73 B300 No Sparking on the Dance Floor

[DaleSnale]

Hey Everybody,
Dalesnale here with a question. I took my Big White Box Van on a gig last weekend...about 170 mile round trip. The thing ran flawlessly as it has since my last ignition issue post was resolved in September. When I commenced going to this weeks job the Van would not fire...no spark. I tested the coil and it seemed fine. bought a new one to be sure. Same thing. It is getting 11.6 volts at the positive side of the coil and about 7.8 volts on the negative side (unhooked from the coil). The ignition module is 2 years old, yet I am leaning toward that as the culprit. Any other suggestions before buying the module. The wiring looks fine. I pulled the bulkhead connectors and module connector. I also tried a direct lead to the battery from the positive side of the coil...no difference.
Thanks for your suggestions in advance... Dale

[Dodgevanman]

Make sure the ground is good to the ignition module. If you have to, run a jumper from one of the mounting screws to the neg. side of the battery.

[DaleSnale]

Thanks Nate I'll try that first. Dale

[alloro]

Most likely causes are a bad ignition module or a bad pick-up coil in the distributor. Since the IM is only 2 years old, I'd first check out the pick-up coil with an ohmmeter and see if it has continuity or if it's open.

[DaleSnale]

Should the pick up coil have a spacific impedence or just continuity? I'll check with my meter now.

[DaleSnale]

The pick-up coil is showing 290 ohms. It is also 2 years old. I'm gonna go get an ecu now. The summer weather out here is typically high 90s low 100's. Though the motor runs normal temp range, however maybe the ecu can't take it for more than a couple seasons.

[Dodgevanman]

Did ya make sure the ECU had a good ground?

[DaleSnale]

It was the ECU. I am going to install a gound strap directly to the ECU as well. Time to start carrying a spare ECU, coil and pickup coil as they seem to break at random and inopportune times. Thanks for the ideas guys. DaleSnale:cool:

[Dodgevanman]

Carry a spare ballast resistor too. Every Mopar glovebox should have one. :)

I have yet to have a bad pickup coil, but I guess it would be a good idea to carry one. Funny thing is that I've never replaced one before.

[DaleSnale]

Thanks for the ballast resistor tip Nate, I'll get one of those too. In my earlier mopar days, I carried this stuff, then took it out over the years. Not that an 8,800 lb Kary van is gonna notice the extra load.
When my computer failed in 2006 out in the boondocks, the tow cost $450 because the van was loaded and AAA said it was not covered loaded (Why did I mention that detail to the operator?). Of course the same old AAA 2 ton tow rig came out and picked it up anyway. They just charged me extra while the driver bragged about how much his rig could pull all the way to the shop. I want to avoid repeating that again.

My new ignition spares kit will include:
ECU
coil
ballast resistor
cap
rotor
pickup coil
2 Spark plug wires
10 feet of 10 gauge wire
3 foot clip lead
electrical tape

Thanks for your input. Dale:)