ignition coil testing procedure
 

Digging into the non-starting 83 944 I have inherited...I have its coil and another spare coil. Resistance across the terminals of each is right at zero on the ol' multimeter. I understand that there should be about 5 ohms of resistance in the coil. Is there a better way to test it?

FR -
Already did that - fuel pump is functional...looking at ignition now...

Do you have 12 volts at the coil with the key on? If not it's the ignition switch.

Coil was probably bad. Started right up after swapping in the spare coil. Runs a hair rough and the idle needs to be set higher or the idle regulator looked at, but it "driveway drives"...Phase I of the saga thus endeth...thanks for the suggestions, guys; let's see what else she throws at me, as it's always fun breaking in a new acquisition...regards Al

How are the belts? The timing and balance belts that are behind the black plastic cover. If you don't know you had better change them before you go any further.

I know a guy that has the equipment to test that coil, he builds racing ignitions pm me for the address

I'm doing what is for me the standard stuff on getting a new 944 without irrefutable maintenance documents (this is about my 20th such orphan) - replacing everything on the front of the engine from the block forward (water pump, belts, rollers, seals, t-stat, etc). Cheapest insurance you can buy on these cars...I have fortunately never had one with an ignition problem until now, and this turned out to be a realtively easy fix...and I indeed set the idle with the screw already as well, and the bad coil has been replaced, but thanks for the help guys...