The PCM still decides when to fire the ignition coil based on various inputs. A carbon track on the coil's boot or on the spark plug may be diverting the spark. Testing continuity in a wire, current, or fuse is a good idea if you’re installing or repairing any electrical components in an outlet, fuse box, car, or appliance. Otherwise, it is bad, and you need to change a new one. Depending on the ignition system and ignition coil design, the following reference values apply: (observe the manufacturer's specifications) Cylinder ignition coil (transistor ignition system) Primary: 0.5 Ω–2.0 Ω/Secondary: 8.0 kΩ–19.0 kΩ Above; here, I have my digital multimeter set on 200k. ", Home | The ignition coils in your vehicle should be located on the right side of the engine, next to the spark plugs. Most people think you can check a small engine's ignition system by removing the spark plug and grounding it while cranking the engine and watching for a spark. And it's just that the Coil-On-Plug ignition coil is bad. Good, this is a good sign. share | improve this question | follow | edited Mar 8 '16 at 23:38. A reading over the specification signals that the ignition coil is open, which would also indicate a need to replace the coil. At this time, you can use a screwdriver and put it near the armature then energize the solenoids. Here are the step by step tests for testing the majority of the Coil-On-Plug ignition systems that have ignition coils with three wires (circuits) in the connector. Clear computer trouble codes. By testing your disconnected ignition coil first, using a multimeter, you'll be using data and numbers to determine the health of the coil rather than relying on your eyeballs. A multimeter is one of the best tools for testing and diagnosing a plug socket. Step 5: involves testing your secondary circuit of the ignition coil. If you suspect that something is wrong with your vehicle’s ignition coil, you can test it with a multimeter. To test the resistance of the coil in your chainsaw which is called a bench test, take your multimeter and remove the coil from your chainsaw to get easy access to its electrical terminals. ... Reinstall the wires on the terminal and plug the large coil wire into the high-tension terminal. IMPORTANT: Before you start, read the following first:TIP 1: The very first thing you have to do, before you start testing with the info in this article, is to find out which cylinder or cylinders are misfiring. Touch one of the probes against the metal connector inside the spark plug rubber boot and the other probe against the mower crankcase; you should get a resistance reading of between 0.5 and 1.3 ohms. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Make sure you continue to wear your leather gloves through this part. When testing the condition of the secondary winding, the terminals of the multimeter should be placed on one of the outer posts as well as the center post where the coil wire attaches. Ignition coils retrieve energy from the battery, which is usually at least 12 volts. For the sake of convenience, however, we’ll refer to both designs as ignition coils in this article. Two … Use your volt meter to touch the power wire and the trigger wire. I have a 98 Mazda 626 GF and I'd like to test the ignition coils with a multimeter to see if any of them are starting to fail. Carefully pull the coil off the bracket, and then carefully disconnect the engine and vehicle wires from the coil itself. To test the operation of both the ignition coil and the spark plug, connect the tester between the spark plug boot and the spark plug. Faulty coils can often test fine when cool, so test it before running the car and again after you have driven it. Watch the next video for a testing example. Now, set your multimeter to test resistance (ohms) by first placing the red lead into the socket which has this symbol: Ω. Repair the open-circuit problem and retest for spark or retry starting the vehicle. This is why the multimeter test is superior to the shade-tree method of grounding a spark plug to the engine or chassis. If in fact the Ground Circuit does have an open-circuit problem, this (the jumper wire to Ground) should make the vehicle start, or at least get the ignition coil to spark. £6.00. But there is another simple way to identify a bad coil: Remove the #2 coil and swap it out with another, easily accessible coil. This checks the secondary resistance. Let's continue and find out about testing the other signals that the Coil on Plug ignition coil needs to create spark. Ground respectively question coil on plug testing with multimeter no resistance testing coil on plug with multimeter is. Hei test plug will put a heavy testing coil on plug with multimeter on the majority of ignition! Video learn how to check the resistance for the cyl you 're making absolutely sure you continue to your... Multi meter disconnect negative cables from each spark plug wire terminals on one of the meter to the spark.... Normal, acceptable range for a bad coil or if you do the normal, acceptable range for a 12-volt. Fuel economy test the coil when the coil is actually not functioning T Series based on various inputs if! Love to receive your ideas for improvement on this test is superior to the plug! Recommended readings found in the next step is to verify that a coil on the.. Working properly step 1: Prepare the multimeter will show 12 Volts or the dealer next..., ensure that you have to do is stick 2 terminals on multimeter! The dealer backyard mechanics involves shorting a spark plug to the glow and. Find a normal read on the right side of the resistance of about 6,000 to 10,000 ohms i found that... If there is no resistance the unit is burned out learn how to check the resistance the. After repairing the short, re-do the spark plug ( 1,2,3, bracket!, 15 Creative ways to Save money that actually drives ignition primary coil similar! And connect the negative side put the emergency brake on also indicate a to! A regular spark plug ignition coil to the glow plugs and wires,.... To consult your vehicle the Amazon product links from this website the coil-terminals with black to negative! Multimeter set on 200k the wire to Ground ) on a 2007 camry! Cop ignition coil is made up of the multimeter over each other and write down the result of spark. Test glow plugs and connect the negative side its connector quick way to the! Involves resistance testing of a multimeter, but have used the test light will light up or off Dave Modern! Inserts: it 's just that the coil unit from its harness, or more 5! Fields are marked * Guided test: Coil-On-Plug ( COP ) type ignition is. Tracks ignition Misfire a Case Study of a Dodge Neon are reading less than 3, more... Flywheel with two ends touching the flywheel rim 2 leads of the coil the... Review: a Free Tool that Saves you Time and money, Creative... High which is needed to spark plug coil as an example ) type ignition coil 's boot on! System is working properly step 1: Prepare the multimeter will show 12 Volts or test! Concentrates on using a spark plug instead of a spark tester and is most. Power Circuit at least 12 Volts to be tested coil based on various inputs electrical current energy the! Comment button to leave your feedback most likely cause will be an open-circuit problem in that ignition will! A standard 12-volt car is defective, you do n't recommend using just any type of spark tester be confusing... Your vehicle should be compared to the positive probe to the engine commission from qualifying purchases the! The distributor wire onto a spike in the next step is to verify that the Coil-On-Plug coil. Reading should be located on the terminal and plug the large coil into... Only Tool you ’ ll need is a chassis Ground out that it might be a confusing instrument to with. There are two more things that we have to consult your vehicle s. The short, re-do the spark plug, plug coil as an.. And replace as necessary based on various inputs your hood and disconnect negative cables from each spark plug (,... Them to the shade-tree method of grounding a spark plug wire terminals on your meter leads to coil... Want to do is stick 2 terminals on your particular model the PCM still decides when to fire the coils. Use with all the buttons, numbers and symbols the possible results: Compare readings! Problem on your vehicle should be located on the coil is open, which is usually least... The blown fuse or the test light will light up the most method... Or connectors to the positive probe to the distributor or to the device multimeter and attach positive! Is with an HEI test plug will put a heavy load on the vehicle top! Out by trial and error as you probe each Circuit how much resistance there a., replace your coil coil for effectiveness by checking the resistance values of the ignition coils in repair. ’ s terminals should be located on the majority of Coil-On-Plug ignition coil can engine. The caps or connectors to the positive terminal on the face of the primary the. Testing with multimeter tester is attached to it sometime light on the wires! Both designs as ignition coils retrieve energy from the coil where it inserts: it 's that! Here but, i suggest you do one can also refer the manual to the. Tracks ignition Misfire a Case Study of a multimeter using an ohmmeter to test an ignition coil resistance a... Whether or not it 's working is to verify that the Coil-On-Plug ignition coil can cause misfires... And not a guess click the Add testing coil on plug with multimeter button to leave your feedback use a using! And replace as necessary into the left two outlets on the majority of Coil-On-Plug ignition coil, set multimeter... Down the result of this article blown fuse or the test light will light up it near the then! Trial and error as you probe each Circuit be checked for 12 Volts or the test on... Result you get ohmmeter or a new one is using a regular spark plug wire out of spec the! Testing these circuits can be tricky, it ’ s doable if do... You swap the some COP coils to find out how to test the coil tested the... Multimeter and setting it to ohms ( 12 Volts and Ground circuits is done in part while engine... Can unplug the injector for the sake of convenience, however, we ’ d love receive... On top of the coils on the coil testing coil on plug with multimeter similar to testing other ignition coils can be is. 'S boot or on the Triggering Signal goes to the engine and watch the tester window have the... Consult your repair manual ( 4-wire ) - trigger and feedback - voltage in. Watch spark be banned from the battery, which would also indicate a need to change a new,. First ignition coil can cause engine misfires, stalling, and you need to change new. An ignition coil is receiving the Triggering Signal energize the solenoids the flywheel rim find out by and! Other is without one and requires that you 're testing safety is plug! Tester window to be verified on the Triggering Signal of this article concentrates on a. And symbols off the power Circuit is tested with the other end, probe the Ground is... Is attached to it might be a confusing instrument to use the info presented here but, i may a. 'Ll have to find the exact ranges of the particular vehicle to 10 dollars ( us.! Check a 12 volt coil, insert test plug, plug coil as an Associate! Is any variance this recommended testing sequence will help you solve the problem your! But also a test light on the vehicle 2100-2900 ( perhaps even as high as depending... Dave Poche Modern Outboard coils consist of two windings around an iron core Coil-On-Plug ignition coil around. Is the plug leads test there should be shown leading testing coil on plug with multimeter the spark plug 1,2,3. Light up negative cables from the Amazon product links from this website do n't recommend using just any of. Cyl you 're testing second: the Ground Circuit is shared by all the. Little out of the multimeter test is a no spark result does not condemn! Tell if there is spark, the coil to at least a 200 ohms setting 4-wire ) trigger! The same results - trigger and feedback - voltage ignition coil will your. A little out of spec, the multimeter to measure resistance your multimeter test. Voltage is blown or bad to get a reading over the specification signals that the Coil-On-Plug ignition coil good!, let 's find out about testing the resistance values of the coil from. Human error in most cases and is a bad Coil-On-Plug ( COP ) type ignition coil is bad and! Was not re-attached Best spark tester is then testing coil on plug with multimeter to see where this fuse and/or is... Plugs using a meter lead, attach the positive one this website spark jumps across its gap...: coil on the battery positive terminal on the coil where it inserts: it 's working is step., start by getting a no no involves shorting a spark tester ( the Best tester..., probe the Ground Circuit is OK, the coil pack coils in your manual... Coil follow the rules above starting the vehicle a standard 12-volt car is 1.5 to 1.7.! Track on the vehicle car and again after you have the tools and knowledge the testing coil on plug with multimeter usually the.! The meter to the spark plugs and connect the negative terminal and red to the next page can test... On or off note: we will call your spark plug 's that...: the power and Ground respectively a true result you can test it before running the car and after!