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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - No spark?

The saga continues. I finally stopped the fuel leak in the carb body (the heli-coils worked like magic, what a great gadget for fixing stripped threads!). Now it seems I'm not getting enough spark to the distributor cap. The engine turns over great, but makes no attempt to start, not even a sputter. My test light when connected to the electrode that makes contact with the rotor on the underside of dist. cap shows a weak 3 volts when the key is turned on. The coil on the car is many years old, and I'm waiting on a new one to come in. I'm assuming the inside of the coil is corroded as was the inside of the voltage regulator. Any other ideas while I wait on the new coil?
Robert

Robert, get a copy of the T-series handbook/restoration guide from the NEMGTR- it has an excellent section on basic ignition. Forget the voltmeter. Get a test light (stick tester), ground the clip, turn key on, should have bright lite on hot side of coil at all times. Then touch other coil terminal, open/close points- light should go out when pts. closed. Crank car, and lite should flicker with open/close of the points. If ok, pull center wire out of dist. cap and hold 1/4" from block and turn over. If no spark, coil bad. You can go to Autozone or wherever and buy a cheap coil that will work fine.
George Butz

This thread was discussed on 27/03/2003

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.