Although the 1966 Pontiac Tempest is most commonly associated with a powerful six-cylinder engine, the Tempest was also available with an optional eight-cylinder engine. Each engine featured a mechanical distributor whereby the spark was delivered and regulated by a distributor. Within the distributor is a rotor, one set of ignition points and one condenser. If the engine fails to produce a spark, troubleshooting requires an inspection of each of these components.
Tools Used: Wire brush, Feeler gauge, Small slotted screwdriver, Ignition wrench
Troubleshoot for No Spark
Pull the coil wire off of the center of the distributor cap.
Hold the terminal of the coil wire approximately 1/4 inch above its terminal on the distributor cap, then direct an assistant to crank the engine. Watch the gap between the coil wire terminal and the distributor cap for a spark. If no spark exists, ensure that the opposite end of the coil wire is firmly plugged into the top of the coil. If a spark still does not jump the gap, the coil is likely defective.
Remove the distributor cap to access the rotor and the ignition points.
Pull the rotor off of the center of the distributor and inspect the rotor's metal tip. If the tip appears worn, replace the rotor. In extreme cases, the metal tip of a worn rotor will not make contact with the metal contacts on the underside of the distributor cap, resulting in no spark. Also inspect the rotor's metal tip for excessive corrosion, which is green in color. If corrosion exists, clean the tip of the rotor with a wire brush. If the engine still fails to produce a spark, replace the rotor.
Rotate the distributor's rotor while observing the two metal tips of the ignition points at the base of the distributor. Note that the points resemble a pair of common tweezers. As the rotor rotates, the bumps at the base of the rotor's shaft open and close the tips of the points. If the points either do not open or do not close, adjust the points with a feeler gauge and a small slothead screwdriver. The distance between the points at their extreme open position must be 0.016 of an inch.
Open the ignition points by rotating the distributor's rotor, then inspect the two contacts of the ignition points. If the contacts appear pitted or black, replace the ignition points.
Replace the distributor's condenser if the engine still fails to produce a spark. The condenser is located next to the ignition points at the base of the distributor. The cylindrical-shaped condenser is approximately 1 inch long and can be removed with a small slotted screwdriver and an ignition wrench.
0 Comments