Bench Testing Your Ignition Coil

Testing the Secondary Winding of Your Ignition Coil

Test the center and 12V poles for secondary winding resistance.

photo by Matt Wright, 2008

To test the coil's secondary winding, attach the test probes to the outer 12V pole and the center pole (where the main wire goes to the distributor). Determine the resistance and check to see if it's within the range indicated in your repair manual. If it is, your coil is up to the task. If it's even slightly out of range, your coil should be replaced.

Index: Bench Testing Your Ignition Coil

1. Why Bench Test Your Ignition Coil?
2. Testing the Primary Winding of Your Ignition Coil
3. Testing the Secondary Winding of Your Ignition Coil