Bad coil

93 Nissan altima with external coil:

Turns over good but will not start or even catch once. I disconnected the
coil wire a held it 1/4" from block but could not see any spark. Last 2
weeks car was sporadically idling poorly. Any other tests to isolate the
coil as the problem?

"Martik" > wrote in message
news:457fg.5028$S61.2966@edtnps90...
> 93 Nissan altima with external coil:
>
> Turns over good but will not start or even catch once. I disconnected the
> coil wire a held it 1/4" from block but could not see any spark. Last 2
> weeks car was sporadically idling poorly. Any other tests to isolate the
> coil as the problem?
>

More info:

I get one or two good sparks during a 3-5 second crank. Rotor and cap very
corroded with evidence of carbon tracking. The rotor seems very worn down
possibly increasing the distance between the cap's contacts. Tested coil and
both primary and secondary resistance is good. Does the coil get it's signal
to fire from the rotor/cap or ECM?

"Martik" > wrote in message
news:457fg.5028$S61.2966@edtnps90...
> 93 Nissan altima with external coil:
>
> Turns over good but will not start or even catch once. I disconnected the
> coil wire a held it 1/4" from block but could not see any spark. Last 2
> weeks car was sporadically idling poorly. Any other tests to isolate the
> coil as the problem?

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...3d801b5c69.jsp

The above links you to Autozones manual section for your car. You may have
to copy and paste into your browser's address line. This section will give
you
some hints, and some test protocols, for your car.

> wrote in message
om...
>
> "Martik" > wrote in message
> news:457fg.5028$S61.2966@edtnps90...
>> 93 Nissan altima with external coil:
>>
>> Turns over good but will not start or even catch once. I disconnected the
>> coil wire a held it 1/4" from block but could not see any spark. Last 2
>> weeks car was sporadically idling poorly. Any other tests to isolate the
>> coil as the problem?
>
> http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...3d801b5c69.jsp
>
> The above links you to Autozones manual section for your car. You may
> have
> to copy and paste into your browser's address line. This section will
> give
> you
> some hints, and some test protocols, for your car.
>
Thanks, great link. Turns out it was oil contaminating the camshaft
position/angle sensor in the distributor. Cleanup and resealing fixed it.