No Spark

[fbodkin]

I have a 1990 Ford e350 van with a 351 windsor. My battery died so I put my truck battery in to start it. I decided to put the old battery back in while it was running in order to charge it back up. As soon as I took the battery cable off, the motor stopped and hasnt started since. I replaced the coil and ignition module but am not getting any spark at the coil. I have voltage at both the coil and the ICM.

What else can I try? This is getting pathetic!!

[amy@af]

first off, this is the 88-91 honda civic forum. would you like me to move this thread to another forum...which forum did you want? i do not believe there is specifically a windsor forum

did you check your alternator? check whatever grounds?

i know on my lil ol' civic you can pull a spark plug out and ground it to the valve cover, have somebody crank the car while you check for spark. no spark = bad ignitor, coil, or just a plain bad dizzy. if you get spark then you have trouble else where.

[D16z6-T]

yeah its the altanator or check all ur ground wires like ladynredsi said

[fbodkin]

Yes, I noticed that I put this post in the wrong place.

How could a bad alternator cause a no spark condition?

[amy@af]

Originally Posted by fbodkin

Yes, I noticed that I put this post in the wrong place.

How could a bad alternator cause a no spark condition?

where would you like me to move it to?

okay, check this out. so you're battery died. you put a different battery in and it started....eventually you would have killed that battery as well.

i'll try and put this in an easy to understand basic explanation. the battery stores charge but only so much. an alternator doesn't have it's own charge...it maintanes the charge coming to it. your battery gives off a little charge to start the car, the alt. keeps the current going so the car can run.

the reason your battery died is because your alt died without you knowing. therefore you were driving it around on only the battery....which killed it. you put another battery in which started the van and was running the van. if you would have kept that battery in, you would have driven around until that battery died as well.

i'm not so sure turning the car on and having it run and then pulling off the battery terminal is the best test. different vehicles do different things due to different technology. this is where the ford crowd can better assist you.

[fbodkin]

I dont think you read my post completely.. I have no spark at my coil. The engine is cranking but not firing.