Coil Wire Resistance

[JBohannon]

How do I check the high voltage Coil Wire from coil to distributor?

[H. L. Chauvin]

Get a multi-meter and a coat hanger wire.

Set multi-meter to where it reads Ohms.

Coil wire and coat hanger wire should have about equal Ohms reading on the multi-meter.

GE analog multi-meters, (yellow), with moving arm, are about $10.00 at Wal-Mart.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

If it's real WIRE-WIRE, don't wurry about it!
Bill W.

[MAG]

Standard swing meters (analog) will read 0 ohms when checking the resistance of a wire type coil wire.
If you want to know the actual resistance you will need a Biddle Meter which reads resistance of less than 1 ohm. (micro ohms).
or
Do what Bill says ...dont worry about it.
Biddle Meters are quite expensive.

[webb452]

Per Les Andrews Blue troubleshooting book on page 2-5 you should have the following readings:

Measure ohms from (+) terminal to (-) terminal - 1.6 to 1.8 ohms

Measure ohms from (+) terminal to center (high tension) 6.7K to 10K ohms

Measure ohms from (-) terminal to center (high tension) 6.7K to 10K ohms

Measure ohms from each coil terminal (+ & -) to outer metal case of coil - Open Circuit

If any of these readings are wrong you have a defective coil.

Randy

[mike657894]

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its a wire you're not looking for resistance. a old style copper stranded plug wire will work. i dont know what is stock and show correct. to check a wire set your meter to continuity. with you meter set to ohm 0 is a show of continuity.

[100IH]

Stranded metal (copper) wire is original. Resistance leads with the carbon impregnated thread are not recommended.

[JBohannon]

The reason I ask I think I may have bought a new style wire a year or so ago. When I check for continuity I have none or almost zero ? That is not right is it ?

[MAG]

No, that is not the proper reading for a coil wire made with copper.
Probably correct for a carbon filled coil wire, depending on the meter scale used,

[100IH]

Regardless, just look for metalic wire in the end. Also thin cupped shaped ends should be soldered to the wire. Most auto parts stores might not have old style "secondary wire" because resistance wire began a faze out when car radios became popular, hence: "radio resistance wire". The term wire is used loosely as new stuff has no wire in it.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Just buy the correct wire from A&L, Bert's, Bratton's, or Snyder's.
There is likely other small parts you need if you look through their catalogs.

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

See post 6. O is the same as touching the two leads together.

[Smog Tech]

I was told by Pertronix to use resistance spark plug wire with their ignition system. I would also use it if I had a CB radio.