how to check power at distributor

grasshopper · Post by **grasshopper** » Sun May 07, 2017 2:16 pm

Hi all. I am trying to start my engine for the first time since rebuild. (new Spider to me). Ive installed a single points distributor. There are two wires on this car for attaching to distributor. I am assuming that I only attach the one wire to my single point distributor. The engine is not starting. I want to know if I am getting power to the distributor. How can I check this and do I have to join the two wires leading to the distributor together or do I just attach the one wire ? Any advice would be appreciated thanks.

samakijoe · Post by **samakijoe** » Sun May 07, 2017 3:26 pm

Well the first thing you coulda/shoulda/woulda done was taken a lot of pictures but that is, as they say is,

"crying over split milk on the burnt bridge after the horses ran away"..

When you ignition key is switched on there should be 12 Vdc on one of those wires. wires go from the dizzy to the coil.

Not sure if you just removed one of the points off the old dizzy or you went to an "electronic " dizzy.

Do a Google on the words "Fiat 124 single points distributor" there are a number of setups/diagrams to look at.

RRoller123 · Post by **RRoller123** » Sun May 07, 2017 3:29 pm

I bet that Brad Artigue's (or any others) schematic would show the correct wiring to the distributor? With wire colors.

Try this: http://fiat.artigue.com/index.php/2016/ ... -diagrams/

Pete

grasshopper · Post by **grasshopper** » Mon May 08, 2017 9:00 pm

Thanks for the replies. I cant seem to locate what I am looking for on schematics. I checked to see if there is power getting to those two wires that attach to the distributor. There is no power reaching these wires as far as I can tell (keeping in mind I am useless when it comes to electrics) . I don't know where to start ? Again, would there be a problem even if all was good with the wires if I only attached the one wire to this single coil distributor and does it matter which wire ?

RRoller123 · Post by **RRoller123** » Tue May 09, 2017 12:56 am

check out components #9 and #10 on page 7 of the 1977 CAD Spider schematic Brad has on his site. That shows your 2 wires and should be able to trace them back.

grasshopper · Post by **grasshopper** » Wed May 10, 2017 12:33 pm

I'm not having any luck with this at all. I haven't found a source telling me that I should have power at the two wires leading to the distributer so I'm not sure if this is even an issue. I would assume that the wires should be getting power. There is power at the coil. And also,since there are two wires leading to the distributor,but my single points distributor only has one wire to attach,which of the two wires is the correct wire to attach? Is it the green one or the green one with black dots ?

kilrwail · Post by **kilrwail** » Wed May 10, 2017 1:32 pm

The wiring is as follows: Blue/black to the positive (+) post on the coil - this is 12 volts. Brown to the negative (-) post on the coil. a short black wire from the negative (-) post to the nearby ground pod. Any colour you like, but I prefer green, from the negative coil post (-) to the points. Ignore the old green and green/black wires.

grasshopper · Post by **grasshopper** » Wed May 10, 2017 2:54 pm

Hi Kilrwail. Firstly thanks for the help. Second,sorry that I'm an idiot. LOL,,,
The way my coil is presently set up,,there is a blue with black dot wire to the positive post on the coil (I think it also says B"),
there is a brown wire to the negative post on the coil. Both wires are coming from a snake like cluster of wires. There is no other wires connected to the coil such as the negative wire you speak of. And the wires going to the distributor are coming from a different wire cluster source (I think they go into the dash board,,perhaps the starter switch)? If I am understanding you correctly,you are telling me to install a wire on the negative terminal of the coil,and a separate wire on the negative terminal of the coil leading to the distributer ?

kilrwail · Post by **kilrwail** » Wed May 10, 2017 4:25 pm

Leave the wires on the coil as they are. Add one to the negative terminal and connect it to the ground cluster just ahead of the coil. Add a second wire to the negative post and connect it to the points in the distributor. For this second wire, you can re-use a green wire that may already be connected to the points if it's long enough to reach the coil too. Or use a new wire.

spider2081 · Post by **spider2081** » Wed May 10, 2017 6:51 pm

Leave the wires on the coil as they are. Add one to the negative terminal and connect it to the ground cluster just ahead of the coil.

Are you saying to permanently ground the negative side of the coil???

I am not familiar with the dual point system or conversion. I don't believe permanently grounding the - (negative) side of the coil would be. correct The negative side of the coil has to ground and then open which is what the points in a distributor do as the distributor shaft rotates.

grasshopper · Post by **grasshopper** » Wed May 10, 2017 7:17 pm

Now I am confused. Do I need to ground the coil or not ? Does anyone here have a single points set up that can walk me through this ? Should there be power showing at the green wire or wires attached to the distributor before the engine is running or does the engine need to be running in order to generate power at the distributor ?

kilrwail · Post by **kilrwail** » Wed May 10, 2017 8:06 pm

I have had my single points set-up installed the way I described to you for 38 years and it works perfectly. There will be no voltage at the distributor unless the engine is running - the green wire is attached to ground at the coil, so there can't be. When the engine is running, there is 12-14 volts on the positive terminal and 8-9 volts on the negative terminal of the coil and therefore at the distributor. Try it.

grasshopper · Post by **grasshopper** » Wed May 10, 2017 8:16 pm

Ok Kilrwail,,I will try it. Thanks. Makes me wonder what the green wires at the distributor are for ? Also, in searching,i found a black wire
un attached at the starter switch but there is no available prong for it to attach to. (Keep in mind this car is new to me so I am trying to figure everything out). I will have to research how to wire this ignition switch properly as well. Thanks for all help provided and please be patient with me

kilrwail · Post by **kilrwail** » Wed May 10, 2017 8:30 pm

The green wires at the distributor were for the original two points set-up. All you need is one of them to connect the points to the negative coil post. Make sure you have a condenser also attached to the points.

grasshopper · Post by **grasshopper** » Wed May 10, 2017 10:25 pm

So you mean if I connect one of those green wires to the distributor it will work (making sure I have a ground wire hooked up to negative on coil) ? Or should I just do what you suggested and bypass the wires completely and just add the new wire from the negative post on coil (and of course also hook up a ground at the negative post as well ?

how to check power at distributor

how to check power at distributor

Re: how to check power at distributor

Re: how to check power at distributor

Re: how to check power at distributor

Re: how to check power at distributor

Re: how to check power at distributor

Re: how to check power at distributor

Re: how to check power at distributor

Re: how to check power at distributor

Re: how to check power at distributor

Re: how to check power at distributor

Re: how to check power at distributor

Re: how to check power at distributor

Re: how to check power at distributor

Re: how to check power at distributor