Low coil voltage

["John Hofstetter" <hofs@domain.elided>]

Russ,
Being as I seem to be spending my whole day on the digest, let me try.
When the key is in the run position, normal operating procedure is for
the voltage going to the points from the - terminal on the coil to be
moderated  by one of three things: 1. ballast resistor  2.wire  having
a built in resistance  3. Using a coil with a built in resistance.   
If you have an electronic ignition like the Holley or the Prestolie,
you don't need to reduce the voltage because you don't have points. 
Your guide is telling you that it thinks the voltage is being reduced
too much by one of those three kinds of resistance devices. 

Tell us more, or again, about what ignition system you have. Maybe we
can help.
John H.
----------
From: owner-ihc-digest@domain.elided (ihc-digest)
To: ihc-digest@domain.elided
Subject: ihc-digest V6 #846
Date: Mon, May 17, 1999, 1:35 PM


Subject: A little more info on problem

OK, over lunch I went home and dug out my multi-meter
and trouble shooting guide.
  the guide says with the key on, the (+) terminal of
the coil should have full voltage. I got 13.1.
  Next to pull the wire from the (-) terminal, run a
jumper wire to ground from the (-) terminal, and check
the voltage again. I got 3.9, the manual (not IH
specific) said anything under 5v indicates a bad
resistor or resistor wire...
  What does this mean to me/and how do I check this?
TIA,
Russ