Hall Effect Switch Testing?

How can I test the Hall Effect switch in a 1990 Jetta Carat? Mitchell on demand says to use a "LED Test Light" on the middle terminal to see if it blinks while turning over the engine, But I can only find that test light from snap on for around $80.00. I got a rebuilt distributor because the connector was damaged and I was getting an intermittant ignition pulse but now I have nothing. Voltage at the outer prongs but no spark.

you could conceivably test it with an analog volt meter and watch for the needle to bounce. If it bounces during cranking it's probably good. It's possible a hall effect switch will simply produce a weak signal as opposed to no signal, but not likely.

You can find good information at the following link:
http://wwwrsphysse.anu.edu.au/~amh110/Technical_pages/hall_sensor_trigger.htm
At the bottom of the page it tells about benchmarking.

:runaround: I believe that if you take it off your car (call First) that you can take it to your local AutoZone and they can test it for you...like I said..Call them 1st...

DropZone77