No spark - any ideas?

[edmfinch]

I am trying to get an early 1985 watercooled 1900 petrol T25 on the road.

Having fitted a few new parts [exhaust etc], repaired the odd broken stud and cleaned everything, I got the engine back in last weekend and yesterday we tried to breath life into the beast - but no go - it turns over but on closer inspection there appears to be no spark - dissappointed or what!

So I am now at the head scratching stage. I had fitted a new rotor arm, distributor cap, leads and coil and now wonder whether it could be the solid state TCI unit or the HALL transmitter in the distributor - or simply some stupid mistake connecting everything together again [as nothing was marked or recorded when dismantled].

I now need some advice on what and how to test, as I have no experience of the T25 and only a couple of manuals that don't go that far...

So I thought the best route was to join the Club and ask like-minded owners! Anyone have any clues?

[charlie brown syndrome]

it could be the ignition module,
its fitted on the left hand side (as you look at it) side of the engine bay, on the vans ive had its been just behind the coil, a little black box with a multi plug going on to it if i remember correctly
thats a good place to start,
the vans ive had have been 1.9 dg and a couple of 2.1 dj engines so presumably the location is the same,

[The_blue]

looks like that.

If you take a plug out and rest it on the engine (still conected to the dizzy) does it spark?

[edmfinch]

Thanks for the replies and the image.
No, no spark at all on an earth plug. I too suspect the Ignition Module and by luck a mechanic has agreed to lend me a tester for such modules tomorrow [Monday] so we shall see.
The odd thing is that the van drove into its driveway position having failed its MOT last year and the ignition worked fine - according to the present owner...
I will report back on my findings.

[MikeB]

Plug an HT lead with a spark plug straight into the coil and see if there is a spark coming from the coil.

If there is then its rotor arm/distributor cap.

If not, do you have 12v on both sides of the coil with the ignition on?

Mike.

[edmfinch]

After a long investigation it proved to be simply a bad earth connection in the system!
It was mainly the earth to engine block - oil and crud built up over the years. But whilst I was at it I replaced both battery terminal connections, the battery earth to chassis lead and added an extra new earth cable between the chassis and gearbox.
The engine runs now, but now I have other issues - will post further question(s).
Thanks to all who helped with this problem.