I'm working on a 84 GMC 4x4 pickup and I've burnt up 3 coils in 10 days. I've noticed that the gauge showing how my alternator is charging is sitting at about 2 oclock instead of 12. Could a bad alternator cause the coil to blow? I'm at a loss here, I don't know crap when it comes to electrical stuff, so any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I would check the starter solenoid. There is a copper disk inside the solenoid and if is fused to the contacts then you be pulling a lot of amps to the coil. draining the battery not to mention burning out the coil.
Well, I just had the alternator tested and everything came back as fine. I don't have a problem with the battery getting drained. What grounds are you talking about that could be the problem? The motor is grounded and and battery is grounded to the frame. Are there any others I need to check? Where should the ground wire go on the coil itself? Thanks.
Not real sure what you mean. But I don't have any way to measure the voltage. Where does the ground wire go that's on the coil? Does is just ground to 1 of the 4 bolts holding the coil in the distributor?
Measuring the voltage across the battery terminal while the motor is running should work. Your ground connection are fine. your engine and frame is your ground. If the alt. tested good, then your battery is somehow draining while your truck is off. To make a quick check of the battery keep the truck off and disconnect and reconnect one of battery terminal and if get a small spark. It means the battery is pulling current discharging the battery and that is why amp meter is showing charge when the motor is running. With in time it should read in the middle. It may be the reason why the coil is burning it self out. :sweat:
Measuring the voltage across the battery terminal while the motor is running should work. Your ground connection are fine. your engine and frame is your ground. If the alt. tested good, then your battery is somehow draining while your truck is off. To make a quick check of the battery keep the truck off and disconnect and reconnect one of battery terminal and if get a small spark. It means the battery is pulling current discharging the battery and that is why amp meter is showing charge when the motor is running. With in time it should read in the middle. It may be the reason why the coil is burning it self out. :sweat:
Disconnect the red wire. If you had a 12V test light you can connect one wire to the ground and other wire to the red wire and see if the light should not light up with the key turned off.
I had to have it towed to a shop this morning to get a final diagnoses. Should know something by tomorrow.
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