Questions and Answers
Colt No-Start
Q. Vincent, I own a 1991 Dodge Colt hatchback with a 1.5 liter fuel injected Multi port engine, with the ECI jet third valve. It also has a five speed manual transmission. It has air conditioning and 140,000 miles. It ran fine to our destination the other day.
When we went to leave it wouldn't start. I check fuel pressure by loosening the coupling on the filter (sprayed out nicely). Checked to make sure the distributor was turning with engine cranking then went for spark. There is no spark. The coil is part of the distributor I think since the cap has no coil wire but has a connection down to the side part of the top of the distributor. What are the possible causes if you know?
Thank you for any information.
Regards,
AnthonyA. It could be a bad coil, and yes the coil is part of the distributor and can not be replaced separately.
The first thing I would check is the path from the coil to the cap. Quite often the carbon nipple burns out and prevents the spark from going to the cap from the coil. If this is okay, then what you need to do is check that the coil is getting power.
Unplug the two pin connector at the distributor, and with the key on, see if there is at least 10 volts at the black/white wire. If there is no voltage, then you have an open in the power circuit.
If you do have voltage, plug the connector back in and unplug the 6 pin connector. While cranking the engine, see if you have 3 to 5 volts at pin 6, yellow wire. If you do, the coil is bad.
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