I tried jumping directly to the coil, got nothing. I think I did it
right - it was hard to shove the cable in there, but anyway, this
indicates a bad coil then?

Mike Romain wrote:
> No.
>
> If the ballast 'wire' was bad, the engine would fire up and run as long
> as the starter is turning. The engine would then die as the key goes to
> run.
>
> He has the opposite happening. He gets one spark flash as the key goes
> to run which indicates a bad ballast bypass wire from the solenoid to
> the coil or an ignition module issue.
>
> He needs a multimeter or he will end up going nuts tossing parts at a
> non starter.
>
> Running a power line directly to the coil positive will sort that out fast.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

 

You need to find out if the coil is getting power or if the ignition
module has issues. You need a meter or test light to do this.

Mike

The Merg wrote:
> I tried jumping directly to the coil, got nothing. I think I did it
> right - it was hard to shove the cable in there, but anyway, this
> indicates a bad coil then?
>
> Mike Romain wrote:
>> No.
>>
>> If the ballast 'wire' was bad, the engine would fire up and run as
>> long as the starter is turning. The engine would then die as the key
>> goes to run.
>>
>> He has the opposite happening. He gets one spark flash as the key
>> goes to run which indicates a bad ballast bypass wire from the
>> solenoid to the coil or an ignition module issue.
>>
>> He needs a multimeter or he will end up going nuts tossing parts at a
>> non starter.
>>
>> Running a power line directly to the coil positive will sort that out
>> fast.
>>
>> Mike
>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

 

You need to find out if the coil is getting power or if the ignition
module has issues. You need a meter or test light to do this.

Mike

The Merg wrote:
> I tried jumping directly to the coil, got nothing. I think I did it
> right - it was hard to shove the cable in there, but anyway, this
> indicates a bad coil then?
>
> Mike Romain wrote:
>> No.
>>
>> If the ballast 'wire' was bad, the engine would fire up and run as
>> long as the starter is turning. The engine would then die as the key
>> goes to run.
>>
>> He has the opposite happening. He gets one spark flash as the key
>> goes to run which indicates a bad ballast bypass wire from the
>> solenoid to the coil or an ignition module issue.
>>
>> He needs a multimeter or he will end up going nuts tossing parts at a
>> non starter.
>>
>> Running a power line directly to the coil positive will sort that out
>> fast.
>>
>> Mike
>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

 

You need to find out if the coil is getting power or if the ignition
module has issues. You need a meter or test light to do this.

Mike

The Merg wrote:
> I tried jumping directly to the coil, got nothing. I think I did it
> right - it was hard to shove the cable in there, but anyway, this
> indicates a bad coil then?
>
> Mike Romain wrote:
>> No.
>>
>> If the ballast 'wire' was bad, the engine would fire up and run as
>> long as the starter is turning. The engine would then die as the key
>> goes to run.
>>
>> He has the opposite happening. He gets one spark flash as the key
>> goes to run which indicates a bad ballast bypass wire from the
>> solenoid to the coil or an ignition module issue.
>>
>> He needs a multimeter or he will end up going nuts tossing parts at a
>> non starter.
>>
>> Running a power line directly to the coil positive will sort that out
>> fast.
>>
>> Mike
>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

 

You need to find out if the coil is getting power or if the ignition
module has issues. You need a meter or test light to do this.

Mike

The Merg wrote:
> I tried jumping directly to the coil, got nothing. I think I did it
> right - it was hard to shove the cable in there, but anyway, this
> indicates a bad coil then?
>
> Mike Romain wrote:
>> No.
>>
>> If the ballast 'wire' was bad, the engine would fire up and run as
>> long as the starter is turning. The engine would then die as the key
>> goes to run.
>>
>> He has the opposite happening. He gets one spark flash as the key
>> goes to run which indicates a bad ballast bypass wire from the
>> solenoid to the coil or an ignition module issue.
>>
>> He needs a multimeter or he will end up going nuts tossing parts at a
>> non starter.
>>
>> Running a power line directly to the coil positive will sort that out
>> fast.
>>
>> Mike
>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

 

I have a test light - I'm assuming I need to check the wires going 'to'
the coil? I'm pretty sure my dad has meters around too, at least he did
last I checked.
So I still need to check if the coil is getting power even though
nothing happened when power was run directly to it?

Mike Romain wrote:
> You need to find out if the coil is getting power or if the ignition
> module has issues. You need a meter or test light to do this.
>
> Mike
>
> The Merg wrote:
>> I tried jumping directly to the coil, got nothing. I think I did it
>> right - it was hard to shove the cable in there, but anyway, this
>> indicates a bad coil then?
>>
>> Mike Romain wrote:
>>> No.
>>>
>>> If the ballast 'wire' was bad, the engine would fire up and run as
>>> long as the starter is turning. The engine would then die as the key
>>> goes to run.
>>>
>>> He has the opposite happening. He gets one spark flash as the key
>>> goes to run which indicates a bad ballast bypass wire from the
>>> solenoid to the coil or an ignition module issue.
>>>
>>> He needs a multimeter or he will end up going nuts tossing parts at a
>>> non starter.
>>>
>>> Running a power line directly to the coil positive will sort that out
>>> fast.
>>>
>>> Mike
>>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>>> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
>>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

 

I have a test light - I'm assuming I need to check the wires going 'to'
the coil? I'm pretty sure my dad has meters around too, at least he did
last I checked.
So I still need to check if the coil is getting power even though
nothing happened when power was run directly to it?

Mike Romain wrote:
> You need to find out if the coil is getting power or if the ignition
> module has issues. You need a meter or test light to do this.
>
> Mike
>
> The Merg wrote:
>> I tried jumping directly to the coil, got nothing. I think I did it
>> right - it was hard to shove the cable in there, but anyway, this
>> indicates a bad coil then?
>>
>> Mike Romain wrote:
>>> No.
>>>
>>> If the ballast 'wire' was bad, the engine would fire up and run as
>>> long as the starter is turning. The engine would then die as the key
>>> goes to run.
>>>
>>> He has the opposite happening. He gets one spark flash as the key
>>> goes to run which indicates a bad ballast bypass wire from the
>>> solenoid to the coil or an ignition module issue.
>>>
>>> He needs a multimeter or he will end up going nuts tossing parts at a
>>> non starter.
>>>
>>> Running a power line directly to the coil positive will sort that out
>>> fast.
>>>
>>> Mike
>>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>>> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
>>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

 

I have a test light - I'm assuming I need to check the wires going 'to'
the coil? I'm pretty sure my dad has meters around too, at least he did
last I checked.
So I still need to check if the coil is getting power even though
nothing happened when power was run directly to it?

Mike Romain wrote:
> You need to find out if the coil is getting power or if the ignition
> module has issues. You need a meter or test light to do this.
>
> Mike
>
> The Merg wrote:
>> I tried jumping directly to the coil, got nothing. I think I did it
>> right - it was hard to shove the cable in there, but anyway, this
>> indicates a bad coil then?
>>
>> Mike Romain wrote:
>>> No.
>>>
>>> If the ballast 'wire' was bad, the engine would fire up and run as
>>> long as the starter is turning. The engine would then die as the key
>>> goes to run.
>>>
>>> He has the opposite happening. He gets one spark flash as the key
>>> goes to run which indicates a bad ballast bypass wire from the
>>> solenoid to the coil or an ignition module issue.
>>>
>>> He needs a multimeter or he will end up going nuts tossing parts at a
>>> non starter.
>>>
>>> Running a power line directly to the coil positive will sort that out
>>> fast.
>>>
>>> Mike
>>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>>> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
>>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

 

I have a test light - I'm assuming I need to check the wires going 'to'
the coil? I'm pretty sure my dad has meters around too, at least he did
last I checked.
So I still need to check if the coil is getting power even though
nothing happened when power was run directly to it?

Mike Romain wrote:
> You need to find out if the coil is getting power or if the ignition
> module has issues. You need a meter or test light to do this.
>
> Mike
>
> The Merg wrote:
>> I tried jumping directly to the coil, got nothing. I think I did it
>> right - it was hard to shove the cable in there, but anyway, this
>> indicates a bad coil then?
>>
>> Mike Romain wrote:
>>> No.
>>>
>>> If the ballast 'wire' was bad, the engine would fire up and run as
>>> long as the starter is turning. The engine would then die as the key
>>> goes to run.
>>>
>>> He has the opposite happening. He gets one spark flash as the key
>>> goes to run which indicates a bad ballast bypass wire from the
>>> solenoid to the coil or an ignition module issue.
>>>
>>> He needs a multimeter or he will end up going nuts tossing parts at a
>>> non starter.
>>>
>>> Running a power line directly to the coil positive will sort that out
>>> fast.
>>>
>>> Mike
>>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>>> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
>>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

 

Yes, I think so mostly because I am on this side of the computer.

I believe your coil is OK because of the flash on the timing light.

Using a test light or meter makes life a 'lot' easier.

When the key is in 'run', a test light should light up when hooked to
the coil positive.

The test light should stay lit when someone turns the key more to
'start' and the starter cranks.

If this happens, then put the test light on the negative side of the
coil and watch when someone cranks it. It should pulse or flicker.

If no pulsing, suspect the ignition module or coil pickup. There are
meter tests for the coil pickup. You need a multimeter for this. It is
easy.

Then you also should open the air filter, hold the choke open and hand
move the throttle linkage to watch the two squirts of gas that has to be
happening. If no gas, get back to us or toss a quarter cup of gas in
the carb and try it again to see what happens. If you get a roar,
suspect a blocked gas filter.

Mike

The Merg wrote:
> I have a test light - I'm assuming I need to check the wires going 'to'
> the coil? I'm pretty sure my dad has meters around too, at least he did
> last I checked.
> So I still need to check if the coil is getting power even though
> nothing happened when power was run directly to it?
>
> Mike Romain wrote:
>> You need to find out if the coil is getting power or if the ignition
>> module has issues. You need a meter or test light to do this.
>>
>> Mike
>>
>> The Merg wrote:
>>> I tried jumping directly to the coil, got nothing. I think I did it
>>> right - it was hard to shove the cable in there, but anyway, this
>>> indicates a bad coil then?
>>>
>>> Mike Romain wrote:
>>>> No.
>>>>
>>>> If the ballast 'wire' was bad, the engine would fire up and run as
>>>> long as the starter is turning. The engine would then die as the
>>>> key goes to run.
>>>>
>>>> He has the opposite happening. He gets one spark flash as the key
>>>> goes to run which indicates a bad ballast bypass wire from the
>>>> solenoid to the coil or an ignition module issue.
>>>>
>>>> He needs a multimeter or he will end up going nuts tossing parts at
>>>> a non starter.
>>>>
>>>> Running a power line directly to the coil positive will sort that
>>>> out fast.
>>>>
>>>> Mike
>>>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>>>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>>>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>>>> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
>>>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)