If you have a electronic ignition distributor system on your vehicle that has mechanical / vacuum advance (not electronic advance) and you have a no spark condition.And you want to know if the problem is the ignition module or is it the pick up coil, take a soldering gun (not soldering iron) with the ignition switch on and pull the trigger with the soldering gun held right next to the distributor. if it now produces spark the pick up coil is bad,if still no spark then its the module. Keep in mind though that you still need make sure that the ignition coil is good and that the powers and grounds are good to the rest of system. with that being said take this little bit advice also.UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD EVER BE SOLDERING UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE DISTRIBUTOR WITH THE IGNITION ON.:noway:

If you have a electronic ignition distributor system on your vehicle that has mechanical / vacuum advance (not electronic advance) and you have a no spark condition.And you want to know if the problem is the ignition module or is it the pick up coil, take a soldering gun (not soldering iron) with the ignition switch on and pull the trigger with the soldering gun held right next to the distributor. if it now produces spark the pick up coil is bad,if still no spark then its the module. Keep in mind though that you still need make sure that the ignition coil is good and that the powers and grounds are good to the rest of system. with that being said take this little bit advice also.UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD EVER BE SOLDERING UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE DISTRIBUTOR WITH THE IGNITION ON.:noway:
WHAT ????!!!!! myself, nor any other techs i work with make any sense of that!

ok so we had to try it and it works. im assuming that the frequency of the soldering gun causes the primary to react?? do you have an explanation?

ok so we had to try it and it works. im assuming that the frequency of the soldering gun causes the primary to react?? do you have an explanation?
http://www.chevelles.com/techref/ftecref5.html
http://www.chevelles.com/techref/hei_files/image017.jpg

yes that is correct the frequency output of the soldering gun is what triggers the primary to the module, pretty cool huh?:hurray:works on import and domestic 4/6/8 cylinder pretty much any electronic ignition that does not have electronic advance

A soldering gun transformer secondary produces several hundred amps of current at a low voltage. I would guess that you are picking up some of the inductive current loop put out by the transformer secondary, which would be at a 60hz frequency from your household AC.

I would assume the rotor would be pointing to a selected cylinder and the wire is pulled from the selected spark plug and wire with screwdriver inserted held close to ground?
An assembled HEI-style distributor?

Interesting.:yes:

I would assume the rotor would be pointing to a selected cylinder and the wire is pulled from the selected spark plug and wire with screwdriver inserted held close to ground?
An assembled HEI-style distributor?
This is why God invented spark-testers. You won't get a spark to travel across the rotor, to the cap, through a plug wire...when you have removed the cap to get the soldering iron close to the pickup coil.

Pop the cap off, leave the small wires connected to the cap. Flip the cap upside down. Install a spark tester and cut-down plug boot, and connect a grounded jumper wire to the spark tester. Ignition ON. You pull the trigger on the soldering iron for one second, you'll get 60 sparks, and a noise like an angry bumble bee.

http://www.chevelles.com/techref/hei_files/image014.jpg

http://www.chevelles.com/techref/hei_files/image015.jpg

Might as well look at the entire article; hosted RIGHT HERE on Team Chevelle:

http://www.chevelles.com/techref/ftecref5.html

MAGNETIC FIELD from coil in soldering iron is triggering the pole piece (or coil )in distributor, in turn triggering module in distributor..
I've replaced many distributor shafts over the years because of weak magnets in shaft. I've not seen any discussion on this here in forum.
The best way to tell though is have a advanced technician or ham radio friend with an oscilloscope to see trigger pattern that is produced from coil, or "pole piece".
If it ain't a good AC pattern, it ain't gonna run good.
RB

Frequency has no effect on triggering coil, just a magnetic field.. The same can be done with a permanent magnet moving near the coil..Basic magnetic induction into a coil of wire..

MAGNETIC FIELD from coil in soldering iron is triggering the pole piece (or coil )in distributor...

...see trigger pattern that is produced from coil, or "pole piece".
I don't understand. The (pickup) coil, and the pole piece (reluctor or timer core) are two different parts.

For even more fun, Keep a magnet in you wallet with your credit cards, One of the thin rubber business card types. Then let the games begin!
Bob:D

Frequency has no effect on triggering coil, just a magnetic field.. The same can be done with a permanent magnet moving near the coil..Basic magnetic induction into a coil of wire..

There is a frequency component to the movement of the permanent magnet, move it too slow and it doesn't work.

Read Schurkeys article. He's got a lot of info pretty tightly packed there. ANd it's right too.

http://www.familycar.com/Classroom/ignition.htm this is a link to some info about ignition systems and how they operate

Isnt a soldering gun another type of soldering iron? Like what Weller makes?

Isnt a soldering gun another type of soldering iron? Like what Weller makes?
Typically higher wattage. Soldering iron is often <100 watts; may not have enough radiated energy to activate the module via the "antenna" (pickup coil)

Best to try this on a known-good system to see if your tooling will work acceptably. Then when you have to diagnose a faulty system, you can trust your tools and procedures to work OK.

http://www.familycar.com/Classroom/ignition.htm this is a link to some info about ignition systems and how they operate

It's interesting that they don't mention Charles Kettering in that article. He was the engineer behind the original battery powered ignition system that was the standard for over 60 years. He was also the founder of Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company, the electrical arm of GM.

Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company, the electrical arm of GM.
Later known as "Delco"; as in Delco-Remy and AC-Delco