how to check for bad pick-up in dizzy

[black50]

I have a dizzy that had a points/condensor unit...It now has a magnetic pick-up inside replacing the points..I have no spark!!!! I dont know how old it is, its in a car I just bought about a month ago...I have power to the coil and power is coming out of the coil...I think the pick-up may be bad, Is there a way to check it?

I used a continuity tester and got no reading(open) on the 2 wires going to the pick-up..

[shumpertdavid]

Using a test light you should have power to positive side of coil with key on, also will show power on negative side, while cranking the postive side power should stay steady (the lamp will dim some but should stay pretty steady), the negative side should pulse or flicker cranking, if it stays on steady or just goes out id suspect the conversion kit shit the bed.

[black50]

Using a test light you should have power to positive side of coil with key on, also will show power on negative side, while cranking the postive side power should stay steady (the lamp will dim some but should stay pretty steady), the negative side should pulse or flicker cranking, if it stays on steady or just goes out id suspect the conversion kit shit the bed.

I did what you said..with the test light on the negative side while cranking the light stayed lit the whole time with no flicker or pulse...Guess I found my problem...Thanks!!!!

I thought these conversion kits were pretty reliable? have you seen them go out like that?

[jyro]

check the instructions

most require a ballast resistor on the power lead to the coil to protect against shorts or a coil with a internal ballast resistor