Q: No start

asked by on August 14, 2016

when driving my truck died like someone shut it off . I've had no spark so I replaced the pickup coil, control module, and ignition coil . and now when I checked my coil out at the coil wire with a screw driver to a ground to see if I was getting spark it sparks 1 time spark and then no spark after . I checked all my wiring and its all good. Would you have any idea what it might be. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
My car has an automatic transmission.

Ignition Switch Replacement $178.14 - $866.79 Get a Quote
Car is not starting Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

You need to check for battery voltage on the red wire to the coil with the key in the on position and then check the same wire when you go to the crank position. If either one is not as specified then ignition switch is at fault. Now check the the other wire dark green and yellow striped wire on the coil. You should use a test light to see if this wire blinks when you crank the vehicle. If it does not blink, the the TFI module pigtail wire for timing should be disconnected to see if you now can start the motor. If this doesn’t work then you have most likely a bad TFI module or distributor stator in the distributor itself. But, with distributor cap off, make sure distributor rotor is turning or not. If not, check timing chain or distributor gear. The most common problem will be that the TFI module is bad. If you’d like some help wit these checks, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can diagnose your starting issue and help you fix it accordingly.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I read the event data recorder (EDR) information?
The event data recorder (EDR) system is a key safety feature in your car. The EDR collects information from your vehicle when an accident occurs. Among other things, the EDR tracks how fast you were driving at the time of...
Car misfiring.
Having your code is a great asset in helping us narrow down the information on the issue your Isuzu Trooper is experiencing! When you notice random misfires in your vehicle, this means that the engine is detecting misfires in two...
Engine leaking oil and making noise
Hi. The common components on any given vehicle that produce oil leaks are the valve cover gaskets and the oil pan gasket. The leaks will usually occur on vehicles above 80,000 miles but can occur as low as 50,000 miles....
MAP sensor
Hello. MAP stands for manifold absolute pressure. So the answer to your question would be that it is the manifold absolute pressure sensor that there is something wrong with. The map sensor reads the pressure in the manifold and sends...
Advice on covering rusty holes on the roof of a car
Yes, because they want to do it professionally. Here's the problem with rust (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-repair-a-rust-hole-in-your-car). Rust on metal, rusts from the inside out. So once it is rusted, the metal is damaged and the only way to fix it is to...
Battery replaced, fuel gauge stopped working
Hello. There are a couple of reasons that would cause the fuel gauge to stop working. The most common reason is that the fuel level sending unit has failed (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-fuel-gauge-sender) and is not accurately reading the fuel level. The fuel...
Opinion on installing subwoofers in a car
It turns out the worst sounds are the low-frequency ones. These can be bad for your ears. It's not going to hurt the car at all. If you wire them correctly, you're going to need bigger set of batteries and...
Is this the alternator or just the battery?
It sounds like its time to change the battery. Normally batteries last about 5 or 6 years, depending on driving conditions. If your battery light is not coming on when you start the vehicle, suspect the battery. If you put...
What would cause the temperature gauge to go cold to hot then back to cold
The engine temperature is regulated by the thermostat opening and closing to maintain the engine temperature. The cooling fan clutch also will maintain the engine temperature to keep a controlled air flow across the radiator to maintain the engine temperature....

Related articles

2012 Ford Focus vs. 2012 Mazda 3: Which One Should I Buy?
Compact sedans and hatchbacks provide a great ride on a budget, with the evolution from a stodgy, unattractive exterior (and interior!) to a more fully-featured trim set and exterior design. Driving enjoyment is improved throughout the class, which are known...
How to Use the Ford Active Park Assist Feature
There There are few driving maneuvers as universally disliked as the parallel park (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-park-your-car). Most people still remember that terrifying sequence of movements in their driving test. Even people who live in metropolitan areas, people who must regularly parallel park,...
The Top 10 Most Problematic Cars
All cars have issues, from grinding brakes to gasket leaks. The Ford Explorer's and Honda Civic's bad transmissions rank them as the most problematic.