Ford Thunderbird 1958 User Manual

PART
2
IGNITION SYSTEM
1-45
TABLE
1
Ignition
System
Trouble
Shooting
(Cont'd.
ENGINE
STARTS,
BUT
Check the:
Resistor for
an
open
circuit.
FAILS
TO
KEEP
Breaker points.
Check for
leaks in
the
high
tension
RUNNING Spark plugs.
wiring.
MISSES
STEADY AT
ALL
Secondary
wiring.
SPEEDS.
If
the miss
is isolated
in
Coil.
a
particular
cylinder,
perform
a spark
Spark plugs.
test
on
the ignition lead
of that
cylin
Check
for high
tension
leakage
der.
across the
coil,
rotor,
or
distributor
If a
good spark
does
not
occur,
the
cap.
trouble is
in the
secondary
circuit
of
the
system,
check
the:
MISSES
AT
IDLE
ONLY.
Check
ENGINE
RUNS,
Spark
plug
wire.
the:
BUT
MISSES
Distributor
cap.
If a
good
spark
occurs,
check the
Coil.
Condenser.
spark plug.
If the spark is
not
at
fault,
Breaker
points.
a
mechanical
component of
the
en
Rotor.
gine is
probably
at
fault.
Ignition
wiring
for
leakage.
MISSES ERRATICALLY AT
Distributor shaft
for excessive
ALL
SPEEDS.
Check the:
play.
Breaker
points.
Spark plugs.
Condenser.
Distributor cam for
wear.
POOR
ACCELERATION
Check
the:
Ignition timing.
Spark plugs.
Breaker
points.
Distributor advance.
The cause of
this
trouble
usually
Rotor.
ENGINE
DOES NOT
lies in
the
ignition
system
only
when
Distributor
advance.
DEVELOP
FULL
the trouble
exists
at
all
engine
tem
Distributor shaft for
excessive
POWER,
OR HAS
peratures. Check the:
play.
POOR
HIGH SPEED
Ignition timing.
Distributor cam.
PERFORMANCE
Coil.
Spark
plugs.
Condenser.
Breaker points.
EXCESSIVE FUEL
Check the: Spark plugs.
CONSUMPTION
Ignition
timing.
Distributor
advance.
ENGINE
OVERHEATING
Check the ignition timing.
IGNITION
SYSTEM
TESTING
A
complete
check
of the
ignition
system
includes
the
battery
and
cables,
coil, distributor,
primary
and
secondary
wiring,
and the
spark
plugs. This
section describes
the
tests
for
all these
units except
the
battery
and the
distributor.
The
battery,
be
cause
it is
part of the
electrical
supply
system,
is covered
in
Group
7,
Part
1.
Distributor
testing
is covered in Sec
tion
3.
PRELIMINARY CHECKS
Inspect the
battery
for corrosion
due to
acid
and
dirt. If
necessary
re
move and
clean
the
battery
and
cables
with a
baking
soda solution
and
wire
brush. Be
sure the
cable connectors
and the
contacting
surfaces on
the
battery, engine,
and
relay
are
clean.
Tighten the
cables
securely
upon in
stallation.
Test the
battery
(Group
7,
Part
1).
Inspect all
the
primary
wiring
for
worn
insulation,
broken
strands,
and
loose
or
corroded
terminals.
Replace
any
defective
wiring.
Make sure
all
connections
are
tight.
Remove
the
coil
to distributor high tension
lead
and the spark
plug
wires
one at a
time from
the distributor
cap
and
from the
spark plugs.
Inspect the ter
minals
for looseness and corrosion.
Inspect
the
wires
for
breaks and
cracked
insulation.
Replace
all
de
fective
wiring.
Clean
the
inside of
the
distributor
cap,
and
inspect it
for
cracks,
burned
contacts,
or
permanent
carbon
tracks.
Remove dirt
or
corrosion
from
the
sockets.
Inspect
the
rotor
for
cracks
or a
burned
tip.
Replace
the
cap
and/or
rotor
if
they
are
defective.
PRIMARY
CIRCUIT
RESISTANCE
TEST
A
complete
test
of
the
primary
cir
cuit
consists of
checking
for
excessive
voltage
drop
from
the
battery
to
the
coil
and
from
the
coil
to
ground.
Ex
cessive
voltage
drop
in
the
primary
circuit
will
lessen
the
secondary
out
put
of
the
ignition
coil,
resulting
in
hard
starting
and
poor
performance.

Ford Thunderbird 1958 Specifications

General

Brand	Ford
Model	Thunderbird 1958
Category	Automobile
Language	English