TheSamba.com :: View topic - trying to get my coil to work, came upon a loose cable

Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:52 pm

Put on my new blue bosch and while doing it, this cable sprung up, but I don't know from where.

It has a spring on the end and it goes around the back into the big fan cover, bottom right. I am hoping that why it won't start. I don't think I would be that lucky.
any ideas?

It's not the cable that hooks to the carb that is connected to the gas pedal.

TIA

http://www.chromewiretie.com/loosecable.jpg

Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:54 pm

Maybe the font color is not "default". If it's white then white-on-white - well that's just aint kosher!

Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:55 pm

The moderators are watching you like a hawk and they just don't like what you're typing?

Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:55 pm

no the font is default and I tried another one with font color blue

Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:56 pm

Put on my new blue bosch and while doing it, this cable sprung up, but I don't know from where.

It has a spring on the end and it goes around the back into the big fan cover, bottom right. I am hoping that why it won't start. I don't think I would be that lucky.
any ideas?

It's not the cable that hooks to the carb that is connected to the gas pedal.

TIA

http://www.chromewiretie.com/loosecable.jpg

Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:32 pm

Does it attach to the RH thermostat flap via a lever sticking out between the shroud and manifold? If it does it's the warm air control for the air cleaner.

As for the no start it has nothing to do with it, got spark? maybe your new coil is NFG.

Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:36 pm

I love that "NFG". Man if that isn't copyrighted, you should go for it. It's simple, yet conveys so much...

Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:40 pm

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Must be a bug with the PHP code.

Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:48 pm

Glenn,

I thought you might be older (than a teenager) based on your "join date". But that observation is pretty sharp. Well done!

Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:49 pm

ok testing the coil old and new,

pulled the center plug from the dist. cap, hold next to metal ground and with the wife starting the bus, I should see blue spark. Which I don't.

I also don't understand how the coil can create a spark. I thought the points did.

I am not a wrench, trying to learn, so please type slow.

thanks

Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:52 pm

RobWeidman wrote: Glenn,

I thought you might be older (than a teenager) based on your "join date". But that observation is pretty sharp. Well done!
I'm an old Assembler guy and have been writing code since 1973. ;)

bug/bus boy john wrote:
I also don't understand how the coil can create a spark. I thought the points did.

I am not a wrench, trying to learn, so please type slow.

thanks
The points are a switch. When close the current flows through the coil. When they open the coil fires the high voltage line.

Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:54 pm

You and I are very much alike. I started when punch cards were still in use. Nonetheless, that's a keen observation. Are you still involved in Software/Systems?

Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:59 pm

So you know a IBM 5088 is a punch card then.

Yes... doing z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE and Linux/390 on IBM z/890 and a new z/10 box. I work for a small outsourcing company and do systems software.

Mainframes never went away.

Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:07 pm

Glenn, I knew there was wisdom in you earlier responses to my questions, especially when we were on opposite sides of the isle (so to speak).

Thanks for your continued presence here. Goodness knows we need more like you.

Now, let's get this neon sportin feller on his way.

Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:52 pm

Did you change anything else other than the coil? Did you put the green wire from the distributor on the #1 terminal and nothing else? Did you connect the black wire to #15?

A coil builds a high voltage charge while the points are closed, when the points open the field collapses and the charge heads for the plugs.

Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:05 pm

bug/bus boy john wrote: ok testing the coil old and new,

pulled the center plug from the dist. cap, hold next to metal ground and with the wife starting the bus, I should see blue spark. Which I don't.

I also don't understand how the coil can create a spark. I thought the points did.

I am not a wrench, trying to learn, so please type slow.

thanks

Reads this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignition_coil

Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:23 pm

thanks for the link, I understand more as I read things over and over.

Yes I have only a single wire,. from the dist. to the #1 on the coil.

there are three wires going to #15, as my old one had also.

I changed nothing else but the coil and I took off my air filter

I am going to hit the auto store tomorrow and get some kind of tester light to see if I even have current going to the coil.

Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:46 am

can I test if powere is going to my coil with some kind of tester light?

Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:18 am

Yes, a basic 12 volt test light connected between #15 and a good ground will tell you if it's getting power. Then connect it between #15 and #1 and crank the engine, it should blink on and off.

Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:03 am

Will the original poster please edit the thread subject to reflect the actual problem? Thanks