Coil problem?

BIGBADBEAUVAIS

MEMBER
FORD WINDSTAR

Hi, my father's 1986 Mercury Grand Marquis will not start. He replaced the coil already.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND
Over the phone he told me that he replaced the"box" that the coil wire from the distributor cap goes into. I looked online and the coil is in a square shape.

Ok so I had him take the coil wire off of the dist. Cap, run a peice of wire to it and hold on to it while he turned the key.
He did not get shocked, therefore there is no spark coming from the coil.

What else could the problem be? I am not familiar with Ford much and he is stranded where he lives in WV and I am diagnosing via phone from NC.

Thanks in advance for any help! Happy Holidays
Ralph Beauvais

5 Replies

JESSE777

MEMBER
37 POSTS

Start by checking for 'Key On' battery positive to the coil AND check to see if the rotor under the distributor cap turns when the engine is cranked.

Don't have him try that test again for spark, it is a nasty shock. A spark tester is best, alternatively rest the coil wire terminal a slight distance away from the engine block and crank the engine while observing for spark (remember no sparks near anything flammable).

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Saturday, December 16th, 2006 AT 1:35 PM

BAREFOOTBOB88

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60 POSTS

Now I'm not sure if your year of mercury was included in a recall they had for grand marquis in the 80's. But I had an 85 grand marquis and there was a recall for the ECM. That might be your problem. Like I said before though. I'm not sure what years that the recall coverd. Hope I helped.

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Saturday, December 16th, 2006 AT 6:49 PM

BIGBADBEAUVAIS

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3 POSTS

Hello, thanks for replying! Its tough troublshooting without seeing the vehicle.

Do you know on that model (1986 Ford Grand Marquis) is there a component between the battery and the coil that might be bad?

The coil is new and the starter turns over very well.
Someone made mention of possibility of a voltage regulator? Thanks again very much!
Ralph Beauvais

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Saturday, December 16th, 2006 AT 7:45 PM

BIGBADBEAUVAIS

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3 POSTS

Oh yeah, I checked, and as far as I can tell, there is only a recall for a fuel line problem.
R B

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Saturday, December 16th, 2006 AT 7:47 PM

BAREFOOTBOB88

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60 POSTS

Before I found out that the ECM was bad I replaced the voltage regulator. It didn't help. But if you want to start with something inexpensive. The voltage regulator could be the culprit.