280sel 4.5 wont start - no spark

[andyj]

Daily driver started stalling and wouldnt start unless I waited about 10 minutes. Now it wont start at all. There is no spark from the coil. Replaced the ballast resistors and tried another coil. Nothing. What is next?

[psfred]

Likely the transistor box is shot. I'd get a Pertronix or Crane ignition replacment. Verify that the ignition points are good first, thought -- they are only $8 or so on FastLane.

Also check to make sure the wires on the two ignition resistors are good, they have a tendency to corrode and make intermittant contact, leaving you with no ignition. The resistors themselves can die, too. Easy to check with a volt/ohm meter.

Peter

[Tomguy]

Indeed, ignition box died on my 4.5 and that's why it was parked several years ago. You can bypass it for now if you get a condenser, but I'm not sure on how to wire the system. You'd have to ask someone else. $20 fix if you do it that way.

Verify the coil is getting voltage - put a multimeter on the leads going to it (with them off the coil), or just a lightbulb. Crank it. The multimeter should fluctuate and/or bulb should flash. If not, bad box.

[andyj]

Thanks Peter. It was the points I am going to go ahead and get the Pertronix. As usual u bailed me out.