HELP!!!! Testing a coil.....can't remember???

[two-bit]

I tested a coil today and can't for the life of me remember what tells you its good or bad.

I did a continuity check across + to - and got 100% continuity.
Then i did + to coil output and got 100% also.
Then i did - to coil output and got 100% again.

Is it the + to - having continuity thats spells the death warrant?
or is it + and - having 100% continuity to the coil output at the same time that does it?

I'm scratching my head really hard, nothing but dust and an irritated scalp so far.

Help!!!!

Two-bit

[Thunderfoot]

Well it's not that easy to test as they are all electronically connected, see attachment...
There will be some small resistance (~470 ohms on the performance one I just checked) between each terminal +/- separately and the coil output, and I had like 50 ohms between the +/- terminals themselves...

[FORDification]

This testing procedure is valid for most automotive coils. Using an ohmmeter, check the resistance between the side terminals of the coil (the primary coil). Do this with all of the wires to the coil disconnected. You should see 0.75 to 0.81 ohm of resistance. Measure from each terminal to the coil's case also. The meter should NOT read anything here. Then check the resistance between either side terminal and the center high tension terminal (the secondary coil). The reading should be 10,000 to 11,000 ohms. Any significant deviation from these numbers would indicate that the coil is defective. Measure from the center terminal to the coil's case also. The meter should NOT read anything.



You can also test an ignition by using a volt meter.There should be a little over 12 volts pulse,or a dip and peak in the meter needle,rather than a steady 12 volts, at the output, while cranking the engine.

[Thunderfoot]

wow, that's a bunch different then the performance one I measured... but it is a used one that I haven't run yet (was supposed to be good), I hope it's not a bad one...
I've got a good stock one buried in my race trailer I'll have to dig out and check out the readings on it...

Going by the 10,000 ohms I would say that two-bit has a bad one...

[Thunderfoot]

Well, I measured my stock one and it was right on with 10K - 11K ohms like Keith had in his post
This performance one I have that I was checking is a MSD HVC for the MSD 6 HVC. It will be a while before I get to install it, I guess I'll see if it works then...