[fareast1]

Completely unrelated question to our cars. But, you guys have a wealth of collective knowledge, and have helped me at every turn, so I thought I would ask.

I stopped by a coworkless’ house on the way home to help him with his 1986 Toyota Cellica
Yes, I did say 1986 Toyota. He bought it new and can’t bring himself to part with it.

Anyway, I pulled the distributer cap off, and was looking at the rotor, and it has a little play (probably fine) but with the car off and the key out of the car there was power on the coil, it was arcing as I wiggled the rotor!!!

So, my mechanically inclined friends, I am trying to figure out two things:
1- Why would power be on the coil?
2- Why would it arc? (From about mid shaft to the coil housing)

Appreciate any responses. Just trying to help a buddy out.


PS- mods: I will move this to the 86 Corolla section as soon as we have one!

[mantis]

[08njSTEP]

If the key was in ignition, even with it off, it could still energize the coil. I had an Accel Super coil explode once because I left key in. It looks like a magnetic trigger distributor. Perhaps the ground is weak and its using the shaft for ground. Just noticed key was out, but there might be enough play in switch to still be on.

[08njSTEP]

Is there still dielectric grease under ignition module. If it dried up you could be energizing distributor that way. On all my old cars(from '60s) I convert from points to magnetic trigger and add a CD ignition(MSD).

[Cory S]

Discharge/buffer capacitor still has residual charge.

[fareast1]

Originally Posted by mantis

Thanks Mentis! Exactly.
So somewhere about an inch up from the splines in the picture I could consistently cause an arc just by wiggling the shaft. I don't believe this could be by design. - or maybe I am wrong. The spark has to get across the rotor somehow.

[fareast1]

Originally Posted by 08njSTEP

Is there still dielectric grease under ignition module. If it dried up you could be energizing distributor that way. On all my old cars(from '60s) I convert from points to magnetic trigger and add a CD ignition(MSD).

Ha! There is grease everywhere it shouldn't be . Ha! I will add some.

[fareast1]

Originally Posted by 08njSTEP

If the key was in ignition, even with it off, it could still energize the coil. I had an Accel Super coil explode once because I left key in. It looks like a magnetic trigger distributor. Perhaps the ground is weak and its using the shaft for ground. Just noticed key was out, but there might be enough play in switch to still be on.

Yeah I thought this was weird. The key was a block away! Having potential on the coil could be fine but seems a poor design if intentional.

[fareast1]

Think I will try to replace the coil. Could resolve the issue. Thanks for the help.