No power from coil pack

Tiny
CODYJAMES1
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 FORD RANGER
  • 2.9L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 200 MILES
Just dropped a rebuilt motor into my truck and have all the wiring hooked up correctly, but my ignition coil won’t put out a spark. I’ve tried several new coils and still nothing. I have power all the way to the coil just nothing coming from it, to the distributor cap.
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Saturday, September 7th, 2019 AT 7:26 PM

33 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Good morning.

Take a test light and test for power on the negative side of the coil with the key on.

Then have someone crank the engine and see if the test light flashes. That will tell me if the module is working.

Roy
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Sunday, September 8th, 2019 AT 5:50 AM
Tiny
CODYJAMES1
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When I turn it over with the test light on the negative the light stays solid. Along with the positive.
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Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 AT 3:00 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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That means the module is not working.

You need either an ignition module and/or a pickup coil in the distributor.

Roy
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Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 AT 3:06 PM
Tiny
CODYJAMES1
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No power to my injectors either.
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Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 AT 3:07 PM
Tiny
CODYJAMES1
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Or fuel pump.
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Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 AT 3:07 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Okay, with the key on, you have no power to the injectors? That comes from the power relay by the fuel pump relay under the hood.

Did you verify no power to the fuel pump?

Roy
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Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 AT 3:14 PM
Tiny
CODYJAMES1
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Correct. No power to fuel pump or injectors with key on.
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Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 AT 3:21 PM
Tiny
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I attached a picture of the power relay location.

Verify power to the relay with the key on. There should be 2 terminals with voltage.

Roy
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Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 AT 3:25 PM
Tiny
CODYJAMES1
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I attached an image of the relays. The middle one only has one terminal with voltage. Red wire with green stripe.
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Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 AT 3:34 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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The green one is the fuel pump relay. The black is the power relay.

Roy
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Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 AT 3:44 PM
Tiny
CODYJAMES1
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Okay well the black is the one I tested. The test light only comes on when testing the red wire with green stripe. No other terminals lit up. I’ll get a new relay tomorrow if needed. I’m done working on it for the evening. The truck ran and drove fine until I did the motor swap. Old motor had a broken exhaust manifold.
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Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 AT 4:36 PM
Tiny
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OK.

Roy
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Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 AT 4:55 PM
Tiny
CODYJAMES1
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Okay, so I bought a new power relay, now have power everywhere I need it and bought a new coil pack. Have power to coil but no spark coming out of coil.
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Saturday, September 14th, 2019 AT 6:48 AM
Tiny
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If you have power to the coil, that means the coil is bad.

Roy
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Saturday, September 14th, 2019 AT 6:55 AM
Tiny
CODYJAMES1
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I’ve put three brand new coils in it already.
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Saturday, September 14th, 2019 AT 7:02 AM
Tiny
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Okay, that is not good.

Can you test for power to the coil?

Use a test light to the positive side. If you do, then test the negative side. Then have someone crank the engine and see if the test light blinks when you have it connected to the negative terminal.

Roy
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Saturday, September 14th, 2019 AT 7:07 AM
Tiny
CODYJAMES1
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Okay, I did that and neither negative or positive blinks. Stays solid while cranking.
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Saturday, September 14th, 2019 AT 7:13 AM
Tiny
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Okay, the module is not working.

It could be the distributor pick up in the distributor or the module.

Roy
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Saturday, September 14th, 2019 AT 7:16 AM
Tiny
CODYJAMES1
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I’ll go ahead and replace that and if nothing changes I’ll email back. Thanks for all the help.
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Saturday, September 14th, 2019 AT 7:21 AM
Tiny
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You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Saturday, September 14th, 2019 AT 7:23 AM

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