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The amount of voltage required to maintain
spark during the combustion event is referred
to as Burn Kv. Differences in burn voltage can
be the result of bad plug wires, bad plugs, bad
cap or rotor, or fouling. If the readings vary
significantly from each other check Table 2
below for possible causes.
ult
High burn Kv
on one or more
cylinders
Low burn Kv
on one or more
cylinders
e Secondary Cable Check
This check procedure can be used to find open, shorted or high resistance
secondary cabies.
4.
Attach Pickup clamp
Connect the Pickup Ciamp (blue) to the first plug wire near the spark plug.
$
To ensure accurate readings keep clamp at least 1-2 inches from other
ignition cables and metailic engine parts.
2.
Ground Tester
Burn Kv
OKy
Open plug wire/s
f
i
Connect Ground Clamp (black) to a good vehicle ground or the battery's
Corrosion on the distributor cap
negative terminal.
Worn spark plug/s
;
3. Turn tester ON
oe
F gap eao an d to
plug or coil / ca
Press the ON/OFF button. If the tester does turn on make sure it has a
9
Properly
plug
p
good 9V battery.
Shorted plug wire/s
4.
Select Distributor or DIS
Shorted coil secondary
Select P=DISTRIB. for testing on vehicles with distributors and press
Fouled spark plug/s
T=DIS for distributorless vehicles.
Shorted spark plug/s
Start engine and let idle. Allow engine to warm-up and the idle to stabilize
Table 2
before monitoring and recording readings.
6.
Set tester to Peak Kv measurements
P
Press the P button. The tester wiil display peak secondary
ignition voltage
Burn Time Measurements
measurement on the LCD.
xa
s
Burn time is the amount of time spark is
maintained across the electrodes. Differences
in burn time can be the result of secondary
Burn Time (ms)
wires, plugs, plug gap, cap or rotor, fuel mixture,
ignition timing, cylinder compression. If the
readings vary significantly from each other
check Table 3 below for possible causes.
ng burn time
on one or more
cylinders
Short burn time
on one or more
cylinders
Table 3
7.
Take Firing Voltage reading
Take Kv reading from the LCD (real time reading).
8.
Move Pickup Clamp
Move the Pickup clamp (blue) up the secondary cable towards the ignition
coll / distributor. Take a Kv reading and note the difference.
+ If the Kv reading increase from little or no Kv to a significantly higher
reading - a short may be present in-between the two points.
+ A significant increase or decrease in Kv reading indicates the
secondary cable is open between the two points.
+ If you reach the coil or distributor end of the cable and the Kv reading
has increased more than expected check the secondary cables
resistance.
NOTE:
Most modern vehicies use resistive secondary cables for
noise reduction. These cables will cause a slight increase in
the Kv reading from the plug to the coil or distributor. This is
normal.
Rich fuel mixture
e Coil or plug wires
incorrect plug gap
e Ignition timing
Incorrect Cylinder compression
.
Lean fuel mixture
e Coil or plug wires
incorrect plug gap
* Ignition timing
Incorrect Cylinder compression
40
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