

THE MEDIC

ALL OF THIS IGN CONNECTOR STUFF CAN BE FOUND IN 70s-80s FORD VEHICLES AT SALVAGE YARD---CAN BE BUTT-SPLICED IN

MY BIG!---COLORED DIAGRAM I MADE SPECIAL FOR ME? SEE PICTURE

THE MEDIC

IN THE "3 WIRE CONNECTOR TEST"----WIRE COLORS ARE LABELED WHERE I POINTED TO PRONGS IN PICS

YOU CAN TEST JUST BY USING THEM (WIRE COLOR)---THIS SHOULD LET US KNOW IF ITS THE DISTRIBUTOR OR NOT

THE MEDIC

HERE'S A MODIFIED PIECE OF A DIAGRAM

THE MEDIC

CAN YOU UNDERSTAND ALL I HAVE GIVEN YOU?

SOMETIMES I GET CARRIED AWAY!

SLOW ME DOWN OR STOP ME IF YOU GET LOST, DON'T WANT YOU MESSIN' YOUR JEEP UP!

I TRY TO DO ALL I CAN ON 2CAR SO THAT OTHERS WHO MIGHT READ THIS MAY BENEFIT ALSO, AS YOU SEE, I GO BACK AND STEAL FROM OTHER POSTS, TO KEEP THE HUNTING AND PECKING TO A MINIMUM.

THE MEDIC

HERE'S THE BEST THING I COULD FIND SO FAR

I RECOMMEND A 1979 CARB---KINDA ONE OF THE LAST "SIMPLE" BBDs...IT HAS NO STEPPER MOTOR....I KEPT 2, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A 4 BARREL ON MINE

I REALLY DO NOT THINK YOU CAN GO WRONG WITH THIS

I'VE DONE YOUR HOMEWORK--IF YOU REBUILD AND SOMETHING IS WRONG---AIN'T NO WARRANTY!!!!...AND THE HASSLE...CLEANER...KIT.....MAYBE NO EXPERIENCE

MOST LIKELY HAS A WARRANTY

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_x_5121140-P_x_x?cm_mmc=CSE-_-Shopzilla-_-VALUE3-_-VALUE4&srccode=cii_10043468&cpncode=22-187227193-2#utm_source=cse&utm_medium=shopzilla&utm_campaign=value3&utm_content=value4

I LOOKED AROUND A LOT---THEY GET EXPENSIVE

WHEN YOU GET THE FIRST ONE---KEEP YOUR OLD CARB---YOU MAY NEED PARTS/ BRACKETS ETC

LATER YOU CAN USE IT FOR A CORE IF YOU HAVE TO GO W/ A MORE EXPENSVE ONE W/ A BIGGER CHARGE.......NEVER GIVE UP ANY KIND OF CORE, UNTIL YOU ARE GOOD TO GO W/ YOUR NEW PART!

WHATCHU THINK?

JUST 'MEMBER, THIS IS BEST VEHICLE YOU EVER OWNED...GOTTA TAKE CARE OF HIM!

THE MEDIC

LOOK AT JULY 1, "MY" 4TH ANSWER----ON THIS POST

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1989-ford-bronco-ignition-issues

YOU WILL NOT BE HAPPY--THIS IS A JOB FOR A CHINESE MIDGET--A MIRROR AND STRONG LIGHT MAY SHOW YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO DO---BUT IT'S GONNA ALL BE BY "FEEL" WHEN YOU START MESSING WITH IT

DID YOU RECEIVE THE 1979 WIRE DIAGRAM?

THE COLORS AND POSITIONS OF THE WIRES AT THE IGNITION SWITCH SHOULD BE THE SAME---IF YOU WANT ME TO---I CAN MAYBE SEGREGATE OUT THAT PORTION AND LABEL WHAT VALUES YOU SHOULD BE GETTIN' WITH YOUR KEY IN DIFFERENT POSITIONSTHIS CAN BE DONE BY USING A TEST LIGHT OR VOLTMETER----AND STABBING STRAIGHT PINS INTO THE WIRES TO DO THE TESTINGLET ME KNOW

IF YOU WANNA JUST GIVE HIM A QUICK TEST---AND BUYING ANOTHER IGN SWITCH AIN'T AN ISSUE (OR YOU THINK IT COULD BE RETURNED)

UNSNAP THE WIRES OFF OF THE OLD SWITCH (LEAVE IN PLACE) SNAP THEM ONTO THE NEW SWITCH (DANGLING FREE, AROUND YOUR PEDALS)

INSURE YOU ARE IN NEUTRAL, AND MOVE SWITCH POSITIONS USING A SMALL SCREWDRIVER OR OTHER ---INSERTED INTO THE SWITCH'S "ROD" HOLE

........REMEMBER "START" IS SPRING LOADED AND WILL BE SORTA HARD TO ACTUATE INTO THAT POSITION......YOU'LL GET THE HANG OF IT!

ARE MY ANSWERS.......UNDERSTANDABLE?.......ARE THEY AIDING YOU?

YOU DO REALIZE....YOU ARE MOST LIKELY GONNA HAVE TO TAKE ME TO "KRYSTAL'S" AT LEAST TWO TIMES????........EACH TRIP 12 CHEESE KRYSTALS, MAYO, ONION, (AND OF COURSE...CHEESE!)JUST NO MUSTURD!!!!

I'M DEFINITELY HAVING A HANKERING FOR SOME!

THE PICS ARE SO NICE TO SEE---I SELDOM GET TO SEE WHAT I AM WORKING ON----KEEP 'EM COMING!

DID YOU RECEIVE THE WALMART ALBUMS?......I WILL SEND OTHERS

YOUR TURN

THE MEDIC

PIC OF MY 1ST 1977 CJ 5 W/ 304 TAKEN IN '83, I SORTA MIMICKED THE PAINT SCHEME ONTO MY PRESENT 6TH CJ 5 (IT TOO IS A 1977, BUT W/ 258)

WHAT'S THE "BLACK WAD" TO THE RIGHT OF IT?

HOW MANY WIRE GO IN/ OUT?

CAN YOU MAYBE TRACK A FEW OF IT'S WIRES TO THEIR DESTINATION----REPORT BACK W/ COLOR AND COLOR OF "TRACER STRIPE" ON IT WHERE THE WIRES GO

I HAVE MANY MANUALS NEED NUMBERS AND COLORS TO "BACKTRACK"

THE MEDIC

WILL IT RUN IF YOU UNPLUG IT?

STILL LOOKING FOR WHAT IT IS--IS THIS A CALIFORNIA JEEP?

I FEEL THAT IT IS SOMETHING TO DO W/ THE COMPUTER---COMPUTERS JUST HAD BEEN PUT IN THOSE YEARS---THE CARB W/ THE STEPPER MOTOR ON THE REAR IS ABOUT ALL THAT GOT CONTROLLED BY THE COMPUTER----ABANDONING AND CAPPING OFF STUFF, AND CHANGING TO A '79 CARTER BBD CARB (NO STEPPER) WILL HAVE YOU RUNNING GREAT!

THE MEDIC