Questions and Answers

Mazda MPV Has Little Or No Spark? Q. 1991 Mazda MPV 3.0 liter V-6. Was running fine, died while driving. Will crank normal, but will not start. Fuel pressure is 60 lbs, compression okay. Changed plugs, wires, rotor and distributor cap. Timing belt replaced five months ago, rotor turns and number one spark plug aligns with distributor number one and top dead center mark.

Little or no spark at plug wire, coil spark seem normal. Also changed distributor with used one, but still, no and intermittent spark.

• 1991 Mazda MPV
• 3.0 liter V-6
• Automatic transmission
• 180,000 miles
• GAS fuel Injection
• PS, A/C

A. If you have good spark at the coil and not at the plug, logic dictates the problem is between the coil and spark plugs. Good spark at the coil also says the ignition system is working.

I don't know how you are measuring spark quality, but it should be checked with a spark tester. You can make one from an old spark plug. Gap it to 0.200". Then take a piece of wire and strip off about 8" of insulation and wrap it around the threaded portion of the spark plug. Put a large alligator clip on the other end of the wire and clip it to the negative post of the battery.

Plug the tester into the end of the plug wire. If the spark jumps, then you have good spark. You can plug the tester into the end of the coil wire to check spark there also.

If you do, indeed, have good spark at the coil and none at the plugs, then the problem is in the secondary ignition system.