Bad Ignition coil?

1949 Chevy 216 still 6 volt. What are the symptoms of a bad ignition coil? Any and all would be great!

 

Here's an easy 'How To' for ya....

Coil Symptoms and Testing

 

Also look for any hot spots on the coil.

 

The symptoms on my '37 Chevy's 6-v coil failure, was an inability to start when hot and the ambient air temperature was hot. I could push it a little and pop the clutch and it would start right up. It'd also start with no problem when the outside air temps were cool and when the engine was cool. I tried several NOS coils, two of which were in sealed containers and all acted the same. The coils bench-tested OK.

I then bought & installed a brand new 6-v coil at NAPA and never had a problem again. I figure coils might break down with age and/or the engine compartment heat breaks them down, especially the 216 / 235 Chevys, as the coil mounted to the cylinder head.

 

Well I have electronic ignition. Would the coil be the same? Or would it have been changed over when the elec ign was put in? Thanks guys.

 

You'll often get a misfire under load with a coil going bad.

Flatman

 

The col should ahve been changed to be compatable with the electonic ignition. Sometimes the original will work, sometimes it dies.

 

Thanks again. I think I figured it out. It's just that my spark plugs are very black after about only 2 days.

 

Okay took it out for a drive last night and it died on me abot 3 times before it got home. Each time it died I waited about 5 min and it would start back up and drive (sluggish) but would drive about 3/4 mile and do the same exact thing. Could this be something other then the coil. I know that if a coil is going bad it will work but when it gets hot it will die. Thanks again.

 

I don't know of a case where it would have to be changed, althoough' OEM PART numbers go in the computer, out comes the same coil at the other end of the chain in most cases.

I'm running a chevy 250 motor in one vehicle and a 292 in another, both with stock points distributor. One has a coil I bought as a spare for my 87 Chrysler 318, (electronic ignition), the other I put a coil on that I bought at NAPA. Both are no-resistor type, as in 6 to 9 volt application, so I run ballast resistors on both.

 

When your coil gets hot it will start to short out, time to buy a new coil.

 

differant ohms in points coil to elec if remeber rite more ohms in the points coil

 

Huh?