Spark but will not start with coil wire installed

[James A. Conant]

I have a 1985 Celica Conv. with a injected 22R, non turbo. It will not start and run with the coil wire pluged into the Dist. cap. It runs great if the wire is left loose and not pluged in. It was not starting and I pulled the coil wire to check for spark and had good spark, about an inch. But what surprised me is that it would run but when I plug the coil wire back in it refuses to start or run. HELP!!! <<<Conanian>>>

[nialusa]

Errrrr, isnt that impossible?????? whats making the spark plugs "spark" if there is no electricity supply?

[SigmaProjects]

maybe there is a connector loos or cracked and when you push it in it disconnects it. Take of the cap and check out the leads and check the cable itself as well.

[James A. Conant]

I have checked the Dist. cap and tried a new coil wire but still the same problem. I wouldn't think it would be the spark igniter mounted on top of the coil because I do have good spark to ground with the coil wire disconnected, and the engine runs with the coil wire pulled out of the cap. When I say pulled out of the cap, I mean it is loosly set next to the center of the Dist. cap about 1/2" from the contact in the top of the Dist. cap. I can see and hear the spark at that point and the car starts. I push it in all the way in and it will not start!!!

[Celica Tech]

Pull the dist cap off and look for anywhere the spark has been tracking along the plastic, it will look like carbon or a line of burnt plastic on the inside, if that is the case, get a new cap and rotor button, also inspect the button.

If that is the case, i will explane why it works with the wire part way off, your coil will produce about 40K volts, this voltage can only jump so far to compleate the prossess, when you pull the wire out part way you are forceing the spark to take the correct way because it then does not have enuff voltage to jump the wire gap you made and trace along the carbon, so it jumps like it is suppose to from the rotor button to the electrodes in the cap then to the spark plug. This will also work if you suspect a plug that is flooded.

A new cap and rotor are dirt cheep, you can get both for around $20.

[James A. Conant]

I want to thank you for the info and the help. I will do a complete tun up on the Celica this weekend. With the information that you have suppplied I can now understand the reason behind this problem and what to look for in the future. I just have never experienced this sort of problem in the past and didn't understand why. Now that you have explained it, it all makes sense to me.

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As a new member I never expected the quick response of the membership to be posted so suddenly. I am very impressed and gratefull to all of you. I will continue to be a member and check this site weekly for any problems that I can help other with. My stock and trade is in the Heavy Equipment field. I am a field mechanic and work on mainly heavy construction and logging equipment, diesel trucks, and Mfg. equipment. I also am a certified welder and fitter, body and paint on diesel trucks, fiberglass setup and repair of dammaged vehicles in the heavy industry. But my auto knowledg is limmited. Thanks again... James A. Conant