No spark, no go...
AUUUGH! Why is it that cars always choose stormy times on weekends to break down? My Volvo, that has been exceptionally dependable about starting every time the key is turned in the ignition, decided that today, with all the rain/slush-from-the-sky/snow and temps going from 37degF down to about 30, was the perfect day to refuse to start.
I pulled in last night from visiting Lexington, and everything was just fine. Today when I go out there, the engine turns over all I want, but won't catch. I tried all the tricks, and when I finally tested for spark on the wire from the coil to the distributor, there was none. No spark means no fuel/air ignition, and with no ignition, no go.
I'm going to pull the ignition coil (the thingy that supplies high-voltage to the distributor, which supplies electricity to the spark plugs and costs $120 special-order at AutoZone) tomorrow morning, and test it out to see if it's stopped conducting electricity or something. I'll also clean the distributor cap and all that kind of stuff.
If that's not what's wrong, then I'll call AAA and have it brought to a garage (I can diagnose old points-and-condenser mechanical ignition system easily, but I don't know electronic systems very well.) Next time, could my car please break down on a weekday? It'd be much more convenient to have a garage be able to look at it the next morning...
I pulled in last night from visiting Lexington, and everything was just fine. Today when I go out there, the engine turns over all I want, but won't catch. I tried all the tricks, and when I finally tested for spark on the wire from the coil to the distributor, there was none. No spark means no fuel/air ignition, and with no ignition, no go.
I'm going to pull the ignition coil (the thingy that supplies high-voltage to the distributor, which supplies electricity to the spark plugs and costs $120 special-order at AutoZone) tomorrow morning, and test it out to see if it's stopped conducting electricity or something. I'll also clean the distributor cap and all that kind of stuff.
If that's not what's wrong, then I'll call AAA and have it brought to a garage (I can diagnose old points-and-condenser mechanical ignition system easily, but I don't know electronic systems very well.) Next time, could my car please break down on a weekday? It'd be much more convenient to have a garage be able to look at it the next morning...