Voltage to coil, no coil spark... HELP

[z bomb]

My Z doesn't start. Did some tests out of Clymer (if you've got one, check this out) and it produced some wierd results. I'll list what I know...

1: Got fuel.

2: Got 12.4V battery wise, and the starter works.

3. No spark out of coil. My friend said he saw it arcing from the coil to ground on the fender well.

4: Coil is getting voltage.

5: Unhooked (-) coil terminal (capacitor) and it drew .0001V I believe, with points open.

6: Voltage at (+) terminal on coil went from .5V to nothing, maybe .0001V.

Clymer says this condition is distributor failure. I have a brand new coil, ballast resistor, and points. I replaced the coil due to the fluctuating resistance I got out of it, and purchased the rest for good measure. All didn't work.

Before I spend money and time with a dizzy, maybe the ignition switch itself? I will test the coil (+) while cranking, and see what happens, but anybody know of a dizzy failing or grounding out?

 

Thanks for any help in advance

 

OOPS- also called Rob at Z car garage. Never heard of dizzys failing, but also didn't seem like he felt like talking. Thus hybridz.

[getZ]

what year and what type of engine do you have?

[z-ya]

If the coil is arcing to the body, then you most likely have a bad coil wire. How old are the wires? Putting a new set of Bosch or NGK wires on there may solve you problem

[z bomb]

Update:

Thought my coil was bad due to voltage getting to it and it not working. But lo and behold...

It was the condenser. I didn't know this, but when the condenser fails, it soaks up voltage, like a voltage black hole.

Thanks for the interest!