Coil

[VetteKilla]

My car will run fine and then run rich and then it will just die and won't restart. I tested for spark and their is some. But how do I check the primary and secondary side to see if I need to replace the coil? 85 Dodge fifth Avenue.

[rumblefish360]

There is some? If you have spark, it's probroly not the coil.

[VetteKilla]

thanks for the speedy reply but I think i have an intermittent problem that just comes and goes so I need to eliminate the coil, thats why i need the resistance in ohms for the primary and secondary. If its out of whack I'll replace, but i suspect the coil. I just put on a new hall effect sensor and I had the ignition module tested. I checked to make sure everything was grounded properly

[rumblefish360]

I HATE hunting these elctrical problems. Just replaced the coil on my ride.

[451Mopar]

I think the Primary side (measured from the "-" to "+" terminal) should be a few ohms (maybe 2-5 Ohms)
The secondary (measured from "-" to plug terminal) should be a few thousand ohms (probbly 20,000 or 50,000?)
There should be no shorting to the coil case.
It the problem is intermitent, it may not even show up while doing resistance checks, as the windings may be opening or shorting when the coil gets hot.

If it's an old stock coil, I would just get a new one. I like the Jacobs Energy core (chromed can style, will mount like stock.)
Summit sells these for about $35? I think the summit says they are for Fords, but they work great on Mopars too.

If it turns out not to be the coil, check the fuel system.
I had some problems like you described, turns out the carb was full of sediment, so I'm rebuilding the carb now.

[PRO]

If I was ever to write a book on common failures of 85 5th aves under your complaint it would say:Worn dist shaft bushings and failed pickup coil due to reluctor contact(grounding).Thats always the 1st place I look because its so common.....ps Im not ever writing a book on 5th aves!!!!....hope this helps.....PRO....

[rumblefish360]

Ahhhhhhhh come on PRO! You know it'll be a best seller

[VetteKilla]

Thanks to all who contributed it was the reluctor it was grounding out on the pickup unit, which screwed the coil. I went and got a coil from a throttle body 4 cyl and I've had to widen the gap, thanks gang.