CJ-7 coil firing without engine running

VortecJeep

VortecJeep

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Aug 24, 2005
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Concord, NC
My brother is the original owner of a 1984 CJ-7 with the 6 cylinder and manual tranny. Everything in the drivetrain is stock. Recently it has begun behaving oddly; with the engine not running but the key in the "on" position, the ignition coil is firing. What is going on? He says the engine will still run and drive fine.
 
I don't know how that's possible without the dizzy spinning and sending the signal to the ignition module. Doesn't make sense to me.
 
Ok so the coil is energized constantly.

2 possible problems each with their own solution.

1) Someone was wiring without the proper knowledge and has screwed up the electrical system.

Solution. First find this genius and whoop his ass, apparently there is only 1 guy and he runs around and screws up everything on every old CJ built. He is even fond of using wire nuts..... Seriously kick his ass, and find someone better to do your wiring.

2) Assuming you didnt find the retard mentioned above and all is wired properly. You need to make a tip to Advance/AutoZone/Oreilly/or NAPA and you will need distributor points and a condenser, might as well change the rotor button while you are in there. Ill bet your problem will go away once this is done. Oh yeah make sure you know how to set point gap and dwell. A new set of points properly gapped is worth at least as many HP as a K&N.

Oh yeah while in there inspect LV wiring between dizzy and coil
 
The Duraspark ignition that should be in a stock 84 CJ won't have points. It uses a hall effect pickup. That's why it makes no sense to me. Maybe the genius SkyHi is talking about did some creative parts swapping at some point.
 
If it has a crap-a-sspark on it hell it needs to have problems.

Never seen a 258 duraspark, not saying they aint there just never seen one
 
Duraspark wasn't that bad. The Prestolite that preceeded it was horrible. The Duraspark was even used on YJs up until they got the 4.0 with FI. I just changed a DS module on a friend's 89 YJ with a 258 a few weeks ago. I, for the life of me, can't figure out why the coil would be energized without the dizzy spinning. I'd actually like to see this first hand. I'm always up for learning something new.
 
Do a test for me Vortec. Pull the coil wire off the dizzy and place it close to ground with the ignition on. If it sparks more than once, let me know.
 
Pacfanweb said:
Never came with HEI's, they're all Duraspark, unless you go all the way back to the Prestolite, or whatever that crap was called.
Click to expand...
I know. I was just wondering what he saw on a 258 that would be anything other than a duraspark or prestolite. The HEI is so damn common of an upgrade, someone that isn't a jeep nerd would think it was another AMC parts theft.
 
Um, if I am reading your original question correctly, then nothing is wrong. In the "ON" position, the coil should have +12V going to it, so that it is energized when the distributor starts to spin (e.g. turning to "START" position). I don't understand what you mean by "firing". The coil only sends juice to the spark plugs when the distributor rotor turns and makes the rotor point towards a spark plug connector. The voltage is so high that it jumps both the gap in the cap and the gap at the plug.

So, again, what is it really doing?
 
willness33 said:
Just curious, what have you seen on a 258 if not a duraspark? HEI?
Click to expand...


well in all honesty the only 258s Ive played with were points driven.

Granted thats only a couple...
 
This is what he told me...He had the key turned to the on position, but did not have the engine running. He heard a clicking sound under the hood he had not heard previously. Not sure what else he checked, but he took the center wire off the distributor. He got that end of the wire close to a ground it sparks while it is close to the ground. It did spark more than once, he is guessing 6 or 8 times a second. Is that how it is suppose to work?
 
VortecJeep said:
It did spark more than once, he is guessing 6 or 8 times a second. Is that how it is suppose to work?
Click to expand...
Shrot answer, no. This will wxplain it better than I can. Pay special attention to the "other notes" section.
http://wps.com/AMC/distributor/index.html
I would first check the inside of the distributor for a loose pickup or something obviously wrong. Second, I'd change the ignition module. I'd still like to see this happening first hand since I can't seem to wrap my brain around how it's happening.
 
Thanks for the link. I would guess it is the module. If he doesn't work on it this week, I hope to get a look at it myself over Christmas.

NC4x4 rocks!!!
 
It sure is. THe only PIA is actually getting to the modules. Why they're hidden under the windshield washer bottle is beyond me.
 
For $65, you get a pertronix kit and eliminate the thing.

You get TRUE electronic ignition, and none of the vibration issues that the Duke modules were famous for. if you run a Dspark ignition be sure to keep a spare module in the glove box is all I can say
 
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