Hoping for a hand, no start.
Thread Starter
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 15
Hoping for a hand, no start.
1991 Ford Econoline E-150, 351 Windsor with 4R100 trans.
Had a really cold snap, the van wouldn't start. Thought it was a fuel issue, but she seems to be getting fuel. There is supposed to be a power distribution box in this van somewhere - and I can't find it. Some are saying under the master cylinder, others are saying on the passenger but nothing. I know where the fuse box is under the dash, but it's minor fuses.
it doesn't seem to be getting spark.
Had a really cold snap, the van wouldn't start. Thought it was a fuel issue, but she seems to be getting fuel. There is supposed to be a power distribution box in this van somewhere - and I can't find it. Some are saying under the master cylinder, others are saying on the passenger but nothing. I know where the fuse box is under the dash, but it's minor fuses.
it doesn't seem to be getting spark.
Thread Starter
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 15
I'm in a friends place, I'll check with him. There is no spark and I suspect it might be the coil. Need to check in a bit.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,584
The first thing you can check is ,do you have power going to the ign coil ? Yes/ No
One of the wires at the ign coil brings power to the coil,you may need to remove a plug to be sure on this.. The other wire on the coil interrupts the ground and when the ground opens ,the coil field collapses and produces the spark. All this can be verified with that simple test light.
Once we know if we have spark there , we check the inside of the dist cap to be sure it is not wet or cracked..If all is well there, we place the test light probe at the other wire on the coil and crank the engine over. The test light should blink, does it, Yes/No ?
One of the wires at the ign coil brings power to the coil,you may need to remove a plug to be sure on this.. The other wire on the coil interrupts the ground and when the ground opens ,the coil field collapses and produces the spark. All this can be verified with that simple test light.
Once we know if we have spark there , we check the inside of the dist cap to be sure it is not wet or cracked..If all is well there, we place the test light probe at the other wire on the coil and crank the engine over. The test light should blink, does it, Yes/No ?
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 15
I have 12 volts going to the coil when measuring across the harness. But the resistance is low across the harness - and to my knowledge, it's supposed to be over 10k ohms. I'm sitting about 0.7 ohms which means a short? I've checked everything else, bought a different coil but no effect. Probing the coil seems to show that it is ok.
If there is a short somewhere, where would a person start to look?
If there is a short somewhere, where would a person start to look?
The first thing you can check is ,do you have power going to the ign coil ? Yes/ No
One of the wires at the ign coil brings power to the coil,you may need to remove a plug to be sure on this.. The other wire on the coil interrupts the ground and when the ground opens ,the coil field collapses and produces the spark. All this can be verified with that simple test light.
Once we know if we have spark there , we check the inside of the dist cap to be sure it is not wet or cracked..If all is well there, we place the test light probe at the other wire on the coil and crank the engine over. The test light should blink, does it, Yes/No ?
One of the wires at the ign coil brings power to the coil,you may need to remove a plug to be sure on this.. The other wire on the coil interrupts the ground and when the ground opens ,the coil field collapses and produces the spark. All this can be verified with that simple test light.
Once we know if we have spark there , we check the inside of the dist cap to be sure it is not wet or cracked..If all is well there, we place the test light probe at the other wire on the coil and crank the engine over. The test light should blink, does it, Yes/No ?
Thread Starter
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 15
Just to verify, I have a test light. I do have 12v to the coil - the positive is on the left side of the coil harness - the other side with 2 wires should be ground. With the test probe in the power - and it's lit - turning the engine over the test light stays lit. Are you saying that it should flash when the engine is cranking? I'm a little confused. I did a full tune up on this thing a year ago, new cap, rotor and new wires - and new plugs. it all looks good to me.
I can find the fuse box in the footwell, but shouldn't there be a power distribution box somewhere with more fuses? I can't find it, at a complete loss.
I can find the fuse box in the footwell, but shouldn't there be a power distribution box somewhere with more fuses? I can't find it, at a complete loss.
The first thing you can check is ,do you have power going to the ign coil ? Yes/ No
One of the wires at the ign coil brings power to the coil,you may need to remove a plug to be sure on this.. The other wire on the coil interrupts the ground and when the ground opens ,the coil field collapses and produces the spark. All this can be verified with that simple test light.
Once we know if we have spark there , we check the inside of the dist cap to be sure it is not wet or cracked..If all is well there, we place the test light probe at the other wire on the coil and crank the engine over. The test light should blink, does it, Yes/No ?
One of the wires at the ign coil brings power to the coil,you may need to remove a plug to be sure on this.. The other wire on the coil interrupts the ground and when the ground opens ,the coil field collapses and produces the spark. All this can be verified with that simple test light.
Once we know if we have spark there , we check the inside of the dist cap to be sure it is not wet or cracked..If all is well there, we place the test light probe at the other wire on the coil and crank the engine over. The test light should blink, does it, Yes/No ?
Thread Starter
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 15
Trying to pull the codes - and i've done it before using this guide.
https://www.totalcardiagnostics.com/...ad-obd1-codes/
With the key off, the test probe light stays on solid. With key on, nothing - no flashes. I wonder if there is a short somewhere.
https://www.totalcardiagnostics.com/...ad-obd1-codes/
With the key off, the test probe light stays on solid. With key on, nothing - no flashes. I wonder if there is a short somewhere.