Help? 911E... No spark.
 

Gentlepersons,

After a few block drive this morning, my 1971 911E stalled and won't start.

It was about 50 degrees this morning, and shaping up to be a beautiful day. I was taking the car to the local quarter wash to clean any gunk from around the front struts so I could put in my shiny new Koni adjustable inserts.

Then... The car just died at a stop-sign. I can hear the CDI box singing it's usual high pitched song. I tried to pop the clutch going down a hill - no luck. Checking the usual - yep, got air. Yep, sure smells like I've got fuel. I pulled a plug wire, snapped in a spare plug - AH HAAAA! No spark! I pulled the wire from the coil to the dizzy, yep.. I got a spark from coil to ground.

Cleaned and adjusted the points (to .4mm), as they seemed a bit too close. Wiped out the inside of the cap and rev limiting rotor. No love. Changed out rotor with known good rotor. No love.

With the ignition on, I've got 13 volts from Coil + to ground. Zero volts from Coil - to ground.

I've read my Haynes and assorted notes. What am I missing??

Thanks,
Rusty SmileWavy

Rusty,

Turn over engine manually to TDC #1. Test output at #! dist. lead with grounded spare spark plug ... by removing Black/Violet trigger lead at distributor and grounding multiple times. If output is good at #1, then your rotor is OK. May need new cap or rotor. Rotor has 1000 Ohm resistor imbedded under Glyptal sealing compound, and sometimes can go bad.

Check for broken braided ground strap on point plate inside distributor, per the following thread:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=56227&highlight=distrib utor+braided+repair

In retrospect, your '71 doesn't have that style distributor ...